Happy Thursday!! Yesterday on my Instagram Q&A, I asked brides to tell me what the best piece of advice they received before their wedding was. Today, I'm compiling 7 of the best tips for you!
1. Break in your shoes *before* the wedding
Trust me, you'll thank yourself later for this one. You'll be spending so much time on your feet on the wedding day! It's so important to make sure that the shoes you'll be wearing are broken in so that you're comfortable (and fashionable) and aren't miserable before you even get to the reception. Some brides also choose to change into more comfortable shoes to wear at the reception. Bottom line: Make sure your feet will be comfy so you can dance the night away.
2. MAKE TIME FOR EACH OTHER
"What do you mean, Cassie? It's our day, of course we'll spend time together!" This is so true, but what most couples don't realize before the wedding is that it gets really hectic, really fast. It's a wonderful day filled with love, and of course everyone will want to talk to you both at the reception. While you'll probably be at each other's side the whole day, it's also important to have even just a few minutes together to let it sink in that you're MARRIED!! My biggest recommendation to couples is always to set aside as much time as possible for newlywed photos after the ceremony so that 1.) we get a ton of wonderful photos of y'all all dressed up with that newlywed glow, and 2.) you get to get away from everything for a little while to take a breather and enjoy being together.
3. sTAY HYDRATED & DON'T FORGET TO EAT
Don't let the photo fool you -- cake and champagne do not count for eating and staying hydrated!! Be sure to drink plenty of water before the ceremony and throughout the day, especially if you plan on drinking at the reception. A lot of brides recommend having protein for breakfast and light, healthy snacks like fruit, cheese and crackers while you're getting ready. Make time at the reception to sit down and eat, but if you absolutely can't then be sure to get a plate to take with you.
4. LEAVE YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR MAID OF HONOR
Once it's time for the ceremony, send your phone with your mom or maid of honor to hold for you until the end of the reception. Even if your dress has pockets to hold the phone, you likely won't need it for the rest of the day since everyone knows where to find you if they need something. Be present at your wedding and enjoy a day of unplugging from the outside world!
5. tAKE THE TIME TO LET IT ALL SINK IN
After months of planning and waiting and anticipating the wedding day, once it's here it will fly by so quickly! Don't sweat the small stuff on your wedding day, just take time to be present and enjoy every moment. This is also why it's so important to get those professional photos and video -- they let you look back and re-live your wedding day over and over again.
6. TAKE A WEEK TO RECOVER FROM THE WEDDING BEFORE LEAVING FOR YOUR HONEYMOON
The wedding can be exhausting!! Take a week (or even just a few days) to relax, rest, and adjust to being married before you leave for the honeymoon.
7. AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS LONG AS YOU'RE MARRIED, IT'S A SUCCESS.
The small stuff doesn't matter any more. Everything has already been planned and you have a whole army of friends and loved ones there to make sure that everything is taken care of, so step back and don't sweat it if something goes wrong. These things have a way of working themselves out, and at the end of the day, all that matters is you're married.
