{what i learned about weddings}

so you know all that great stuff you hear about "your wedding day"...guess what? it's better!

the ceremony was the closest thing to having tunnel vision i've ever experienced. {my eyes were focused on the prize.} somehow your vows flow even when you realize, mid-sentence, you never practiced. you're MARRIED. nothing can prepare you for the incredible feeling of hosting all the people you love in one big room. to top it off, everyone is dressed to the nines...looking all adorable in their suits and dresses. it moves you.

here's my tiny collection of wedding "tips" passed along from family and friends

{and a few of my own}

...

breathe. answering questions about your wedding gets old. don't get me wrong, it's really fun for a while...but it slowly starts to consume every conversation like a weed. during the final two months we were ecstatic to have any discussion far removed from reception food, color choices, or flowers. and don't even get me started on all those last minute, "why aren't you doing this?" requests. save yourself a few tears...or an evening sitting on your cold bathroom floor in the dark wondering why you didn't just elope...and breathe. deeply. 

stay organized. excel spreadsheets saved my sanity. we tracked our budget, guest list, even the seating chart with glorious excel documents. bless you, microsoft! it's inevitable possible i color-coded them too. our vendor paperwork was kept in a binder. we meticulously used a calendar for all our appointments. and guess what? besides the mind-boggling cost of anything with the word "wedding" in front of it, the event itself is not stressful. invest in the important details...and save on the rest. in the end, it's your day!

trust your vendors. should you voice your opinions? absolutely! but acknowledge that they are the professional and that's why you hired them. no one likes a micro-manager. do your research early and hire people you'd be happy sharing lunch with on any regular day.

wedding dresses are made to be loved. get your dress fitted. steam it to wrinkle-free perfection. have every detail exactly the way you want. enjoy a beautiful ceremony in an equally beautiful dress...then let loose! for every spill, dirt stain, or rip {oh yes, it happened} on my dress, there was a warm hug or hilarious dance move to accompany it. who expects a perfectly pristine wedding dress at the end of the night? not this girl!

be present. just about every married friend we have offered this advice in some fashion. don't get so wrapped up in the whirlwind and forget to remember what it's all about {for once, it's not the hokey pokey}. don't let your conversations feel rushed. take that one extra photo with your siblings. eat dinner! and spend the whole event hand-in-hand with your new spouse.

it IS possible to use the restroom by yourself...even in that giant dress. most of you think this is a virtually impossible task without the skirt falling in the toilet, but it worked like a charm. around 11pm, when my self-appointed "bathroom assistant" sister was busting moves on the dance floor, i tucked away and conquered the oval office on my own. i will spare the actual details on my blog...but if you want to know how, just ask!

you will never, ever talk to everyone. i still feel horrible for the handful of people we missed at our reception. we gave it such a strong effort, but people inevitably leave early...or uncle bob has a great, 30-minute story to share. remember to write an extra special thank you cards to those you miss.

married life isn't drastically different. maybe it comes from being being stubborn enough to date someone for seven years before exchanging i do's, but the world has not flipped upside down since we got married. it's the same life. with the same goals. and the the two same people. we're just "officially" taking this fun journey called life together! 

can anyone promise your wedding day will be flawless? no. are there things you will want change after it's over? YES. let it go. i promise...a day filled with smiles, laughter and a few tears {all for the sake of love} is nothing short of perfection.

{all images in this post belong to our marvelous photographer, gail werner}

© 2011 gail werner photography, llc
www.gailwernerphoto.com