Well, you guys. I made it. I did it. Today is my wedding day (actually, today is exactly eight days until my wedding day, but in an effort to get ahead and enjoy my vacation, I’m writing this a little pre-emptively). Depending on what time you’re reading this, I’m either getting ready, getting hitched or getting drunk. I’ve been planning my wedding for a little less than a year and a half and, let me tell you, I’ve learned some shit. From one bride to everyone else in the world, I’m imparting my completely unqualified and unprofessional wisdom onto you.
1. For the entire duration of your engagement, literally all anyone is ever going to want to talk about is your wedding. Just deal with it.
2. Everyone has an opinion on what you should be doing.
3. As much as you try to tell yourself that it’s your day, you’re going to end up trying to make everyone else happy, too.
4. Sometimes trying to make everyone else happy will backfire.
5. Sometimes it won’t.
6. Everyone means well when they voice their opinions, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
7. Weddings are expensive (like, really expensive).
8. There will be times when your initial reaction to something ridiculous is to laugh, and that’s okay.
9. There will be times when your initial reaction to something ridiculous is to cry, and that’s also okay.
10. Your fiancé© and your friends are going to be your lifeline when it comes to staying grounded and you’re going to be so so grateful.
11. Weddings (and funerals, for that matter) stir up family shit. It’s unpleasant, but it happens. The best thing to do is pull yourself out of the middle of it.
12. Vendors are dealing with tons of other brides like yourself, so it’s not personal when they forget details that you told them months ago.
13. It’s a party, don’t stress.
14. As long there are food, drinks and good music, no one will care if you forgot to add an extra touch to the decor.
15. When things get stressful, you need to remember the real reason you’re doing this (and if your reason is anything other than to celebrate the love you have for your fiancé©, you need to reevaluate your life #sorrynotsorry).
16. The most random things will set of stress attacks, like hair trials.
17. You will dream about your wedding almost every night for weeks leading up to the event (and if you don’t, tell me HOW).
18. Your bridesmaids are there to make your life less stressful and because they love you. Don’t ever take that for granted.
19. You’re going to wish you’d taken the week off before your wedding if you didn’t.
20. It’s really hard to stay focused with #sweatingforthewedding when almost every wedding-related event involves food and alcohol.
21. Your wedding day will sneak up on you SO FAST.
22. Find small ways to keep your calm: yoga, reading, walks, wine. Even if it’s just five minutes of whatever to get you back to your zen place, do it.
23. Depriving yourself of things you like to eat because you feel like you need to look a certain way on your wedding day will only make you miserable. No one likes a cranky bride, so everything in moderation.
24. The weeks leading up to your wedding will be filled with people going “OMG your wedding is SO CLOSE.” It won’t help your stress levels, but the only acceptable response is to giggle and say “Yeah, I know!”
25. All of your money is going to come out at one time. Your bank account will look really sad for a while, but you’ll get through it.
26. Delegate tasks when you can”it’ll make your life so much easier.
27. Emotions are going to be running high, so if tears start running, just let them run.
28. Everything will fall into place, so don’t stress the little things.
29. Everyone is there to celebrate you and your new husband so once the vows are read, just enjoy the night.
