| Advice from past brides |
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| The advice below was actually a quick idea I did for "Mindy's Corner" one month. I heard back from so many brides that they found it helpful so it will now be a regular page on the website and I will add to it every couple of months as PaPerPlay brides get married. The question is - If I could change one thing, I would have... |
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| I definitely would have taken the time to go through a few make up and hair trials instead of just being happy with the first run. I did end up liking how I looked on the big day, but because I didn't put much thought into it, I now wish I did something that looked a little more like me. Casey Alcott, October 16, 2004 |
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| I would have allowed more time for the rehearsal dinner. I think I was so busy trying to pack all the activities into one weekend that I really didn't allow for much time at the rehearsal dinner. With all of the out of towners, family and friends, it would have been fun to not have anything scheduled after the dinner and just let the evening flow. Stephanie Byrd, August 28, 2004 |
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| Not drink the night before at the dinner rehearsal!!!! Brianna Gallelli, October 30, 2004 |
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| I wouldn't have tried to do so many things myself to save money. I made my own favors, programs, and centerpieces; all the work the last week of the wedding just about made me crazy! On the other hand, it did provide some good "girl time" for my bridesmaids and me to catch up while tying bows, cutting flowers and printing poems! Tracey Davis, November 6, 2004 |
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| I would do all the little last minute things well in advance no matter how small they may seem. It all added up in the end and I did not get to enjoy the rehearsal dinner at our house as much as I should have. Let your friends help when they offer. Sandra Stalker, November 20, 2004 |
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| I would remember the day is about my husband and I and not worry so much about what other will think, do or say. I would erase the words of others and care only about my husband and my desires. Tiffany Warner, November 13, 2004 |
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| I would have totally not fussed with favors. I feel like I spent so much time looking at favors online just to spend more time cutting and gluing and messing with ribbon and such. For as much time as they took, I think I was really expecting people to flip, but I don't think that happened. If I were to go back, I would have just donated money to charity and put a little note at each place setting telling guests. Ally McDonald, October 8, 2004 |
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| Given us a day after the wedding to just chill out instead of hopping on planes all day to get to our honeymoon! Samantha Smith, December 8, 2004 |
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| I would have tried to get more things done the week BEFORE the week of the wedding. I felt like I was running around getting my dress, meeting with vendors, organizing seating charts, etc. and I think I missed out a little when family started arriving. I also would have delegated more responsibilities to my husband. Kim Bradison, December 7, 2004 |
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| If I could have done one thing differently, I would have not picked my bridesmaids so early. Mike and I were engaged for a year and 8 months and friendships just change over time. Also I wish I had the wedding ceremony just a little bit later. The guests and my husband and I were facing into the sun. Other then that...everything went perfect and I will remember Mike's and my special day for a lifetime! Brenda Daly, April 30, 2005 |
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| If I could do one thing differently..aside from hiring Mindy for stationary and video, I would have figured out a way for her to be the day of coordinator as well. I had a coordinator that was included with my venue, however she specialized more in the catering/décor aspects then she did getting the wedding party together and the sequence of events for the reception. Alyx Porter Umphrey, April 23, 2005 |
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| I would have taken the time to find a great seamstress to alter my dress. I had my dress altered three times by the seamstress at the bridal shop where I bought my dress and each time it got worse! My mom finally sent my dress to her seamstress four days before my wedding and had it fixed. In the end my dress was better but still not the perfect fit Amber Held, March 19, 2005 |
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| I would have told my photographer exactly what kind of photos I wanted. I would have found photos online that I liked and then printed them out so it was very clear. Shannon Plunkett, May 28, 2005 |
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| If could have done one thing differently for my wedding day, I would have had someone video tape my ceremony. Pictures were very important to me so I decided not to have a videographer but spend extra on a photographer. I LOVE my pictures but I wished I would have had a friend video tape the ceremony. So many funny things happened and it all went so quickly I wish I could go back and replay everything. Stacy Melton-Bennett, June 2005 |
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| "If could have done one thing differently for my wedding day, I would eliminate having a receiving line. It took away from getting pictures, made my guests wait even more to start the reception, and was simply not worth it. Either our guests didn't understand the point of a receiving line or our guests came up to us during the entire night to talk to us anyway. PS-I would have also hired Mindy for a wedding coordinator. She was more helpful than my family and friends who I alloted tasks to do. For example, my mom was suppose to remember how to assemble my bustle, and forgot when it came time to. Thank goodness Mindy was there to save the day! :) Risé G. Reed |
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