Dear 2015 Brides,
It feels almost surreal writing this. I know a few
bloggers are preparing for their 2015 weddings and a close friend is also
preparing to get 'hitched' this summer, so I thought only fair to share a few of
my own experiences. You know, it’s only the biggest day of your life to prepare
for.
This time last year we were on the final countdown towards
our May wedding, which had been booked two years in advance soon after our
engagement in Paris.


This was one of the last photographs taken of me, before leaving for
the church - I remember this moment very clearly. I was petrified, but
so gracious - that the time was finally here. The day of our wedding had
arrived, and our lives were going to change forever. This is what I wish someone had told me in the lead up to mine...
Time
Time
Now let me tell you, at the time it seemed like forever
away. It was painful knowing we had YEARS to wait. But, in essence, two years
is not long enough! I’m going to be straight; no amount of time (months/years)
can allow you to be prepared. We ran out of time.
In this eventuality you just have to go with it. Yes – you
might have dreamt up this incredible table decoration, convinced yourself you
could bake your own wedding cake, but it didn’t quite happen. So be it, live
it, and find solace in knowing you did what you could.
Nerves
However confident you may seem, they will get you. You might
have played out the wedding scene in your mind one hundred times, but one day
(for me it was a fortnight before our wedding, whilst driving to my parents house, I suddenly began sobbing at the wheel) it’s going to hit you like a ton
of bricks just how big this is. How many people are attending your wedding,
waiting, anticipating seeing you enter the church, what it’s going to be like
literally being the centre of attention and how it’s going to feel walking down
the aisle and becoming ‘Mrs…’ for real. Get the tissues at the ready.
Support
Be grateful to your Husband-to-Be.
He’s the one single person who is going through the exact
same scenario and feeling as you are. Love him today, love him tomorrow and
remember he’s the one who took a chance on you and wanted you the most.
Body, Diet and Willpower
This is the BIG ONE. Because you’ve got the dress, and you
know exactly how you want/need it to feel and look on the big day. Nothing will
convince you enough that you look okay right now. The scales will petrify you
and eating will be difficult – especially if you have occasions such as Easter,
birthdays etc. looming.
Don’t lose faith – the final push is always the hardest
(especially when you want to stuff your face full of chocolate), but maintain
that healthy lifestyle, and allow yourself to exercise. Think of the reward at
the end. I don’t quite know how to put it, but the ‘wedding diet’ is one of
those infamous ones, and sadly we as women feel obliged to follow one.
Because, we all want to look our best on our wedding day – it’s just a fact of
life and it's okay to feel like this.
My journey was life-changing and wasn’t solely wedding
related, I was overweight and desperately unhappy, but my initial goal was to
be happy with the way I looked on my wedding day. And that, I achieved.
I am not going to lie – an impending wedding can be soul
destroying on your appetite. Food is hard to appreciate, because all you want
to do is look your best and you will
not let anything jeopardise that.
Try not to be too hard on yourself, you need to be healthy
and sensible, but remember without a question of doubt the willpower now will
pay off. And your Honeymoon is for EATING everything (even the chocolate, in my case mine and my husbands chocolate mousse pudding on the plane).
I get it.
Cherish
Cherish every single moment of your last months of being
‘single’ – yes you’ve been in a relationship for a long time now, but on the actual
census records you are SINGLE. So these last few months of signing as Miss and in
your maiden name (that belongs to your parents) are actually precious.
Anticipate
Finally, anticipate what is coming, because it is
life-changing. It is so huge that you will not realise until you are right in
the midst of it. This is ultimately the day you have dreamt of your entire life
and weddings (however small or big) all amount to one thing: LOVE.
Enjoy every single moment between now, the wedding and ever
after.
I hope, if anything this helped and reassured you – that
it’s going to be okay.
♥
♥
Yours Sincerely
Lovely post - I'll be coming back here when I start wedding planning.
ReplyDeleteLizzie Dripping
Thank you, please do :) x x x
Delete<3
ReplyDeleteThis is such great advice for brides-to-be.
There is so much time and effort goes into planning a wedding that sometimes you need the obvious pointing out to you xx
I totally agree Sophie, I felt a little bit swept away in it all by the end.
DeleteI guess the one key factor for me was the anticipation/wait, but equally the moment of sheer enormity WHEN it did arrive x x x
You look beautiful in your dress.
ReplyDeleteAhh I have about 7 months till our wedding, and I only chose the venue today, so I hope there is enough time! I think it’s really important to be grateful to your other half, it’s their day too. I’m trying to involve him in everything and although mostly he just nods along, he’ll get involved in things that mean a lot to him.
I want to look good in my wedding dress when I’ve chosen it, but I have no willpower whatsoever. I think doing little extra things help. I’ve swapped to healthy snacks at work, and although I drive home I then go for a walk as soon as I get in. I think if I went full out exercising I’d give up pretty quickly.
A friend said to me when I got engaged that as well as cherishing being ‘single’, I should also cherish being engaged without all the wedding planning. Just enjoy being together.
Debbie x www.hellodeborah.co.uk
Thank you so much for the feedback Debbie. Girl, I'm hearing you.
DeleteI remember hitting the 12 months/9 months/6 months/1 month countdown and each time thinking that things were getting closer and closer until boom, we were here!
I do believe that cherishing the engagement is precious also, I feel my engagement (2years) was relatively long, but definitely a good period to have.
We considered marrying sooner, but the practicality and finances weren’t really a feasible option. Of course - when it's meant to be it's meant to be.
I do wish you all the best for your planning and final 7 months! If you need any advice at all, I am happy to offer what I can. It sounds like you do have willpower - even if you don't think so, walking is great for your health and mind! I found my running was the only way to escape the madness of wedding planning mentally.
Maybe a short form of exercise might aid you? Maybe one fitness class a week or a run or long walk each weekend in the lead up?
x x x
p.s You will make a beautiful bride :)
great post!! i also got married last may and its crazy how stressful and quick the run up goes and then they day is here and gone the next! my parents got us a videographer and we just got the dvd at christmas it was so great to watch back and see it all again. i cried. lol xx
ReplyDeleteVicki - We are the class of 2014!
DeleteI remember finding out you were marrying early May and getting so excited for you! You did have such a beautiful wedding and I loved seeing the photographs and reading about it. You made a beautiful Bride.
Weddings are always one of a kind. We have a video of our first dance, which always makes me very emotional!
x x x
What a lovely post! I really love your perspective. Ha, we only had 9 months from engagement to wedding so, yes, definitely wasn't enough!
ReplyDeleteI think I must be the only person not to go on a wedding diet- I have not spoken to anyone who hasn't- I just didn't even think of it! Isn't that weird! The only thing I DID do was not drink tea for 2-3 months so I didn't get stained teeth!x
It's not wierd at all! I think women do feel pressure to look their best on their wedding day (I did), but it's natural to want to look our best. You must have been confident in your own skin and that is something I greatly admire :)
DeleteAnd, your hubby must be a very lucky man x x x
Relatable & spot on tips, Mrs Taylor(you make a beautiful bride:-)!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, you look beautiful, what a lovely photo :) xxx
ReplyDelete