Winter 2020

Been there Bride
Advice from the other side!
Once you get engaged it seems everyone wants to offer opinions and advice and it can quickly become very
overwhelming and frustrating but one source of advice that every newly engaged couple needs is the ‘Been there Bride’!
Having gone through the planning process and survived to tell the tale they have lots if practical advice to help you
along the way. We asked our recent Brides to share their best advice and this is what they had to say!
Looking back, what would you do differently?
• Trust my own gut instead of allowing others to influence me
so much
• Go dress shopping earlier! Allow a good 9 months so you
have plenty of time to shop around
• Spend less money – starting married life in debt is a real
downer
• Waited to go on honeymoon – we missed out on all the chat
and excitement after the wedding and everyone was over it
by the time we got back!
• Hire a professional photographer – a friend offered and we
should have said no thank you but didn’t want to offend
What was the biggest cause of stress?
• RSVP’s! People just assumed we would know they where
coming.
• Table Plan – trying to please everyone and overthinking it
• Men suit Fittings – trying to get them all together was a
nightmare
• Other people interfering and giving opinions on
EVERYTHING!
What do you wish you’d spent
more money on?
• A Videographer – we regret not getting one as we’d love to
be able to look back on the ceremony. It goes so fast and you
don’t take half of it in!
• Flowers – we did our own and it was time consuming and it
was a stress we could’ve done without
• A second photographer to capture all the little moments
with guests that we missed out on
Anything you wish you’d
not spent money on?
• Wine! We bought our own and ended up with far too much
left over
• Expensive flowers – everything was binned the next day!
So much décor & flowers – I’d keep it simple as we went way
over budget
What do you wish you’d
organised earlier?
• Photographer – we knew who we wanted but didn’t book
straight away and missed out
• Guest List addresses – this takes way longer than you think!
• My Dress – I wanted to lose weight before trying on but it
meant I was rushed to order in the end
Favourite part of the Day?
• Seeing all your plans come together on the day – such a
lovely feeling of satisfaction
• The Ceremony – I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it
and the nerves just melted away
• Photos – we had such a great time with our photographer
and bridal party
• Being in a lovely bubble of happiness all day with my new
hubby
• Meeting my fiancée at the alter was so emotional and a
moment I will never forget
• Dancing – we had a brilliant Band and Dj and we really
enjoyed it with our guests!
68 | SAVE THE DATE with Teambride.ie