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8 helpful tips to help you enjoy your wedding day

After months and months of tedious planning, organizing and anticipation, your wedding day is finally here.

“Poof!” Before you even know it, it’s over!

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How familiar does this scenario sound? Check with the married women you know. We are sure that the majority of them will agree that their wedding was a haze of activity, and they hardly had time to notice and enjoy the details that they meticulously planned and put together. Let this be a lesson learned. If you are a bride planning your wedding soon, make sure that you enjoy your big day to the fullest, and we have the tips to help you make sure you do. So, let us get started.

1.Be calm and stress-free

Easier said than done, we know! There are many details to get right, timing constraints to meet and so many people involved in your wedding. So, don’t be surprised if you find yourself agonizing on how everything will progress, and if it will be hassle-free. In fact, you may find yourself pondering over this days before your wedding, and trust us it can cause a lot of stress. The last thing you want on your wedding day is to be stressed out and unable to enjoy it due to worry.

The best way to overcome stress is to be organized with your wedding planning from day one. Treat your wedding like a project, with specific details and plans for every task and sub-task. Set aside a diary or calendar to include everything you want about your wedding. Or, if you are tech-savvy bride, turn to the digital domain to plan and organize your wedding tasks. Do everything well ahead of time, so you are prepared for every situation and have every aspect in place well before the wedding day. Make sure you mark your calendar with when to follow up with each vendor, check on the bridesmaids duties and other details. Also, set aside some buffer time to accommodate any last minute changes to plan.

If you have an organized approach to your wedding planning, it will be a lot easier. Nevertheless, don’t forget to add in plenty of time for relaxation exercises, meditation and most importantly, “Me-time” free from any wedding planning, so you can unwind and relax on a regular basis. You can find some really good tips on how to handle wedding planning stress in our articles here and here. Trust us when we ask you to take it seriously, it will go a long way in keeping you sane.

2.Get a wedding planner

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A wedding planner may cost you a notable chunk of your wedding budget, but it is money well-spent if you are a bride who is easily overwhelmed with planning and organizing events. Remember that your wedding is a big occasion, the challenges of which you may not be able to fathom. As you are a novice to wedding planning, you may find it eating into your time and energy, and causing stress. Check out all the brides on Wedding Bee complaining about how frustrated the feel about managing every detail of their wedding themselves.  Don’t make the same mistake. Delegate at least part of it, if not all the wedding planning to someone who is capable of it. If you cannot afford a full-time planner, at least consider a day-of-planner, so you can breathe easily on the day of your wedding.

A professional wedding planner has experience organizing every detail of a wedding, and can eliminate a lot of confusion that you may otherwise face. Last-minute changes can drive brides nuts, but with a wedding planner, everything can be managed in the nick of time. Following up with vendors, making sure they are where they should be, checking if things are running as per schedule, managing conflicts and giving you valuable wedding advice—yes, we say hire a wedding planner, and you will thank yourself for it!

3.Delegate most of the responsibilities to friends and family

The last thing you want on your wedding day is to keep checking if your bridesmaids are dressed on schedule and at the venue on time, whether the flowers are where they should be, whether the guests arrive at the venue without any hitches, or the caterers are setting up the food as per plan. Unfortunately, brides end up with a tight schedule on their wedding morning, because of managing all these details. They can easily lose track of time and the result is that they fail to enjoy the important moments as they should. Our advice is to delegate each and every one of these tasks to people who can handle it, and stay out of their way. I am certain that you will have many friends and relatives who are eager to help. So, distribute these responsibilities among them. Let your Maid-of-Honor be in charge of the bridesmaids, a family member in charge of the flowers, one of your friends responsible for overseeing the catering team, the groomsmen in charge of coordinating the guests and your parents responsible for things at home.

All you need to make sure is that the person handling the task is reliable and capable of doing the necessary task with gusto. Provide them with explicit instructions of what they are expected to, and just let it go from your list of tasks.

When you delegate these responsibilities to different people well-ahead of time, you will have to be contacted only if there is an unexpected emergency. This will take a huge burden off your neck, and you can relax and find more time to enjoy on your wedding day. Check out this quick thread on delegating tasks at A Practical Wedding website. The brides here made the most of the help offered by their friends and family, and did it in such a fun manner. You may also be able to borrow an idea or two and enjoy the process, the same way.

4.Be prepared for every scenario and don’t let anything spoil your mood

Wedding day disasters do happen, but it doesn’t mean the end of the world. Although you may cringe at the very thought of such an issue, remember that you should prepare for it, and you will later not regret it. A bridal emergency kit is an absolute must-have and will come to your rescue in most cases. Visit this link to find out how to make your own or buy one. This will help you tide over most wedding day dress mishaps.

As for the other snags that may happen, don’t dwell on it too much and mentally prepare yourself to let it go. Don’t lose perspective of the big picture by obsessing over small details that will be insignificant in the long run. Should an unexpected issue crop up at the last minute, just think of the easiest fix for it at the moment, and don’t worry too much about it. Consider that most of the things that go wrong will be noticed only by you, so give it only the importance it deserves.

Still feel like you need some reassurance? Here’s this interesting article on The Bustle, that details 9 things that can go wrong at your wedding. It pretty much covers everything, but we like the practical solutions they have suggested for each of them. Go through it, and you will find nothing that happens on a wedding day, is as severe as it seems at the time.

5.Plan your wedding day morning so you have plenty of time

Your wedding day is a day that you deserve to enjoy. But, finding time for it is crucial. So, limit your activities and schedule only those that are absolutely necessary into your time-line, so you can relax and savor every moment. Wake up early, and start the day on a fresh note. Begin with exercise, meditation or a long soak in the tub. Refreshing yourself in this manner, will uplift your spirits and help you feel confident that you can handle the day ahead.

Dressing for your wedding will take you time, so schedule in more than just the required minimum for every task. If you have already had a hair and makeup trial, you should have a fair idea of how long it will take you to get dressed on the day of your wedding. Our suggestion is to add an extra hour to this time, just to be on the safe side. Get everything you need for your wedding day ready the day before. Also, supply necessary instructions to the wedding party on the day before the wedding, so you needn’t bother with the details on the day itself, and can put this time to better use. This article on the things you need to do the day before your wedding will guide you in this direction.

6.Make sure you have all your meals and are well hydrated

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Food and water may be the last thing on your mind in the rush leading up to your wedding. Nevertheless, it plays an important role in ensuring your well-being. With all the nervousness and excitement of the wedding running high, you can quickly feel light-headed and dizzy. When you carry on without eating properly, you may feel hungry and without energy as the day progresses. This can take away all the fun of enjoying your day. So, don’t skip your meals.

The best way to ensure you have your food is to designate time for it in your wedding day schedule, and you won’t have to worry about finding time for it. Plan your wedding day meals in advance, so it is quick and simple, but capable of keeping you energetic and fueled. Meals that are high in protein and complex carbohydrates are the best. It is equally important that you stay hydrated throughout the day. Stick with your regular intake of liquids, so your skin and eyes look fresh and glow.

If you aren’t sure of what you should be having on your wedding day, we recommend that you check out this fantastic article on Byrdie.com. Here, fitness expert Jessica Sepel, provides valuable tips on what to eat on your wedding day. This should cover all your bases.

7.Put aside all tech gadgets and attend only necessary calls

We know how impossible it is to get anywhere without our phones, tablets and other digital devices. Let your wedding day be different. Remember that once you open your social media accounts, or just decide to check your mails, you may become engrossed in it and lose precious time. So, stay away from all electronics on the day of your wedding. You may feel tempted to thank your friends and well-wishers for their wedding day wishes right away, but curb the temptation. It can wait till after the wedding, and they anyway know you are busy and don’t expect you to reply right away.

The same goes for your cell phone. Put it aside, even disconnect it. Or hand it over to someone like your mother or maid-of-honor. On your wedding day, the only calls you should be attending are those from your wedding planner. Anything else can wait, or can go through someone else. If you want to click a few selfies on the day of your wedding, definitely go ahead with it, but after that put your phone away.

Turn off your mobile and all other gadgets before you go to bed the night before your wedding, and you will be surprised at how calm your day is and how much more time you suddenly seem to have.

8.Don’t forget to take it all in

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If you want to remember the most important moments of your wedding day, make sure that you spend a minute or two taking it all in. On your wedding day, share a few minutes with your parents and capture that moment in memory. During the ceremony, spend an extra minute just to look around and enjoy the scene. Have a proper look at your bridegroom when he first sees you, and burn it into your memory. Enjoy your wedding photo shoot and live in the moment. Make sure that you have these deep happy moments to recollect later and remember your wedding day by. It will not feel as though it passed too soon, when you do.

For more wedding tips and advice, continue visiting us on Best for Bride.

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A few things to remember before you hire family or friends as wedding vendors

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Is your close friend a fantastic photographer? Or maybe you have a cousin who is a florist. Are you considering hiring them for your wedding. It could be because they offered to do the job or you think you can get it done for for less this way, than when you hire a professional. While this may seem the easiest way to go about it, it needn’t work out well in all cases. Sometimes, it is better you pay extra and hire a professional for the job instead.

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Let us look at why you should think well before you hire friends or family for your wedding.

Your friend may not be as good as you expect

You may want to give your friend some business by hiring him/her for your wedding. But do so only if you know how good they are at it. If they haven’t worked at a wedding before or aren’t as good as they say they are, you will be making a big mistake. Your friend or relative may be super nice, and may have convinced you that they are capable of the job. However, you wouldn’t know unless you saw their wedding portfolio, or have actually seen how well they do their business.

They may not execute your ideas perfectly as a professional would

When you hire a friend for your wedding, it is difficult to be assertive with what you want. Your friend may stick to what they think is best and not go with your original ideas. When it is someone you do not know personally you can usually switch to a different vendor if your ideas clash. But when it is a friend, this will strain your relationship and simply create an unnecessary rift.

With no contract, you are taking a huge risk

One thing that confirms you will have the required service from a vendor, is the service contract you sign. When you entrust the job to a relative or friend, it is unlikely that there will be any contract involved. Imagine what you will do if your friend decides to cancel at the last minute! You will be left without any back-up plan, and there couldn’t be a bigger disaster. On the other hand, most professionals will be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, and will arrange an alternative if they are forced to cancel for any reason.

Your friend will be occupied with their job instead of enjoying your wedding

Wouldn’t you prefer that your friend enjoys your wedding instead of worrying about the service they have to provide? If you do, you won’t have to think twice about hiring a professional for the job.

You now know what to expect and what could go wrong unless you make an informed decision. Nevertheless, remember that each situation is difficult and sometimes you may get a better when you hire a friend. Just think your decision through and go with it only if you are certain that your friend is reliable, capable and will give you what you want.

For more wedding advice and tips,visit us at Best for Bride.

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5 reasons we love short bridesmaid dresses

Just like bridesmaids come in all sizes and shapes, so do bridesmaid dresses. From long flowing elaborately embellished bridesmaid dresses, to short and sweet ones, we’ve seen them all. The long evening gown is classic and elegant in it’s own right, but there is a certain charm to a short bridesmaid dress. Here are the top five reasons for why we love short dresses, and you should too!

Bridesmaids 6Image Credit: outreachr.com, via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

1.Short dresses cost less

Less fabric directly translates to lower cost. Of course, this also depends on the dress you choose. But, as a general rule, a similar dress with a shorter hemline will be cheaper than a dress that extends to full-length.

2.Chances of reusing the dress are greater

When a girl signs up to be a bridesmaid, she knows that a new dress is on the cards. However, the bride should remember that she cannot always use her bridesmaid dress again. At least in most cases, and especially when the dress is typical bridesmaid style. The exception is in the case of a short dress, as it may work for her when she goes out for an evening with her girlfriends. So, help your friend get the most of her money by choosing a short dress instead of a long one. The chances of reuse are maximized when the color is a neutral and the pattern that isn’t common bridesmaid choice.

3.They make your bridesmaids look young and smart

Long gowns are ladylike and elegant, while short dresses are fun and cheerful. There is no doubt that a woman looks much younger and more smart when the dress is short and well-fitted. She looks more confident and chic in a short dress, and if she has pretty legs, you would be doing her a favor by letting her flaunt them in a short hemline.

4.The shorter style fits a casual setting easily

The best thing about short bridesmaid dresses is that it is refreshingly casual. If your wedding style borders on semi-formal to informal, a short bridesmaid dress is the best choice you can consider. If your wedding is to be held outdoors, it also makes a practical choice. Remember that your bridesmaids will be running around a lot, so it only makes it a lot easier to manage in a short dress that doesn’t stifle her movements. Short hemlines paired with other casual elements like ruffles, lace and frills make the textures at your wedding photographs interesting. What is more, when you are in a long gown, your dress will instantly be in focus against the shorter hemlines of your bridesmaids, in photographs.

5.Short dresses allow your bridesmaids to choose unusual and interesting shoes

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We love this idea, which we found on the Exclusively Weddings blog. Unlike a long gown, which covers up most of the leg and gives you less chance of showing off stylish footwear, short bridesmaid dresses allow you to give your bridesmaids a cohesive look with the same style of shoes. In winter, consider having them wear chic boots that look dressy. For a summer wedding, you can have your bridesmaids in a neutral colored dress, and add that interesting pop of color by choosing similar shoes in a vibrant shade.

So, what do you say? Do you prefer short bridesmaid dresses to longer ones? Let us know.

Visit our bridesmaids dress collection on Best for Bride, and make your choice from the best you can find, whether you prefer long or short dresses for your favorite girls.

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How about a flower crown for your summer wedding?

Are you a bride who will be married next summer? It is time you started thinking of your wedding dress and accessories to create the perfect bridal look on your big day. One of our favorite accessories for a summer wedding is a flower crown. It is refreshing, beautiful, fragrant and just right for the warm weather.

Flower crowns may be the latest bridal hit now, but it is an accessory that has been around forever. Here is the history behind it.

Flower crowns in the past

In ancient Greece, men and women often wore flower and leaf crowns. The flower crown was actually a wedding symbol in Ukraine, where the couple exchanged periwinkle and myrtle wreaths to symbolize their marriage vows. The Indian bridal hairdo is characterized by elaborate floral decorations that often start on the head and cover the entire length of the hair.

The Chinese flower crown inspired Queen Victoria to wear a similar orange one at her wedding, and just like she’s the inspiration behind the white wedding dress and the tiered wedding cake, the flower crown fashion is also attributed to her.

Now that we know the origins of the flower crown, let us look at how you can include rock this look as your bridal hairdo.

Match the flowers to your makeup

If there is one bright color in your makeup, like a berry purple or bright red, add flowers in a similar color to your floral crown. This will enhance the stark white of the rest of your attire, while allowing the bright colors to stand out.

Weave the flowers into your braid

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Many summer brides prefer a loose bun or updo, with braids adding a casual air to their look. If you will be adopting this style, consider weaving small flowers or your flower crown into your braids for a spectacular effect. Choose smaller flowers like daisies, and expertly braid them in, so it looks like their positioning was well thought out.

Choose only few large blooms for a casual, dreamy look

If you have a small visage, you should either choose small flowers in your hairdo, or limit the bigger blooms to just a few. Choose a flower crown which places these flowers together, and keep the rest of the circumference simple, with green. You can either place the crown in the center, or towards one side, and let a few locks fly around for a dreamy bridal look.

Fabric flower crowns are just as good as the original

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If you will be outdoors for quite some time, you should consider how well your flower crown will hold. Most flowers wilt, and you do not want them to look tired after a while. If the temperatures in your area are high, you can either have two crowns made, or choose a fabric crown instead. Apart from staying fresh through the day, the added bonus of a fabric crown is that it is ready well in advance, and you will be able to and try it on and perfect your look for the day.

For more interesting wedding tips and advice to help you plan your wedding day, visit us at Best for Bride, the one stop destination for all your wedding needs.