Wedding do's.

Mark & I celebrated our first wedding anniversary (almost a month ago) and we absolutely loved reminiscing about our special day. There are 10 things I would suggest to anyone planning a wedding:

1. See each other before the ceremony. We were totally against it because it seemed non-traditional until we realized we wouldn't be able to enjoy a cocktail hour due to pictures, & wouldn't be able to tell each other everything we wanted to during our ceremony. We took most of our pictures before the ceremony, which was helpful due to the limited daylight in December & everyone looked their best!
2. Wear a veil. Not only because your mom wants you to but you will feel like a bride!
3. Instead of a guest book, we had a poster for people to sign which is now displayed in our dining room. It is lovely to see who attended & it is a constant reminder of all our loved ones.
4. Get a band. It is absolutely worth it. We met with them a few times prior to our big day, to tell them exactly what we wanted & it is something everyone seems to remember.
5. We really enjoyed our pre-martial classes. We met a few times, for a few hours each, to talk about finances, chores, & how we want to be loved. It gave us a chance to discuss things which may not have came up so easily on our own.
6. Say your vows. I absolutely loved our vows we made to each other. I know it isn't for everyone (can be very nerve racking) but takes the 'big day' more important & helped realize we were celebrating our marriage rather than just this one-time event.
7. Have a breakfast the morning after for guests who stay over. This was so nice to spend extra time with our close friends & family, without the loud music & talk about what happened at the after party.
8. Go on your honeymoon, two days after your party! We went to Mexico for our honeymoon, so we had an early morning flight. Therefore, my parents took us to the an airport hotel after breakfast & a nap. This way we were able to relax the next night & then, get up so early Monday morning to catch our flight.
9. Dance between courses. Due to our band, they got everyone up & dancing between courses. This gave everyone time to interact & have fun before it was too late. This also helped people not feel bloated, or full.
10. Have a sleepover with your girlfriends after the rehearsal dinner. It was so nice to relax & have some innocent fun before the big day.

We loved watching our wedding video on our anniversary to see every one's dance moves & see things you may not have witnessed during your busy day. I am looking forward to spending many more with the man of my dreams. Thank you to everyone who made our special day so memorable.