Save The Date Cards
Wedding Advice from Newlyweds
If you’re the first of your close friends to get married, you lose out on the candid advice from someone who has been in your shoes. Sure, there are tons of websites and magazines telling you what to expect, but nothing beats real-life stories as a guide of what to do and what not to do. Three new brides share their experiences and some valuable advice.
Be realistic! That’s what Lily says. She and Rob decided on the spur of the moment that they would get married at the end of that month. That would have been fine if Lily hadn’t insisted on having a perfect magazine-style wedding. Looking back, Lily says she realizes she should have chose either to wait for her fairytale wedding or to have a small, simple event. When there is a mismatch between what you want and the time or money you have, you are bound to be stressed out. As Lily struggled to find an available venue, the perfect dress, caterer and band, she and Rob argued constantly. After two hectic weeks, Lily decided that she was going to go with the flow and just enjoy a simple backyard wedding. “It turned out to be just perfect!” she says
Mia wished that she had sent out Save the Date cards or at least given certain people advance notice the moment she and Steve decided on their date. I’d been trying to cut costs and told myself I’d just wait for the invitation cards to arrive. Then they got delayed and I was already caught up with other stuff. I’d relied on my friends to get the word around, but totally forgot to call my two close friends from college until 4 months before the wedding. By the time I got round to it, one friend had just paid for an expensive non-refundable holiday and the other had just landed a great job in Frankfurt, starting the Monday after the wedding. I was totally disappointed. I’ll never think Save the Date cards are a useless idea again. If you are expecting people from out of town, or your friends travel a lot, it would be a good idea to give them as much notice as possible.
Shona advises brides to have an extra pair of comfortable shoes available. Four-inch heels might make you look good as you walk down the aisle and pose for pictures, but for the reception, you want to be able to relax, socialize and enjoy that first dance. Shona regrets the vanity that made for a painful first dance with her new husband. She ended up going barefoot. A bridal first aid kit is also another useful thing to have with you. Pop in safety pins, aspirin, breath mints, make up remover and any other things you might need, so that small mishaps don’t end up ruining your day. To be super-safe, stash a nice dress in your changing room, so a torn seam or spill on your dress, doesn’t cut your wedding party short.
Hearing other people’s wedding day experiences can really help you prepare for the unexpected. You can also learn from their mistakes. Apart from your friends, chat groups and forums are a good place source of real stories.
