“I DO”

And Fashion Too

holding all your ideas, and you’re just flat out clueless. Basically, I was a clueless ball of happy, hoping Luke had the day planned before asking. I can dream, right?

He got down on one knee, and I excitedly forgot the rest. Maybe even to answer his question: “Will you marry me?” I remember thinking and asking too many times, “Is this real life?” And, of course, pure happiness, joy, then more, “Is this real life?” The shock was so real I cannot recall if I cried tears of happiness, or if the happiness shut my brain completely off.

When we began sharing our news, the infamous question “What’s your date?” surfaced within seconds every time. If you’re anything like me, your dress isn’t hiding in your closet, the venue isn’t booked, Pinterest isn’t breathe. relax. celebrate. So if you’re engaged, first of all — congrats! I wish you a life of endless happiness! My first tip is to allow a few weeks to just simply enjoy the engagement. Go out to dinner together — buying the fancy champagne to compliment your fancy dress — and celebrate! After all, finding your forever-man is definitely worthy of some attention before diving into the planning process. Trust me, it’s not going anywhere. But now — down to business. I’ve been through the planning process. And I’m going to happily help you learn from our experience. When the planning starts, it doesn’t end. I am going to help you learn from our mistakes, and give you tips that helped make things easier.

Get A Binder

Put all your wedding stuff in it. Notes, receipts, ideas and everything wedding — glue this onto yourself. Not really, but keep it readily available. I say this because we paid for things and we learned records can disappear, charges can be added, etc. Things happen, be prepared.

meet with vendors ahead of time

To us, “ahead of time” ranged from four days, to months before. I’ll clarify for my engaged self, “Whit, you must do this months before, girl. Meet with photographers, venues, florists, DJ services, etc. ahead of time. Big tip, make sure you meet the specific person involved in your day. Huge emphasis on “specific person.” We met with our DJ service, but didn’t meet with our actual DJ until days before — via phone. Huge mistake. Between you and me, we ended up playing iTunes later in the evening. On the flip side, we had a miscommunication with our florist, who we had met and communicated with up until the week of. She made a special trip to our venue, delivering an additional bouquet with a sweet note (thank you Country Greenery) free of charge. This is why I say to know the specific person involved, not just the general vendor. The people involved can make or break your day, and your stress level.

What To Wear

Here is what I suggest when it comes to attire (cue the violins please). Kidding! I’m more of a Bruno Mars kind of girl anyways.

1. Define the style or theme from the start; classic, modern, boho, country, etc.

2. Pick your theme first, then find “the dress”

3. Decide your wedding colors

4. Select bridesmaid dresses that compliment your dress

5. Find men’s suits and tie options

And let me just say, take every rule you know about weddings, and throw it out. Start fresh, pave your own way. Your day, your rules! However, be respectful of your wedding party. Everyone wants to be comfortable and look beautiful. Be realistic with your expectations. The rules I’m talking about; the men’s ties don’t need to match the bridesmaid’s dresses. And the bridesmaids don’t need to have the same dress. It’s fun if you add your own personal touch and let them be who they are. I requested my bridesmaids to wear long black dresses, and they had rein to select their own style. Rent the Runway (renttherunway.com) is a great dress option for dress rental. I had several bridesmaids rent rehearsal dresses and bridesmaid dresses. It’s a money savor, and they have gorgeous dress rentals.

My husband cropped his pants and wore a tux, while his groomsmen wore suits. Some guys wore ties, some wore bow ties. What I’m trying to say is, it’s your special day, so don’t let the so-called “rules” steer you away from your vision.

Have An Assistant

This is my final tip, and one of the most important on our day. I asked a friend to be our wedding assistant. She was a huge help to me, the bridesmaids, and the entire flow of the day. Without her the day wouldn’t have gone as smoothly as it did, and she took a lot of stress off my plate.

Okay, I lied, I have one more tip. Have Fun with It. And remember to not take it too seriously. It’s about the person you’re marrying, not the party. If you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

Enjoy the process, and happy planning!