Well, here we are again! The beauty of Christmas lights and excitement of the new year are long gone. New years resolutions have been given up on, and the awe of the first snow fall? Ha! Take it back old man winter....take it all back. But that's not all....we are also in the season of wedding planning! That means these long horrible winter days are full of appointments, fittings,scheduling, along with bachelorettes/bachelor parties, bridal showers, tears, excitement, and on top of all that, the anticipation of the most beautiful day in the making.
This brings me to the wonderful couples who are doing their best at balancing their careers, and the wedding planning, which is pretty much another full time job. How do we make our wedding as grand, or even bigger then the ones we attended last summer. Better book the hall fast, I hear they book up over a year in advance! I saw a photographers Facebook status saying they are already booked this entire season! Better book my hair and makeup! How will we make an amazing entrance? 3 other family friends getting married too? Now the pressure is really on.
Being part of this wonderful industry for almost 9 years, I would like to say we play a large role in that. Bridal shows are bigger then ever! On one end it's great, there's always need for change and improvement. All we want to do is showcase our best work, and to wow everyone. But on the other end, are we overwhelming the same people we want to welcome into our booth? Between huge shows, constant Facebook updates about being booked solid until 2016, and instagram newsfeeds full of more makeup, more jewellery, more flowers, more desserts, (more more more!) it's not a surprise we have made planning so stressful! Weddings are becoming competitions, with each couple trying to out do the last. Don't get me wrong, I am guilty of all of these things. But I wonder sometimes, have we taken this beautiful day of a couple about to begin a new life, and turned it into a big production?
For that, I apologize. I ask of you, my friends, to take a step back and think about what you are planning. It's the first day, of the rest of your life! (OK, maybe putting it like that doesn't help!) Instead of stressing so much, and starting with the feeling of being overwhelmed, why not enjoy it! I know I know, sounds impossible. Everyone wants that perfect wedding, but the goal is to make it the perfect wedding for you, and not worry about what each one of your 500+ guests will think. Have fun picking your decor colours, enjoy your jewellery shopping, laugh with your photographer, work with your makeup artist, and instead of being on a strict diet, enjoy your mothers home cooked meals! The bride is going to look beautiful, the groom will look handsome, and the rest of the room will be so excited about free food, drinks, dancing, and catching up with friends/family, that they won't notice 2 stones from your lenga came out. Or the shade of purple in your backdrop isn't the exact colour you chose. The bouquets have more white flowers then you planned? No one noticed! Lets stop worrying about the small things, and remember that the day is about celebrating your union as husband and wife.
So take a deep breath, relax a bit, and book Elements of beauty for all your hair and makeup needs. Hey, I wouldn't be a business woman if I didn't throw in some advertising for myself!
Happy Planning you lovely couples!
