What They Don’t Tell You About Your Wedding Day

One thing about getting engaged and planning a wedding is all of the advice people will give you. You’ve probably heard a million times, “Wedding days go by so fast and you won’t remember a thing!” or, “Make sure you have your bridal survival bag with all of the little things you might need in case of a wedding day emergency.” But what about those things they don’t tell you? That’s what this blog is all about!

Something won’t go as planned.

Listen, it’s not as bad as it seems. Literally every single wedding I shoot has at least one thing that goes wrong. But ya know what? At the end of the day, at every single wedding, there is a happy couple who is now married and spending the rest of their lives together. So really, it’s all good! Something always happens, so if you approach your wedding day knowing something won’t go as planned, you’ll be more likely to just go with the flow rather than freak out.

The day will be overwhelming.

How could it not be? You’ve been planning ONE SINGLE DAY for a year, maybe even two years. There are a lot of moving parts on a wedding day, and as the person getting married, there’s a lot of pressure and responsibility. It’s a lot of freakin’ work. You want the decorations to be perfect, to look incredible, to have all of those special moments you’ve dreamed about and you want your guests to have a great time. And this is just some of the things - honey, it’s a lot! If you feel overwhelmed, don’t feel guilty. That’s normal! Make it a point to take some time to yourself - it’ll help you calm your nerves and get level headed. True story - I asked one of my brides what her favorite part of the wedding day was and, without hesitation, she said it was when she went into a room by herself and sat down. Of course, I laughed because that is such an unexpected, honest response, but I totally get it and am not surprised! That little alone time was probably just enough to slow down the day and take everything in. So if you have a chance, take some alone time on your wedding day. Try not to let all of those pressures make you forget the real reason why you’re having a wedding in the first place. After all, everyone just wants to celebrate you two as a couple, not the floral arrangements or wedding venue ;]

You can’t control everything.

Let me say that again, YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t. And that’s okay! Before the wedding day, prepare as much as you can and know when to give up control and who to give it to. Having designated people in place to help you do things on your wedding day is seriously the best thing to do. Need to eat lunch on your wedding day? Ummm, yes! Have someone grab you food so you can eat on the go. Decorations need to be set up but you’re getting ready for the day? HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. You can’t be in two places at once. You can’t figure out where you put your lipstick? That’s what your bridesmaids are there for! Sure, you’ll be relying on someone else and that could be scary (especially if you’re a control freak) but find people you trust to do the job and know that they’ll get it done and everything will be alright.

You probably won’t talk to all of your guests.

Receiving lines are a great way to get a quick hello in to a large amount of people in a short amount of time. I very highly recommend doing them for that reason alone, but also because it really is impossible to talk to every single person at your wedding. It just is, no matter what you do. So in the days following your wedding, when you’re thinking about the people you didn’t get a chance to talk to, don’t feel guilty. It happens!

You’ll be sick of smiling.

Yes, you will because your face will hurt. You’ll never smile more in your life - don’t forget to give your face a break :P

You might get annoyed at someone who you never imagined.

The stress will get to you, but try not to redirect your overwhelming feelings on your friends and family. They’re just trying to help :]

Trying to maneuver in a bathroom stall in your wedding gown will be the hardest part of the day.

No, it won’t be the stress of the day. It won’t be walking down the aisle. It won’t be trying to slow your tears so you won’t ruin your makeup. The hardest part of your wedding day will be that dreaded moment when you realize you have to pee and you have no clue how to do it gracefully. Grab a bridesmaid, hop in the biggest stall in the bathroom, take your dress off if you need to and do ya thang. Modesty will go out the window that day - it’s all good!

You will miss parts of the day that you wish you were there for.

Because there is just soooo much going on around you and so many different groups of people socializing and having a blast, you’re bound to miss something hilarious, emotional or downright ridiculous. But hey, that’s why you have photographers and videographers! Don’t feel bad about not being around for a special moment - you can’t be in two places at once boo! Be happy knowing that your guests have some great stories and memories from your wedding day!

You’ll get something on your dress/tux.

Dirt, food, makeup, wine. It’s going to happen. I’ve seen it all. I’ve even had a groom get a bloody nose before bridal party photos and it was all over his white shirt and grey tux. Pack baby wipes, Tide to go sticks or even an adult bib if you’re worried about it. Don’t stress over it though. No one will see the dirt on the bottom of your dress! As a fun trick for the groom - If you’re wearing your jacket and hugging guests, there will be makeup transfer or deodorant stains. Use a clean part of the tux and rub it over the mark. It’ll help remove the mark, or at least make it less noticeable.