planning

Brace yourself. As soon as your family and friends hear that you’re starting to plan your wedding, you’re sure to get a wave of unsolicited advice. While all of it may be well-intentioned, some of the ideas you get will be great, yet others may be way off the mark (to put it delicately).

For example, your sister may be envisioning a hip, contemporary wedding for you, but if you’re a vintage kind of girl, that’s just not going to work. Likewise, a friend or relative might try hard to convince you to use the same venue, invitation style, flowers or (fill in the blank here) that they did. If you simply can’t envision it for your own special day, thank them for the suggestion and move on.

Remember that every single decision that you make about your wedding should reflect who you are, so spend some time thinking about what your personal style really is. If a casual bouquet of sunflowers is what would make you happy, don’t let someone talk you into carrying a formal cascade of roses. Of course, that’s easier said than done when people who care about you want to weigh in. Just gently remind them that this is your wedding and that the decisions you make need to feel right for you.

Also, don’t feel bad if you’re not one of those girls who has been able to envision every detail of her wedding since she was twelve years old. That’s probably a rarity anyway. Besides, wedding trends and ideas are always evolving. You can always tap into bridal magazines for a virtual goldmine of ideas. Be sure to cut out photos and articles you like and keep them in an “inspiration” file. This can be invaluable when sharing your thoughts and ideas with your wedding vendors.

Above all, throughout the planning process, remember that it’s your day and your dream. Make it truly yours.