Whether you have dreamed of this day since you were very young or just started thinking about your must-haves, there are just some things you can't anticipate. Here are 10 things that no one tells you about your wedding day, plus a little advice from us.
1. Don't wash your hair on your wedding day, but do make sure your hair is clean.
Your time is precious on your wedding day, and not just in the momentous occasion
kind of way, but in the literal sense that you need every single moment to beautify, primp and get ready for your walk down the aisle. For the sake of time and styling potential, opt to wash your hair the night before to allow for it to be clean but with natural body and texture.
2. Everyone will keep telling you that something is bound to go wrong on your wedding day, but sometimes everything goes just right...and sometimes it doesn't.
These comments usually have the best intentions of trying to pre-calm your bridal nerves that even if something goes wrong, it will be fine. But with meticulous planning and attention to detail, sometimes things go just right! There are always situations outside of your control, like weather, health or family situations and there's no way to anticipate every situation that could occur (nor should you). The best rule of thumb is to talk to your planner or day-of coordinator, because having a plan B is in their job description. Our rule of thumb is to plan for the worst and hope for the best, that way you don't have to stress when it's raining before your outdoor ceremony or your DJ gets a flat tire on the way to the reception - you'll already know the game plan and your planner will take over the rest.
3. You likely won't have much time to eat.
My husband and I knew we wanted to get married in New Orleans because it was a place we came to often and such a fun and easy destination to get to from Houston. After months of planning, the big day came and went, just as perfect as I could have ever dreamed. Our guests raved about the beignets we served and we just looked at each other like "oh yeah...wish we could have tried those." The day is a beautiful blur, but a blur nonetheless. Our advice is to ask your planner or the venue in advance to pull aside food items or favors so you don't miss out.
4. There's often not a lot of alone time with your new spouse.
It's an unusual concept to think that on the day you are officially married that you might not spend a lot of quality time with your spouse, but it's a true statement. One of my favorite things to plan into someone's timeline is a short window of time in the bridal or groom suite to have a quick snack and enjoy a little time one-on-one. It's a great opportunity to try your yummy appetizers while enjoying a private moment to just breathe and take in that special, once in a lifetime feeling.
5. If the bride is on the dance floor, everyone will be on the dance floor.
If I can give you one piece of advice to ensure the ultimate dance party, it's this tip right here. Tried and true, if you are having fun and dancing, your guests will follow suit and be out there with you. Enough said.
6. It's important to test your dress before the big day.
At your dress fitting or seamstress appointment, you are working with certified pros that make bustling a dress seem simple. It might not be as simple when you are in a rush to make your grand entrance and your maid of honor is frantically trying to find the clips or white ribbon in a sea of tulle and fabric. It's best to do a quick trial even just on the day of your wedding before things get hectic so it's smooth sailing from a beautiful train to bustle in seconds.
7. You usually get what you pay for with discount vendors and services.
If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. Often cheap comes at a costly price in the end. There's something to be said for shopping a good deal or discount, but be wary of the services that are a fraction of what others in the industry are charging. Do your research, interview your vendors and ask for reviews or testimonials from other couples or venues. If your vendor is not providing a contract and the agreement is all verbal or through text, email or social media, you may want to steer clear. Contracts are a great way to identify exactly what services you are getting and mutually protect both parties with clearly defined pricing and guidelines.
8. You might be able to reuse your dress, so consider before you do a "trash the dress" photo moment.
Love a good beach wedding and in more recent times, trash the dress photos have become more popular for these weddings specifically. But before you run into the salty water hand-in-hand, stop to consider if there are any other uses for your wedding dress. Would you like to pass it down to a future daughter or family member? What about turning your dress into a baptismal gown or teddy bear for a future baby? A quick Pinterest search for repurposing your wedding dress will give you hundreds of crafty ideas to make any DIY bride smile. But hey, if trashing the dress is for you, it will certainly make for some priceless photos!
9. Your day-of coordinator can make or break your stress level on the day.
All vendors are important and it's all about creating a team of qualified professionals there to work together to execute your dream vision. However, there are some vendors you will spend more time with than others, and your day-of coordinator is one of them. We recommend a phone call or two, maybe even grabbing a quick cup of coffee to make sure the two of you vibe well before getting to your wedding day. They will usually be with you from the start of your day to the end, so you want it to be someone you are comfortable with and who not only brings out the calm in you, but can handle any surprises on the day. Honorable mentions for other individuals who you will spend a significant amount of time with on your day include your photographer, your officiant depending on length of your wedding, and your new spouse haha.
10. You may need help getting out of your wedding dress...and we don't mean in the sexy kind of way.
Just can't tell you how many people have a funny story of what getting out of their wedding dress looked like after the big day. From tiny tight buttons to a corset, the aftermath of the wedding dress can sometimes be trickier than you think. For tiny tight buttons, we recommend a yarn or crochet hook. If you look through your emergency kit and realize you forgot this, second best is the end of a credit card - strange but it totally works!
At Happily Ever Houston Events we make your wedding dreams a reality while you keep your beauty sleep. We help plan unforgettable experiences for all of life's happily ever after events and can't wait to be part of your wedding planning journey and your big day!
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