What I would do again

The longer we have been married the more I have had a chance to look back on the day. It all really happened so fast, but I think we really made the most of it. If I had to do it again here is what I would not change and I would recommend for other brides. What would you recommoned to a bride to be?

1. Take a moment after the ceremony and before the reception to talk with your new husband. Mr Butterscotch and I actually had two moments. First as we exited we waited for our guest to go outside we were in a stairwell waiting. We had this short time of about 3 minutes all alone to just take in each other and the amazing thing we had just experience. Then we took a few pictures and we walked to our reception venue. Again we were alone together and we talked about the day so far and what we had each done the night before and that morning. As we walked passing cars honked and yelled congratulations. We both couldn’t stop smiling at each other. I think all couples should take a few moments together to just reflect about the ceremony and enjoy a quite moment before the reception.
Us right before we hid away in the stairwell.


2. Day of coordinator. When my friend got married last year she had Amanda as her wedding coordinator, after the wedding I heard the bride say many times that Amanda was irreplaceable. I was so lucky that Amanda was available to be my day of wedding coordinator. She was amazing! She went to our reception venue and supervised as the vendors arrived. She is an interior designer by day, but is available for day of coordinator or she can help plan from start to finish. Amanda has a refreshing passion for weddings. With her at the venue it really kept my mind at easy while I was at the church getting ready to walk down the aisle. When Amanda was done she made it to the church to give me the thumbs up, so I knew the guests would be walking into a room that was perfect!
This was one of the best thing that I did because it kept me calm and my mind off of what was going on down at the club. Unfortunately she doesn’t have a web site yet (she is working on it) amandatrinb@yahoo.com
3. Plan early. I was made fun of for planning right after we set a date but for me that was so helpful. Everything was done well in advance and I never felt rushed.
4. Eat breakfast. I like most brides was so excited I was up an hour before I needed to be. So I sat down with my dad and ate breakfast. Thank goodness I did because I didn’t eat again for hours.
5. Give yourself a deadline on projects. I set a date for myself and if it wasn’t done by the week before the wedding well then it wasn’t getting done. I had the whole weekend before the wedding to relax and really enjoy what was to come.
6. Realize it’s about a marriage not a wedding. Sometimes it is hard to remember that as the day gets closer. Weddings are exciting and it really easy to have moments that you and your family forget what the day is really about. Really keep reminding yourself that this is just a moment and the really important thing is a good foundation for a happy marriage.
7. Let it go. About two weeks before the wedding I started to let go of things. If the questions that were being asked were not going to have a lasting effect on our marriage (notice it wasn’t about the wedding at that point) my response was “I don’t care”. We just had so much going on with buying our house, getting married going on a honeymoon I just didn’t care about what color nail polish was going on people toes.
8. Video tape the ceremony. We didn’t have a budget for a professional video, instead we had our friend tape our ceremony and other key parts of the day. I was so happy he did! The next morning we watched the video and I cried all over again! Sure it may not be fancy but it is well worth it if you know someone with a camera.
9. Savor each moment! From the moment you get up to the time you drive away with your new husband. Savor the all moments that occur that day.
10. Thank the key people personally. Although I thanked my dad throughout the planning, the first thing I did as we came into the reception was thank him. Last week I gave him his birthday gift it was a http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/10/11/wedding-picture-gifts/ picture of us at the wedding. He loved it! He is currently thinking of where to hang it in the living room for it. Whether you plan on giving your family or bridesmaids and groomsmen a gift or not be sure to just thank them for taking time to be with you during the day. They really do appreciate it.