Sunday night television viewing being as naff as it is, I slung on my wedding video for a bit of entertainment. I was so naive when we got married but it was still an amazing day. We did lots of things on the cheap and I can tell when watching the video. We bought ourselves a camcorder and asked a friend to film for us. He picked the camera up the day before the wedding and to be honest did a wonderful job, but looking back (or if I could have the day again) there are so many things I would know to do better that the wedding books just don't (or didn't) emphasise, so here's a few tips for anyone planning a wedding any time soon...
These are not in any particular order mind..
1) Practice walking, dancing and sitting in your wedding dress, veil and shoes - I spent the whole wedding meal faffing with my veil on camera
2) Discuss with the photographer/videographer what group photos you want and show him who the important people are first
3) Do not hire the cheapest photographer you can find unless you are damn sure he is good - I had a semi retired chap and he was so bossy to everyone.
4) Do look at friends' wedding photos to see what styles you want - lots of my friends have b&w pics, fun snaps, formal and informal poses. Mine were all formal and (too my mind) dull.
5) have a walk thru if possible with all the key players - when the registrar asked who was giving me away my mum turned round, pointed at my uncle and said "he is" even though it was a rhetorical question.
6) check what your DJ thinks is 'good' music and agree the first few songs. Robbie Williams straight after my first dance sent everyone running to the bar.
7) practise any speechs before doing them - I didn't make notes and I cringe when I hear my speech.
8) If you have a buffet; order food for less people than you intend to invite - some won't turn up, others will have eaten and you will end up with lots of wasted food.
9) arrange for someone to take your flowers if you are having them dried/pressed/kept.
10) don't take instructions from anyone who is not you or your fiance, it's your big day after all!
I'm sure there are more but I can't think right now.
Post wedding, be prepared for EVERYONE to ask 'how is married life?' as though your relationship has evolved over night, and for people you barely know to think its acceptable to say 'when are you starting a family then?' as if it's there bloody business. My response to both questions was to turn it around and ask how their relationships were and when we could expect them to have kids.
Anyhoow, nearly bed time so better go wash the dishes and wash my hair.
