Despite meticulous wedding plans, trials, checklists and tastings… there are things that will happen no matter what!
It’s best to be aware of these things so you can at least mentally prepare, and then take them in your stride.
1. Emotions will stop you resting the night before.
You will be high on nerves, excitement and a mix of happy, sad, scared and delirious. It’s going to be intense.
You need to employ some serious relaxation techniques so you can get your beauty sleep – see Bupa’s meditation techniques, run a bath, practice some yoga or read a good book.
2. You will shed a tear… or two… or three…
They will be happy tears – even the hardest nuts to crack won’t be able to slip a couple of drops out by the days end.
Make sure you wear waterproof mascara, and pack some touch up makeup in your wedding emergency pack. If you know you are a bawler, pack some eye drops so you don’t have red, puffy eyes for the whole of the day.
3. Time will fly.
You’ve probably heard it a million times from your married friends, but seriously! Time. Will. Fly!
The best approach is to stop with your new husband, take it in together and whisper “we are married!!!!!” Steal a moment and appreciate the day.
4. It will take you longer to get ready than you think.
Time generally fastens when it comes to your wedding, but the morning before it’s like a warp speed! Hair, makeup, pre-wedding photos plus a couple of minor freak outs all add up to zero minutes to slip your gown on.
Make sure you have someone keeping time for you and leave no less time than half an hour to don your dress. You will need at least one person to help you pull, tuck and squeeze it on without smudging makeup and getting fake-tan on the white satin.
5. Your flower-girls and page-boys will get tired and ratty.
Go easy on the little kiddies and don’t expect a whole day from them. You may have to meet them at the church, instead of insisting that they do the big hair and makeup morning with the grown-ups. You don’t want a tantrum at the end of the aisle!
6. Things will run over-time.
Expect that your speech givers, your photos and every other part will run over time. No one will stick to their time limits, everything generally takes longer than you think it will.
Talk to the reception venue/caterer about how they will handle this, as they will be running to a schedule to get the mains and desserts out before the dancing starts. The last thing your want is for the party time to be cut short!
7. You can’t do everything on the day.
You need to delegate a lot of on-the-day jobs, even if you want to do it yourself. You will just be too busy.
8. Everyone wants a piece of you.
Be prepared to be pulled this way and that… even excusing yourself for the bathroom will seem hard.
Soak up the attention and accept that you won’t be able to have a big chat with everyone.
It’s a good idea to try and get around to every table when guests are seated for dinner. That way you will have at least acknowledged everyone at your wedding.
9. Something will go wrong.
No matter how many times you have ticked your checklist, confirmed with suppliers, practised and rehearsed, something will not go as planned. There’s a plethora of variables and no one can control everything, so it’s best to accept it now and you will hopefully relax about it on the day.
No-one cares if there is a mishap the only thing that matters is how gracefully you deal with it.
10. You will be exhausted.
The day may fly by, but it is a huge day with enormous emotions so expect to fall in a (joyous) heap afterwards.
So now you are prepared for what WILL happen on the day now all that’s left is to enjoy your wedding and laugh at the possible imperfections.
Kate x
If you’re on the other side of your wedding and have something to add or to laugh about – we’d love to hear from you! Leave your comments in the section below.