Planning a wedding can be one of the most complicated, stressful events of a couple’s life together. There can be hundreds of details to perfect and decisions to make, even with the simplest ceremony. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your wedding is as stress-free and as happy as possible.
Include your children in your wedding to make sure that it’s an enjoyable experience for everyone. Start right when you begin planning by asking them what elements they would like to include in the ceremony. You can even have your oldest child walk you down the aisle and give you away to their new step-parent.
To make your wedding more personal, include a theme that encompasses you, your future spouse, and the things that are most important to your relationship. Pick out a theme that reflects your time together.
Make sure that your husband and his groomsmen have everything planned in advance in the days leading up to the wedding. Check that they have all of the materials for their tuxedos and that everything fits as well. This will reduce your anxiety and ensure that everything goes according to plan.
Be sure that everyone will be able to hear during your wedding. If you are having an outdoor wedding, many things can cause your guests to not be able to hear. Consider having a sound system with microphones that are able to clip on to the bride and groom. This will allow everyone to hear what you are saying.
You don’t have to have a white or ivory wedding dress if you don’t want to, so spice up your wedding day with some color! You can choose a pastel color that highlights your hair or eyes, or have bursts of a bright color like red highlighting the details on your dress.
If you want to minimize the stress that you have on the days leading up to your wedding, hire a wedding planner. This person will be able to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that time management is taken care of. Hiring a wedding planner can be expensive but it can make a huge difference to your stress levels, as well as to the overall quality of the wedding day.
If you have a lower budget for your wedding, don’t include flowers in your decorations. For centerpieces you can use branches you find on a walk in the forest, and surround the containers you put them in with stones from a nearby river or creek. Make a bouquet out of local plants and flowers for a locavore touch!
Take the time necessary to write out your wedding vows, because this is going to be remembered by your spouse for a long time. Marriage is supposed to mean the rest of your life, including both ups and downs. Of course, the most important thing for vows to convey is your love for your partner.
Vintage or antique place settings are a perfect addition to a retro or period-inspired rehearsal dinner or reception, but they are also extremely expensive. Instead of spending days trying to track down a complete set, consider private rental companies that, for a modest sum, rent out entire place settings, silverware, and serving utensils.
While a perfectly matched place setting with plates, bowls, and silverware can create a dramatic, elegant, and timeless appearance for receptions and rehearsal dinners, it can also be extremely expensive. Instead, consider opting for plates, bowls, and utensils that share a common theme, such as a particular color, all floral prints, or a mismatched shabby chic look.
Even though modern weddings can be extremely complicated, and can take months to plan properly, you can survive the process and make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch. These tips will help you have a wedding ceremony that goes so well that all your friends will want to know exactly how you did it.