I am getting married in less than eight months. I know that sounds like a long time. Some brides don’t even have that long to prepare their wedding. But if there’s one thing I have figured out so far, it’s that no matter how much time you have to plan your wedding, you will always have the same stressful obstacles. There’s a lot that goes into a wedding, and brides don’t always get enough credit for the crap we have to put up with. So let’s do a quick run down of just a few of the top struggles brides take on.
- Picking Your Bridesmaids
Now I know this sounds like it’d be simple. You know who your friends and family are, and you know who to pick, right? Well when it comes down to it you need to pick out a number of how many bridesmaids/groomsmen you want in your wedding. You need to think about how many you can afford to pay for, how many would actually help you when you need them, and who means the most to you. I picked six because I need an even number of bridesmaids on each side of me for pictures, and, helloooo, I get to be lucky number seven. Once you have a number picked out, you need to decide whom you want to fill those spots. All family members? Who are your closest friends? Who can you absolutely not NOT have by your side? Pick wisely. Otherwise feelings are hurt and you definitely don’t want drama on your big day.
- What Kind Of Flowers You Want
Peonies, hydrangeas, lilies; the list goes on and on and on. Unless you are an actual florist, don’t even assume you know squat about flowers entering your wedding planning process. First you have to find a florist, which is a pain in the ass because they have to fit all of your qualifications. They need to fit your budget, carry whatever flowers you think you want, be within location, and they need to be tolerable to work with. Once you find a florist you approve of and pay them for more than you can afford, you need to actually work on picking your flowers. And OMG. It’s more annoying than anyone talks about. Everybody has colors for their wedding picked out. But florists take color shades five levels deeper than you even knew existed, which means you have so many more colors you have to decide from. Not to mention, you have to agree on what flowers work for your color scheme and budget, and, of course, they have to be in season. Then you need to figure out where you want to place your flowers. Do you want every table to have a centerpiece? Will you have an arch that needs to be covered? What about the flower girl? Will your groom’s grandmother require a corsage? What kind of flowers look good for all of these details? Yes, it is as frustrating as it sounds. Sometimes you just need to remind yourself to breathe. Just breathe.
- Beauty Routine
To begin, you need to decide what is generally the most important aspect of your look for your wedding day. How important is glowing skin? Do you need your teeth fixed or whitened? What shade do you want your hair? I’m a big fan of beauty routines, so as soon as I got engaged I started trying out new things in order to figure out what I want on my big day. I dyed my hair a few shades lighter assuming I’d like my hair the same way it looks in the summer, possibly even lighter. Luckily, I figured out 15 months beforehand that the hair color I was so certain I wanted is actually not what I like if it isn’t natural. This gave me time to dye my hair close enough to my natural color that by the time I say “I do” my hair will look natural again and all will be right in the world. I also have become obsessed with getting glowing skin. I went to the dermatologist ASAP and completely changed my face routine and began chugging water like the earth is running out. I have started new fitness routines and bought new diet supplements. You also have to figure out whom you trust with your nails, hair, tan, etc. The point is, it will take you a long time to figure out what works for you. And if you are impatient like I am, it can be a lot of work and take up A LOT of time.
- Wedding Dress Shopping
This can be a fun one, depending on whom you go with and where. However, it is extremely stressful given that this dress that you are going to pick out will be THE dress. It’s the dress that EVERYBODY will feast their eyes on. This is the dress that will be altered to fit your body perfectly so everybody can compliment how beautiful you look. This is the dress that you will remember for the rest of your life. No pressure or anything. You need people shopping with you who will be honest and supportive. I can’t stress the honesty part enough. You need someone who will tell you when a dress doesn’t flatter your body type, or someone who will try to change your mind when spaghetti straps look better on you even though you are set on strapless. You also have to make sure you find the right wedding dress boutiques, otherwise you might not be successful at all even after a long day of trying on and taking off dress after dress in front of complete strangers. It’s absolutely excruciating.
Honestly, your wedding is all up to you. But the stress is unavoidable. So grab a bottle of champagne, open up Pinterest, and try to relax as you plan out your dream day.
