A few weeks ago, the gorgeous Bailey Schneider (now Mrs Georgiades!) gave us an exclusive look into her beautiful wedding.
Despite throwing two wedding ceremonies in one weekend, Bailey was proud to tell us that she “didn’t become Bridezilla” while planning the extravagant event. How, you ask? We’d like to know too!
We asked Bailey to share her 5 DOs and 5 DON’Ts of big-day planning, so that we can also stay sane in the weeks leading up to our weddings!
DOs
1 DO get a wedding coordinator/planner
During the last few weeks before your wedding is when all the little things crop up. Having someone help you ahead of time and on the actual day is amazing. On your actual day, you want to be relaxed and spend time with your family and bridesmaids, not worrying about setting up or other things.
2 DO be realistic about stress levels
There isn’t one bride who hasn’t had some form of stress, but instead of allowing it to get the better of you, see it as a rite of passage and chat it out with your husband-to-be or your bestie.
3 DO get a great videographer and photographer
You need someone who really understands what you want to achieve. You’ll make your memories, but having them captured forever is priceless. We wanted to capture the essence of the day, the emotion and moments. We didn’t want posed photos (other than the family shots). We wanted the flower girl twirling, people crying happy tears and throwing their heads back laughing. A video also captures moments we might have missed – like our toddler flower girl and page boy walking down the aisle (something I never got to see), and it’s also great to have the speeches to watch in the future.
4 DO take a private moment with your new husband
Everyone will tell you that it goes by so quickly, and they’re so right. Everyone wants a piece of you (in a good way) and you can be pulled in so many directions. I received this advice and I’m so glad we did this. My husband grabbed a bottle of champagne and we stole a moment away from everyone. We took a little stroll away from the party, but close enough to look in and see how all our planning came to life, with our nearest and dearest partying in our honour. It was magic.
5 DO remember that this is just one day of your life
While your wedding is the most incredible day, don’t allow it to become the only focus. Remember why you’re having a wedding in the first place – it’s to spend the rest of your life with your soulmate and best friend. You want a marriage more beautiful than your wedding.
DON’Ts
1 DON’T make your friends uncomfortable by becoming Bridezilla
You’ve asked your bridesmaids to stand up for you, because they’re your family or best friends who know you as a couple. They’re there to witness your love and commitment. It’s not about turning them into slaves, becoming bossy or making them uncomfortable in outfits that don’t suit them. Be a best friend just as much as needing one.
2 DON’T start any new beauty treatments
If you’ve never tinted your eyebrows, now is not a good time to start! You want to look your best, absolutely, but you also don’t want to react to a new lotion or treatment, or look completely different on the day.
3 DON’T worry about trying to make everyone happy
It’s easier said than done, but just remember that it’s about you and your fiancé and that’s what’s really important. Don’t worry about whether or not everyone else is having a good time, if they’ve managed to find accommodation or if they’re happy with the food – you’ll forget to enjoy yourself! Once you’re there, it’s done. Take the time to step back, admire all the work you put in and savour the moment.
4 DON’T just accept the first quote you get
When it comes to suppliers, don’t be afraid to query them or get comparative quotes to ensure they fit into your budget. I found that a few suppliers overcharged the minute they heard it was for a wedding.
5 DON’T bow to bridal pressure
It’s very easy to get caught up in all the frills, but are they really important in ensuring you and everyone has a good time? Figure out what is really important to you as a couple and stick to that. Are you a foodie couple? Then ensure your food is excellent. Are you a couple who want to dance until sunrise? Then invest in a really good DJ and find a venue that doesn’t close at midnight. There are so many elements to a wedding and while you want each one to be beautiful and special, focus on what’s important to you and stick to it.
Find out more about Bailey’s beautiful big-day and see all the snaps, here!
