a Stress free wedding day. 11 Tips every bride should read before their wedding.

I have been around weddings. A LOT of weddings. From dropping petals as a flower girl, (and yes, I can remember being embarrassed when the bride and groom kissed!) to bridesmaid, bride, cake baker, directing, photographer and as a bride. Through all of this I have noticed a thing or two. Or three. Or eleven. Most of the time brides are stressed and worried over every little detail. And believe me, if you think you won't be THAT bride, then think again. You will be exactly that bride. You have worked hard up until this day to have everything just the way you want it, because let's be real, if you're not hoping this will be the only time your doing this, then you might want to reconsider your options. 
So here you are, you have worked tirelessly, for months or even a year or more, to pick just the right flowers, colors, dress, shoes, food, church, and reception hall. You have probably begged and pleaded for the groom to finalize his guest list, pick his groomsmen, pick his tux and to pahleese, tell his Uncle Ernie, that he can NOT bring his hunting dog as his +1. You have reached this big day with anticipation and full of glee. (The emotion, not the TV show.)  
These are just the tips I have come up with. But I can tell you none of them will hurt you or taste bad. I am sure as time goes on I will add to this list. But, here is what I have compiled so far. 

1. Do Not, I repeat DO NOT, have your bachelorette and bachelor party the night before your wedding. This is a sure fire way to have dark circles under your eyes, a sickly pallor to your skin, and basically feel like crap on your wedding day. It will also mean you are tired, over emotional, grumpy and not a pleasant person to be around. Yes, I mean you. I have seen too many brides end up in tears because they snapped at their mother, the maid of honor is ready to mutiny, and she's about to make the preacher cuss!
2. Do get a good nights sleep the night before. Allow yourself  rest. You have a big day ahead of you, that will be all about you. You want to be rested and relaxed to enjoy the festivities and be able to remember the day for year to come. 
3. Do Not expect everything to fall into place exactly as you planned. No matter how many times you tell someone something and how you want it done. Life happens. There will be a bow forgotten here, a ribbon forgotten there, and there may be a candle left unlit. If at the end of the day, the rings are on and the marriage license signed, then guess what the goal was achieved.
4. Do expect hiccups. You will probably forget something at home. A bridesmaid may lose an earring. And gee whiz, if you are having kids in or at your wedding. expect tears, a little whining, maybe a tantrum. The ring bearers will swing the pillows and pick their noses. I know this from my wedding. They may lift your train, step on it, or call out to mom and dad.  I had one flower girl that would not go down the aisle, and wouldn't do pictures without her pacifier. If this kind of thing is going to bother you, then don't have children in your wedding. PERIOD. Because it WILL happen. You may not see it, but it will happen. 
5. Do Not expect to do everything that day. You will not have time to make sure the decorations are perfect, the bridesmaids are dressed, the cake is ready, and that the napkins are stacked in alternating colors exactly 1/3 of in inch on diameter, and center spaced on the cake table. 
6. Do Have a runner. A friend who is not in the wedding and has no other responsibility than to check on things for you. Someone you can send to check on things or find things, or carry a message to your planner or director. 
7. Do Not wait until the rehearsal to tell friends who the maid of honor is or who is standing right next to the bride. Prepare people in plenty of time to explain your motives and avoid hurt feelings and tears at the rehearsal dinner, temper flares before the wedding and just a general atmosphere of hurt feelings. 
8. Do remember that your friends and family love you. They are trying hard to make this a special day for you and may be tired and a little stressed, too. Cut them some slack and they may cut you some too. 
9. Do have an emergency bag. Safety pins, acetaminophen, clear nail polish, garment tape, and crazy glue; whatever you can imaging you or one of your bridesmaids would need, because you may need it!
10. Do talk to your photographer weeks in advance. Give them a timeline of the events, they need almost just as much information about the timeline as the event planner/director. If the photographer doesn't know when things are happening, you can't expect to have it captured in an image. Most photographers have a really good idea  of how weddings progress and what happens when, but if you don't tell them that you are going to take time to visit with friends in a reception line before taking pictures, they may be setting up for wedding party shots instead of getting you in the reception line with your guests. More in a later blog
11. Do breathe , relax, and enjoy your day. The ultimate goal is to marry your true love and spend the rest of your life together. If at the end of the day you are Mrs. Prince Charming, then the goal was met. It doesn't matter, that the flower girl ate the petals, lost the basket, and vomited in front of the church. Ok, I made that one up, but I can imagine it happening!