Policy

After ten years in the wedding industry, one thing we’ve learned for sure is weddings are wonderful and memorable, but they often come with unwanted stress.

As much as brides and their families want to enjoy the experience, the multiple layers of planning, orchestrating parties, and people can take a toll. More personally, many brides plan a wedding while they are enduring another major live event, like trying to complete a college degree. Also, brides and grooms are often just starting their adult careers and feel an enormous amount of pressure to perform at work. All these events are exciting life moments but when combined can be overwhelming.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that combining new families while respecting each other’s traditions and opinions is a daunting task, to say the least. And lucky for us: the bridal appointment is often the first time these parties convene!

Bridal party appointments often include moms, stepmoms, future mother in laws, grandmothers, bridesmaids, and more! The dress shopping experience is fun and often everyone wants to be included. But too many opinions and a passive bride who wants to respect everyone’s opinion can be a recipe for disaster that ends with decision fatigue. That’s why an experienced (“magical”) bridal consultant is a must! They must be a dress expert, fashion guru, counselor, planner, a best friend to the bride in the moment, and a referee at times!

Because of the sensitivity of the moment and the importance of the experience, we threw “policy” out of our business motto years ago! When helping a wedding party at any stage, a “people over policy” strategy is a must. Brides speak their own language and have their own set of limitations – there is no space for factoring in business policies during this time. To dissolve the layers of stress, our goal is to be creatively helpful with no limits. What one bride needs or wants may be totally different than the next. Even the sweetest bride respects that there is an appointment after hers but, at the same time, she really doesn’t want to think there are any other brides in the world at that moment. And that is understandable.

Deciding to be married, planning a wedding, and enjoying your special day are some of the of the most important moments in life and we want to fan the flames! We believe the most successful wedding vendors consider this same approach when helping brides with planning and decision making. | VM

Article by BROOKE WHITE, Owner, White Weddings Bridal

“Enjoy the planning process because you only get to be a bride once! Do what makes you and your fiancé happy. Try not to stress so much over the details and remember that what truly matters is that you are marrying your best friend!” — CARLY MARCHMAN

“Its easy for wedding planning to become the overwhelming topic of conversation. Be intentional about setting aside time for you and your fiance to talk about and do things other than wedding planning!”— CANDLER BROGDON

“Remember to breathe and enjoy every moment of the day. Remember that all the tears, late night planning and hard work are worth it!” — SAVANNAH SANDERS

“My advice would be to enjoy the day & the planning that leads up to it. You only get this day once! So let it be special!” — MEGAN MAY

“Having a timeline and schedule is extremely beneficial in executing a smooth and stress-free wedding day! Knowing where everyone is and what’s going on when is a lifesaver!” — DONNA

THOMAS, WHITE WEDDINGS MENSWEAR MANAGER

“Just because it’s a wedding doesn’t mean it has to be a family reunion. Invite the people who mean most to you and your fiancé and don’t be afraid to stick up for your marriage!” — ASHLEY

RUEHLE, WHITE WEDDINGS MANAGER

“Do not stress the day of; allow all your hard work to unfold and take in every moment, because it will fly by. Remember that your wedding day is about you and the person you love, so nothing else matters!” — CARLY

WILLIS

“It can be stressful not knowing when or where to begin to plan a wedding. I live by ‘the sooner the better’ and such is the case when it comes to organizing a wedding! Reach out on social media or connect with other brides to get their input of what they wish they knew going in and helpful tips. Especially if they’re a first time bride new to the game, they often don’t know what things cost or if they’re being overcharged for what they’re wanting, so really building up a supportive community that can educate + forming this community ASAP.” —

NATALIE ROBERTS, WHITE WEDDINGS STYLIST

Start your happily ever a er in Valdosta.

Our beautiful city believes in preserving the past while celebrating the future. Many of our wedding venues are steeped in a rich history, each with its own unique story to tell. From rustic farmhouses and historical homes to golf courses and traditional churches, there’s a venue just for you.

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