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(Me and the bride), (Me and my sister, Jessica.)
I was a bridesmaid in my friend, Catie's wedding this weekend. It was a gorgeous day and the weather seriously could not have been more perfect. I just happen to be borderline obsessed with weddings, and with thoughts from my own wedding, I thought I'd put together a little list of wedding tips for all future brides.
1. Do what you want! There is absolutely no set way to design your wedding. If you want pizza and cupcakes, have pizza and cupcakes. There are 2 things, however, that must not happen. #1. Do NOT...under any circumstance, include where you are registered on your wedding invite. It horrifies me to no end that people actually do this. Including a wedding website that leads to your registry, yes. An announcement that people should buy you gifts at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, no. #2. Since it is no longer 1852, you do not need to have a receiving line. Please, no. Walk around at your reception and greet your guests.
2. Get the BEST photographer. I think this is where your money needs to go because your pictures will be the only thing you have to remember your special day. Make sure your photographer is experienced and that you look at their wedding portfolio. This was my mistake. My photographer was an excellent dance photographer, and captured the most amazing pictures of me while dancing. But for weddings? Let's just say he needs to run (as fast as he can) in the opposite direction if I ever see him again. I would also suggest getting a second shooter, maybe someone who is a great photographer but doesn't have a ton of wedding experience. Pictures are sooo important!! I can't stress that enough.
3. Pick bridesmaids who support you. Another really important one. Choose bridesmaids who will help you, who will say positive things about you, and who will be excited for you. It will be heartbreaking if some of your bridesmaids aren't "on your side". Don't feel obligated to have any one in particular in your bridal party. It's YOUR day!!
What are some of your wedding tips/questions?
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55 comments :
Amen to the photographer- my best friend got married in September and she was so disappointed in the pics - she admitted she should have spent more...
XO
Pearls & Paws
Oh, I do love me a good wedding! And great tips!
AMEN to #1. I hate when where to buy gifts takes up half the invtite... and I hate receiving lines--they're so awkward for the guest too. I don't need to talk to the in-laws...
These are great tips! I am starting to plan our vowel renewal, but it will be the first time we are having a ceremony and I am so excited!!
Hailey @ Love, Laughter and Lipstick
I definitely agree with getting a good photographer!! We spent a little more and have amazing pictures.
Xo,
Angela
I too think getting a good photographer is so important!!! You look beautiful Ashley!
Just wanted to let you know that I'm doing a Heylee B. Boutique Giveaway! I thought you might be interested.
xoxo
A-
I 100% agree with these tips! They are all spot on! I'm nearing my 1 year anniversary, ok it's been like 9 months - and now that we have our wedding album and video it's nice to be able to look back and remember how amazing everything was! Without a great photographer we wouldn't be able to do this! And the supportive bridesmaids - crucial.
yes! i think that would be my biggest regret if the pictures didn;t turn out! and the bridesmaids thing is VERY important. I actually had to kick one out for my wedding!
That's some good advice! I'm a bridesmaid for a wedding this coming May and am lucky because the bride is so calm and patient - it's the groom we'll have to worry about in this one
totally agree with you on the bridesmaid one! and great pictures - you girls look beautiful!
I love weddings too. I think a very important tip is to have fun. Its your wedding it should be fun and not stressful. Be realistic and remember that what will make the moment perfect is sharing this union with your loved ones, not the amount of money that you spend.
as an old chick who's pretty much never getting married (sigh), i still plan my wedding in my mind (and thanks for secret pinterest boards!!!), so naturally these tips will be filed in there. thank youuuu!
Great tips and I'm glad you had a good time.
Your hair looks AMAZING! So pretty :)
I did NOT want a receiving line but my mom thought it would be rude to NOT have one... so we made a deal that we'd only do the line for an hour (which turned in to 2 and then Eric and I ran away at the first break in people... it was craziness!) but I had to do it since she was paying the bill, ha!
Great tips! Photographer was so important to me and ours was really good with taking pictures plus her husband was our second photographer, but it has been a nightmare getting all our stuff from her. We have been married 2 and a half years and I still don't have my wedding album! If I could go back, I would hire a photographer simply for taking the pictures and getting the rights to the pictures they took and then I would make everything on my own. There are so many ways to do that today that you don't need the photographer for it.
i agree 100%!! i was very disappointed with my wedding pictures, words cannot express how important a good photographer is. great advice!
I totally agree with the photographer. I wound up not being 100% satisfied with my wedding photos and wound up doing a "day after" shoot to make up for it, but it's still not the same as my wedding photos.
-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
i had a shotgun wedding myself ; ) so i can't as a bride (courthouse, wah wah). but as a bridesmaid, yes! photographer big time. it SHOULD be where the money goes. you can skimp on other things like, flowers, which can be done for about a 20th of the price is you do them yourself and will look just as pretty because they are -flowers. get some floral tape and some friends and voila. i would imagine the bridesmaid thing is important too now that i have watched that show "say yes to the dress" holy cow, are people really that mean to each other? i say if someone is pouting while you are picking out your wedding dress it should be an automatic ejection from wedding party.
I completely agree with number 1! I have been getting a few invitations that include a bank account .... is that a joke?? People just want you to deposit money in an account... haha so weird.
sjdmiller.blogspot.com
I loved this post. I am in complete agreement. To be honest, I didn't even know people still did receiving lines. I would have died. We ate and danced at two different places at my reception and I remember grabbing my husband and hiding so people would leave so we could start the party. If we had stayed around people would have stayed too. I was so ready to start dancing and stop talking.
The photographer is so important and they are worth every penny. I was reasonably happy with our photos, but I wish I had made more of an investment.
Love your blog!
So fun! Totally agree with all of these. Pictures are the only thing that will really last from your day (besides your vows, hopefully!). Pay big bucks for a good one. :)
Not that I'm planning to get married anytime soon, but these tips are pretty awesome. I totally agree on number two!
Choosing bridesmaids who are supportive is the most important. Love these little tips :)
xo TJ
those are great tips & I'm sure it was an excellent weekend :)
I agree about the photographer, but I also think a bulk of money should go to a videographer...that's where I messed up. All I can say is that I am so glad that my wedding is over...I can't even imagine planning one now with Pinterest being invented! Can you imagine all the decisions to make now! It makes my head spin!!
i LOVE your wedding tips.....so true, so helpful. i agree with them all, especially the photographer (and videographer)!
Ashley, you are right! Definitely budget on a great photographer and second picture taker. It's important that they capture those special moments that happen in a split second and never again. Glad you had an awesome time!
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
100% agree-great photographer is a must, otherwise you'll regret the rest of your life!!!!
Kisses
Elena
http://dcinstyle.com/blog/
I totally agree on the photographer thing!!!
Beautiful!
Love it!
<3
Erin
www.cali-landchic.com
I agree with all three!
I totally agree with you on the photography thing! That was one of my biggest costs and everyone tried to talk me out of it, but I love my wedding photos and am SO glad I went with a photographer I researched and loved his work.
Great post! Yay for weddings! Love your tips... a wedding should definitely be about you, you, you!! (and your relationship, haha... whoops!)
I'd add to #2 that if you can afford it, you should invest in a great videographer. I've already relived the most amazing parts of my wedding again and again and again by watching my wedding video, and I've only been married a little over a year! I will be watching that video through time and eternity - I'm so glad I dedicated a substantial portion of my budget to hiring the best wedding videographer out there (which happens to be 31 Films in Houston, Texas - if you are getting married in Texas GET THEM IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN).
Love your tips, particularly the one about not including your registry on your invite! There are way too many ways to accidentally be tacky when it comes to planning a wedding. Thanks for attempting to help people to avoid that!
Beautiful pictures and wonderful tips. I loved reading your post!
XO,
Zhanna
www.lifeandbows.com
I love these tips. The only thing I would change about my wedding is the photographer- she just wasn't experienced enough so we missed a lot. Live and learn I guess :)
I'm getting married in March & I'm loving these tips. I'd love to hear more. I think I've followed them so far :)
Aw you look so pretty! I also think a good photographer is super important!!!
Awesome post. I will keep this for when I (soon) need it! ;) Thank you
Lyz
Agreed! especially about the photographer, it's worth the extra money!
I'm not married yet but these tips are so amazing, especially about the photographer because you can't go back and retake them!!
Love the fact that you mention good bridemaids too. So important
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com/
You're so right!!!
girlavantgarde.com
Love this. Such awesome advice. I agree about the photographer thing. I didn't like a lot of my wedding pictures either and I WISH I would have done more research.
ooh i love the bike idea! i'm def going to have an etsy wedding ;)
Such great tips & omg I am so with you on the putting where you are registered on your invite, super tacky. Especially when it says, "although gifts are not necessary...." here is where you can buy them.
Such great tips! I totally agree with the photographer tip. If I could go back and redo that, I would!
Great tips...I HATE receiving lines - they are so awkward! And having awesome bridesmaids is definitely a must :)
Annie
The Other Side of Gray
I LOVE the first tip. When/if I get married, I'll be sure to stay true to my tastes.
Yes, yes, in every way YES about the receiving line. I hate that so much.
I've always told myself that the one thing I'll splurge for on my wedding is the photographer. If I ever get married. And I already know who I'd pick.
Love the quote, it inspired me to feel Awesome!
Thanks for sharing :)
Abi K
#1 is so important. We ended up eloping because of people wanting things their way...at OUR wedding.
i could not agree with you more on ALL of these tips, my friend! i chose my photographer before i even chose where or when we were getting married, ha!
(ps. TOTALLY enjoying your state on our mini vacay!)
Yes as a photographer totally agree with what you said-- and yes while I love shooting families and babies I would never want to do a wedding-- so you find a photographer who shoots weddings and is good at it!
You and your sister looks SOO much alike...just different color hair. That's exactly how my sister and I are!
The quality of information that you are providing is simply marvelous.
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Addy Watson
Private Dance Lessons
I agree with the comments, You totally need a great photographer. I also want to suggest to go buy picture frames. Lots of them, make sure they are all matching and in different sizes. This way you can put all the pictures others took of you into frames. Or the ones the photographer took of you. Just make sure they all match and they match your tastes.
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