We planned, organized, saved and tinkered for a long time. Time flew by and now the big day is behind us. It was fantastic, emotional and beautiful and it is not for nothing that the wedding is called the best day of a couple’s life. I would sign that right away. Now that the emotions have flattened, everyday life has returned and the last photos of the photographer have arrived, I can think back to the day very reflected and would like to share my diverse experiences with you in the form of tips. I would have liked to have known many things beforehand.
1. The wedding is the center of the world – for you.
When you’re in the planning phase, everything revolves around the wedding. Many brides can hardly think of anything else that causes part of anticipation, part understanding, part impatience and sometimes the odd twister or two in the immediate social environment. Because while we are up to our necks in an emotional white dream, the earth is turning as usual. Many brides are disappointed when their friends or family do not show great commitment, do not always want to talk about it, do not seem to be very interested or are not “sufficiently” happy with us.
The fact is that for everyone on our guest list it is not YOUR wedding, and therefore not the center of the world. Some people just can’t relate to how we’re doing how important the day is to us, yes, some may even be sad that they are not so lucky, their wedding was not so nice or they did not have the opportunity to experience it. Dear newlyweds, meet all these people with love and understanding. Nobody is obliged to develop the expected feelings and certainly nobody means angry. If these people are on your guest list, it is surely because you love them as they love you. And that’s joy enough. Rather concentrate on the people who also enjoy talking about the festival, who are interested and also have emotional capacities to be happy with you, to be excited, to look at pictures of clothes or to choose the decorations. Basically everyone has such people in their environment it’s just not always your best friend, your brother or your mom. Still love her.
2. Makes for a great photographer!
I did not have the civil ceremony on the same day as the ceremony, that was for official reasons and was decided relatively spontaneously. I had a great photographer for the big celebration where I also wore the wedding dress and I love every picture. At the registry office, things look different: two dear friends have offered to photograph the wedding ceremony. Both are passionate hobby photographers, with heart and soul and I was really happy that they did it. The result: There is not a single picture from the registry office that I like. Not one! There is no picture when we signed the papers, no picture of the first kiss or the ring exchange. Instead, lots of blurry, underexposed or overexposed, shaky snapshots, not a single nice picture with my parents, no group picture. I was so incredibly sad, but I can’t blame the girls either. They are not professionals and have done their best. If I could turn back time, I would have hired a professional for two hours.
There are moments that can never, never, never be recreated again and only the memory remains. Fortunately, the celebration was different and I got great photos. But I don’t want to imagine the disappointment if you don’t have any nice photos of your wedding. Remember: No matter how expensive, elaborate, beautiful and well organized the wedding was – in the end only the photos and the rings remain. The rest is ephemeral. If I could turn back time, I would have brought in a professional for two hours. There are moments that can never, never, never be recreated again and only the memory remains. Fortunately, the celebration was different and I got great photos. But I don’t want to imagine the disappointment if you don’t have any nice photos of your wedding.
Remember: No matter how expensive, elaborate, beautiful and well organized the wedding was – in the end only the photos and the rings remain. The rest is ephemeral. If I could turn back time, I would have hired a professional for two hours. There are moments that can never, never, never be recreated again and only memories remain. Fortunately, the celebration was different and I got great photos. But I don’t want to imagine the disappointment if you don’t have any nice photos of your wedding.
3. Go relaxed into the big day!
Dear girls, dear boys, do not be stressed on the day of the wedding. I can only recommend the ladies in particular to have an appointment with the hairdresser early. You can’t use time pressure, the emotions are exhausting for our head and make us tired. Save your energy for the wedding ceremony and the celebration. Have breakfast with your best man in peace. Prepare everything possible, including packing the bag for the hotel, filling the bridal bag, putting out underwear and looking for jewelry the day before. Have someone else pick up your flowers if necessary. Try to hand in all the tasks that you do not have to do personally. And very important: go to bed early the day before, get some rest and sleep well and don’t worry too much. Yes easier said than done but just make yourself aware of it. It will be beautiful!
4. You don’t have to do anything!
As soon as you start planning a wedding, you are confronted again and again with things “that belong to themselves”. Sometimes everyone around you seems to know better what to do. It starts with the guest list and ends with the meal, in between there are endless discussions on the subject of location, budget, dress, hen party, bachelorette party, traditions and much more. There are so many things that you don’t have to. For example, invite someone you don’t want to be with you. No, not even the third degree uncle, even if he is so nice and would be happy. Not even your friend’s partner if you don’t want him with you. Not even the cousin’s child, if for whatever reason you don’t want to have children at the wedding. Of course there can always be friction and incomprehension and of course you can invite someone to keep the family peace. But you don’t have to. You don’t have to get married in church if you’re not behind it. You don’t have to stick to color schemes that don’t suit you, play music you don’t like, and don’t offer roast pork if you’re a vegetarian.
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