LIVE IT UP! I Survived My Wedding By: Tamisha Seals There it is, he’s on one knee after a romantic night out. He pulls out a beautiful red velvet box, opens it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. He then asks that magical question, “will you marry me?” Of course you say yes! Here begins a long journey. No one is thinking about it at first, but suddenly it sinks in. You’re getting married and now there’s a wedding to plan. You think about the colors, suits, dresses, venues, the reception, food, etc. Even with a wedding planner this will take some time and hard work. I’m going to help out a little bit to help you survive the wedding. All For The Right Reason You said you would, and you both know one thing, you’re madly in love. So getting married seems like the thing to do, right? Well before you plan every detail and have everyone show up for the day (only to have someone get cold feet) make sure you’re are getting married for the right reason. Now a good reason to marry would be you’ve both known each other for a significant amount of time, and have got to know each other well enough that you are willing to deal with their whole package, family included. The last thing you need is to be getting a divorce because you can’t stand your partner’s mother. Family has a big impact on relationships. You also have to be willing to stand behind each other, even in disagreements. Another good reason is that you communicate well with one another. Though you won’t always agree with your partner, you must learn to argue respectfully. If you love that person you shouldn’t hurt them no matter the circumstances. Communication is the key to a healthy and happy marriage. A friend of mine explained his reason, “it wasn’t ever really a thought, it was more of a feeling. It was like my heart could read theirs JUNE <strong>2014</strong> / ARIES 28 and vice versa. We didn’t even have to speak it into words, we just knew!” Planning The Wedding Planning the wedding doesn’t have to be as stressful as you might think. The key word here is to PLAN! Keep in mind that things may not go as planned, and it’s a good idea to keep an open mind. If you’re searching for specific things, plan to have back ups in case something goes wrong. The more prepared you are the better results you’ll have. Just don’t go over board from nervousness. I’m sure every couple has their, “must haves,” so make a list of those things and circle which ones you are willing to alternate or change on sudden notice. If you simply must have something, then make sure you give extra time in order to obtain it. Try to have at least two options for things like your venue, cake, flowers, or decor. It’ll help ensure you don’t come across many disappointments. Be willing to compromise and most importantly take breaks from planning and relax with your partner. You wouldn’t want planning your wedding to pull you apart. Let your wedding planner do all the hard work. Picking out your decor should be fun and excited, not a headache. Remember they are there to help you that’s why you hired them. They are an expert at what they do and can make sure your special day is as magical as you have ever dreamed. If you and your partner choose not to hire a wedding planner, and have your family help instead, be sure they understand it’s your wedding and you guys call the shots. Some good tips from Theknot. com are: 1.Know how many guests will be there, so you know where to plan your venue. 2. Beware of wedding blackout dates, know ahead of time if your wedding date falls on the same date, like a special event that would affect traffic or hotel availability. 3. If you need to cut cost then start with the guests, if you cut ten guest at $100 a person, that saves you $1000. Choosing A Venue I’ve included this in this guide because I’ve come across some great tips that you should know. Picking the location of your venue is going to take some research. Get a folder to store important vendor numbers, dates for meeting, and pictures that get your idea out. Though the location of the venue is entirely up to the two of you, and with so many places that offer a wide variety of commodities and accommodations, this decision can be tough. Like I mentioned before find out ahead of time how many guests will be there, and keep in mind the closer you schedule the date the more money you may be able to save. Theknot.com says, “Your wedding vendors should be your go-to, most-trusted experts during the planning process. When working with them, you should feel free to really explore what it is you want.” You may also want to consider a location where your friends and family won’t have trouble making it to the ceremony. Another thing I’d like to mention, is that Mother
29 ARIES / JUNE <strong>2014</strong>