I’ve always enjoyed spring-cleaning. Every time I do this, I end up giving up at least ten old clothes ready to be given to our ates (helpers), but it seems like whenever I try to clean up my closet, I end up putting back some clothes with unique prints and cuts, sparkly sequins or that magical ukay-ukay find that I’ve always been proud of because it was such a steal. I tell myself that “hey, I can still use this to a friend’s party, I have to keep it”- believe me, not happening anytime soon.
Surprise, surprise! I’m getting married in two months. Yes
you read that right. I’m one of those moms who delayed marriage because babies
came in first without my consent (kidding!) Anyway, I’ve always believed in get
married when you’re ready not just because you’re about to have a baby. Ok, that may not be the case for everyone
especially in our country with conservative families. But hey, you only get to
marry the love of your life once so why not make it extra special? Not saying
that you have to throw N million for the ceremony and reception but just make
it more unforgettable for the couple and the guests right?
***
Ok brief background, I got engaged February 2015, yep it’s
a long engagement and in between planning I found out that I was pregnant with
Aloncito. Imagine all the emotions I was feeling that time- shocked, scared and
a bit sad because we were almost wrapping things up for our January 2017
wedding and now I have to start over again with breastfeeding101 because baby is
on his way! Anyway, the little boy is a blessing naman so we decided to move the date to the last quarter of this year. And
will you look at that, I only have a few weeks left to do some more preps.
Ang bilis ng panahon!
If you wanna be like me who has been super chill during the entire planning stage, here are tips to keep in mind to avoid turning into a
Bridezilla!
Know what you want
If you got engaged, chances are you’ve already made a mental
list of suppliers in your head. You’ve seen the works of the top photographers,
videographers and that dream dress made by the fashion designer you love. If you can’t sleep through it, BOOK them right away. I know, it’s easier said than done especially
when it comes to the wedding budget but trust me, you’ll be extra happy when
you’re comfortable that these suppliers will deliver a hundred percent on your
wedding day. Say my wedding stylist who happens to be a friend too, I just love her minimalist style which reflects my personality too so I asked if she can style my wedding. It’s her first time too so she was extra happy and pressured to make my peg come to life! She gave me a reasonable offer so yea, paid in full!
Do not waste time on Pinterest
Sure it’s one click away to finding all the things you need, you just have to type the word wedding. It’s also true that you need to compile pegs- the best silhouette
for your body type, the no makeup makeup look and the flower arrangements for
you and your girls. But Pinterest has a curse of putting you in an emotional rollercoaster. First, it’s gonna be exciting then you’ll feel overwhelmed
with the number of options to choose from and there comes frustration when you
think about “How the hell will I pull
this off?” Unless you have all the time to DIY or you’re willing to pay
whatever for the stylist, then why not? I’m just saying that keep your
Pinterest browsing in moderation to control your expectations too!
Ask for help
Everyone is BUSY. At
this stage in our lives, most of your friends are busy at work and they
couldn’t care less about your big day to be honest! Sure they are willing to help
but they have to attend to their deadlines too in the office and that means
they only got limited time to spare for you and the whole planning. Unless your
bridesmaid is a crazy rich Asian who can afford to sit around the whole day and
choose the perfect shade of blue for your table cloth, do not expect them to be there 24/7. For me, I made sure that my bridesmaids were given certain task that I know they’ll be able to accomplish without getting stressed. One bridesmaid was assigned to help me with the vows because she’s a good writer while another was asked to make the flowers for the entourage because she’s a designer and she has the style for anything posh! Another one was designated to help in choosing the wedding bands because she loves jewelry. Make sure that these friends know you well and your style so they can really give you the best product or advice!
Do not nag the guy
Believe me, whatever deadline you set or assignment you give them, they will do it when they have the time. My fiance is always hooked to his phone running errands and business transactions so I really had to make notes for him on what he needs to do. As much as I want everything settled a month before the wedding, I just had to leave it up to him and trust that he will be able to complete last minute agendas- such as finding the perfect pants and shoes or renting the tent (omg guys I didn’t know choosing tents will take up so much of our time!) or simply telling his guy friends that “Hey, you’re part of our entourage okay, prepare your most decent Barong Tagalog”. LOL.
Make time for other things
Dude, the wedding is just 10HOURS. You can’t live around the wedding preps if you also have other commitments. When you read on Wedding Timeline, you’ll feel pressured that “sh*t, wala pa akong ganito ganyan, I have to do it NOW!” the timeline is just a guide but it is still up to you, your running budget and the amount of time that you have in your hands. I’m SUPER busy with work right now but I make sure to give two days of preps every week. And because I also have Mama duties, I can’t just spend one whole day out just for the wedding. I promised myself that after this main event, I’ll give hundred percent of my focus back to the kids who are obviously chosen as our flower girl and ring bearer! Ameelia and Aloncito will be the cutest part of my entourage don’t you think?? :)
How about you, were you a Bridechilla or Bridezilla? What helped you handle the wedding preps ‘ stress? What other tips can you give brides-to-be so they can enjoy the whole planning stage?
