5 Tips For A No Regrets Wedding
Tips to help you make the most of your wedding day...
As photographers with 20+ years of experience capturing nuptials we have seen it all, and we love to share meaningful advice. Planning a wedding can be stressful at times, but enjoying your party is where the real challenge lies for some couples. As I started to look through photographs and weddings to feature this week, it brought a lot of memories flooding back. As photographers, we work in the trenches if you will. We are right beside couples helping them navigate the wedding day, and we go out of our way to make their lives easier.
Our advice is simple to say, but not so easy to achieve on such a momentous day. Here are 5 quick tips to consider and soak in before your big day arrives that will help you make the most of the wedding experience..
The bride and her mom peer at the wedding dress in a room designated for the bride to get ready. Having a peaceful place to slip on your wedding gown or tux on is something that we recommend each couple consider
1. Give yourself some space...
You probably picture your getting ready moments being filled with the laughter of your best friends and family reminiscing about old times, while they gracefully slip on the beautiful gowns or outfits you have chosen. That may very well happen as planned. However, the unexpected generally has a way of finding it's way into these special moments. A bridesmaids dress or a guys tuxedo may not fit as pictured. Or, maybe a hair appointment runs late. Or, somebody may just say something that doesn't sit well in the family. You can't predict what will set someone off on a tangent. However, if you plan to have a special room dedicated to yourself you can escape the drama when it arrives and find serenity. It's also much better for photographs than bags of clothes, boxes of shoes, sandwiches, and all the other things that clutter a room filled with guys or girls trying to getting ready or look and feel their best.
A bride and groom pose for a photograph at Saint Clements Castle as photographer Charles Maring wades out into the deep snow to capture the scene.
2. Embrace the Weather...
Mother Nature doesn't seem to care that it is your wedding day or not. She will do her thing regardless of your plan and picture of perfection in your head. However, some of the most picturesque and beautiful photographs can be found when it isn't sunny and 75 degrees. Before the big day say to yourself "come wind, come rain, come snow, come shine, I am going to cherish what's given and soak in the memories. What other choice do you have anyway? Breathe deep and enjoy the fresh country, or toxic city air, and love that the day has arrived. This is it, so embrace the weather.
A couple takes a walk down to the river side at their wedding in Connecticut to spend some alone time together before headed to their cocktail hour.
3. Alone Time...
Stop worrying about what you are missing. Spend time together as a couple and let the rest unfold. All that really matters is you said I do. Make it a point to have at least 5 minutes of time with one another. Often the perfect time to do this is at the end of your wedding portraits when you are already alone together. Or, escape the reception for a moment between courses when there is no agenda.
A bride and groom dine together at their head table making sure to eat before greeting tables.
4. Wedding Cuisine...
EAT... You wouldn't believe how many couples say "I never even tasted the lobster!" Take a moment to sit down and eat dinner. Nourishment is key for everyone that wants to celebrate into the night. There is plenty of time to greet tables and say your hellos. You have to get something into your bellies though if you want to have that energy to dance the night away.
The groom lifts the bride and spins her around as guests cheer them on the dance floor. Make sure to spend time alongside your friends, but with a sense of togetherness as this couple did so well.
5. Don't Hold Back...
Love harder, and laugh louder than you ever have before. This is after all the day that dreams are made of. Let loose and bring on your forever smile so that you can look back at this day in photographs and see your best self. Too many couples celebrate the majority of their wedding day without their new spouse by their side as well. Guys, dance with your bride or husband. Girls do the same. Throw a new years party to celebrate with friends if you want to spend more time with them. This is a day to spend together, not in separate corners of the room.
