Being a bride is stressful and I can tell you that one month before the big day the situation was getting a little brighter considering my overwhelming wedding preparations that have yet to be settled!
Throughout my journey I was dazzled by tons of stuff that I was never into before. And I can tell you that it’s much easier to learn what not to do than learning what to do (I believe I wasted some time diverging into other unnecessary steps). To pave the way to a successful wedding planning, there are three major steps:
Step 1 Setting your priorities
Step 2 Knowing which of the available options will suit you most or in other words tailor yourself to the most available offers. You shouldn’t be sticking to one opinion, Believe me it’s all about compromises!
Step 3 Start making a list with your responsibilities.
These three steps act as a rough guideline as to how you can begin your wedding adventure before jumping into the concrete details. By walking you through my experience you’ll have a hassle-free wedding by avoiding my own mistakes.
1st Station: Choosing the Place
My Priority: A reasonably priced indoor wedding, need a large hall for about 250 guests within close proximity is preferable.
Unfortunately this limited my options to certain hotels.
My Mistake: Wasting time and energy in looking in far places.
My Advice: Do not give yourself the chance to hesitate. It’s a dreadful feeling after all and it’s not worth having negative feelings while preparing for your wedding. Instead you should enjoy every second.
– Pay attention to pricing and accessibility as these two factors are often decision makers for brides.
– Bear in mind that having an indoor wedding party helps you avoid weather issues.
My Choice went to one of the hotels which was almost near to everybody. I generally liked the place. Yet, It took me a long time to make my final decision!
2nd Station: Decoration
Wedding Theme
It’s said that once you’ve chosen your wedding theme, it’s easier to coordinate your decorations, favors, flowers, dresses, menu and all the other items required when it revolves around a theme. Ex. for wedding themes: Classic Victorian wedding, with carriage rides, think pink wedding theme, disco wedding them, etc…
Colours
Bright colours like orange and turquoise are very popular this year, any way you can choose your favorite colour wether it is fashionable or not. It’s your day! Thereby, your colors! Remember that the colours should reflect your own personal taste and the way you perceive this event in the first place.
Ceiling decoration
I believe that ceiling wedding decoration takes a wedding from ordinary to amazing. They will distract your guests and give your room a classy sophistication.
As for the things I’ve seen this year in fashion for ceiling décor, crystals and white flowers were among the most popular, definitely, looking awesome!
The point is, believe it or not, they are much more expensive when compared to lights decoration specially, flowers. Any way, concerning my wedding, I’ve went to the lights for sure, I like the fact that they look great when they turn off lights every now and then during the wedding.
Other point that, you don’t have to decorate the whole ceiling. You can make your decision that decorating the dance floor ceiling is enough. In short, go with compromises.
Centerpieces
For some reason I was never much concerned with centerpieces. I think that gussets do not usually notice their presence! To say the truth my priority went to the ceiling décor. Any way, I’ve seen wonderful pieces. I even loved those long ones with crystals hanging from them.
Shockingly, this year I’ve seen fish jars on wedding tables! It’s your choice in the end. As for me, I preferred a cute simple bunch of flowers with a candle ( As most of the budget went to the ceiling decoration!)
High Tables
One word– cool! High tables and lounges are becoming one of the most popular wedding trends. If most of the guests are young people, they are gonna love them for sure.
Glass Tables
You should see them in a real wedding to have a better judgment! They look much better in reality than in photos. However, if you’re on a tight budget you can make due with 2 or 4 glass tables just to add a bit of a modern look to your wedding.
My priority for decoration: Ceiling decoration!
My choice: I have yet to make up my mind! I know the items I want. However, still didn’t decide who is going to make the decorations for my big day. Hopefully, I will decide in a week or something!
3rd Station: Wedding Dress
When it comes to choosing your wedding dress (the most exciting part in preparing for your wedding), bear in mind that you should go for the style that suits your body type best.
Hourglass
Two-piece and corset dresses enhance the hourglass figure. Anything that accentuates the bride’s waist is in.
Pear-Shaped
A-line princess dresses disguise fuller hips and that’s why they’re the best fit the pear shaped body types best.
Petite
Clean, unbroken contours without too much fabric tend to elongate. Big ball gowns and mermaid wedding dress shapes can overwhelm.
Tall
From ball gowns, princess line and A- line wedding dresses, straight bridal dresses and mermaid dresses; all are great for the tall bride who can carry almost any dress style. However, be sure to avoid empire line dresses that can look almost “tent like” and wedding flowers or bouquets that are too small or large.
Fuller Waist
Princess-line and drop waist wedding dresses are most flattering. Draw the eye up with stunning bridal and wedding accessories.
My advice: Allow alterations without being a bridezella!
– Make peace with alterations in both budgeting, time planning and for sure in your dress as well! (Especially if you have a dress designed especially for you).
– Have faith in your judgments; once you have decided which dress is the one, there is no need to continue looking at other dresses.
My choice: I went for the ball gown dress since it suits most body types– I think most brides go for it as well. In fact, a ball gown wedding dress is suitable for most body shapes. Generally make the bride’s waistline look slim while camouflaging larger lower body. My dress was designed only for me. Other brides find the idea of choosing a dress for rent more feasible.
4th Station: Make-Up
My advice: Practice makes perfect!
Whether you are having your makeup done professionally or you are doing it yourself, practice is the key to achieving your perfect look. Make sure you prepare for a session with your makeup artist before your wedding. You will need to make sure that both of you are on the same page. You have all the right to be comfortable with the make up look you’re wearing on your big day.
Notes: During my journey, I found out that many make up artists, especially famous ones, don’t allow for a trial session!! Any way, if you won’t have this chance, you sit with your artist and tell her/him your broad lines, give them your trust and make sure that they arrive a little earlier just in case that you add modifications in your big day’s make up.
Besides, do not panic if your make up artist is late and you are not done yet. Do not think of anything except showing up to everyone in the figure that you are most comfortable with.
My choice: I was blessed with a talented make up artist in my family. Luckily, she was my sister. I had the chance for many trial sessions. During my engagement party my sister hadn’t been on the professional route yet, so I had some experience with make up artists.
5th Station: Veil
Two types of veils that grabbed my attention
The pouf veil has gathered material at the point where it connects to the headpiece, creating added volume. This style is perfect if you want to create a dramatic look with your veil. This style can also be used with many of the veil lengths and looks great as a double tier veil.
This long veil flows from your headpiece down to your ankles. The waltz veil is a good option if you want to wear a long veil.
My advice: The first step to discovering your perfect wedding day hair or cover (if you are veiled) is to look through wedding guides and hairstyle magazines. You can also check Facebook groups for veil designers. This will give you an idea of what you like and what you don’t like, which you can take to your stylist when you go for your trial.
My choice: Since I’m veiled I found a veil designer on Facebook. I called her and set an appointment for a trial. She asked me to bring some materials and accessories. I think my trial with went successful so far. I decided to choose the short veil. I wanted to add volume to my face, so I chose the pouf veil.
6th Station: Photographer
My advice: Sit with your photographer before your wedding
– If you think it’s enough to see some work of your photographer, let me tell you that you are going into a huge risk!
– Don’t be impressed by famous photographers unless you sit with him/her , start telling your ideas, you can even suggest positions, show him/her your favorite photos with your groom-may be from your engagement party- You can also tell him/her what you liked or disliked in previews photos.
I hope that my wedding journey will be helpful for many brides to be. Memories of one’s wedding last for a life time. All what you want is to feel great once you go back to these memories. It’s not difficult. You have all the chance to make this happen. Just go ahead!
