So, I got an email today from The 11th Hour, our wonderful local paper, asking for bridal tips & wedding/engagement announcement submissions. Since we never got around to submitting our wedding announcement after our big day in 2006, I thought I’d send ours in now just for fun. Who knows if they’ll print it, but it was a lovely trip down memory lane nonetheless. And, I included some tips for brides-to-be:

-Start planning early! We had a year and one-half long engagement, which allowed me to plan one big thing each month and enjoy the process, rather than feel stressed or overwhelmed by it. This method helped a lot, especially since I was in nursing school at the time!

-Invest in a good photographer & videographer, but remember that ensuring your personalities mesh well is just about as important as the quality of the vendor’s work, because they are going to be in close proximity to you at all times on your big day. Our videographer was good at what he did, but he was annoying and far more concerned with flaunting his level of expertise than with paying attention to our wishes for the video.

-Shop prom racks at any & all department stores or formal wear stores in the spring for potential bridal or bridesmaid gowns – many times, no one will ever know the difference! Trust me, because I did it and people oohed & ahhed just as loudly over my unique dress that cost a small fraction of one from a chain like David’s Bridal!

-Shop ETSY and eBay for wedding accessories! These are great resources for wedding favors, hair accessories, bridal party gifts, etc. My favorite eBay vendor was Butterfly*Enchantress Designs – I found perfect handmade seashell hair pins for my summertime outdoor wedding, and they will make custom orders as well. http://stores.ebay.com/Butterfly-Enchantress-Designs and http://www.etsy.com/

-I highly recommend Good to Go for catering needs – the food was amazing, professional servers, great presentation of food, and the best prices by far! (1019 Riverside Drive in Macon, 743-4663)

-Eat your own reception food! I’ll never forgive myself for having no clue just how tasty those crab cakes were that we hand-picked for our perfect menu.

-Indulge in a scheduled after-party – there is no shame in stretching out your big day into multiple festivities, and those aunties and old family friends of your parents do not need to know just how cute you sound when you slur your words, profess your love for your new hubby, and sing along to the music after lots of champagne & Irish car bombs!

See? Wasn’t that fun?!