5 Tips to Make Sure You Remember Your Wedding Day
The number one thing I hear from newlyweds is that the wedding day flew by so fast that they don’t really remember much of it (and its followed up by “so thank goodness we have all these amazing photos to remind us!”).
But it’s true. The typical wedding day lasts about 10-15 hours, from the time you wake up to start the day until your grand exit at the very end of the night.
Wedding days don’t follow normal day rules. You’ve spent the last 6-18 months planning for this ONE DAY and please believe me when I say it’s going to fly by so fast and everything can end up being a blur.
I’ve come up with some tips on ways you can remember your wedding day!
1. Have realistic expectations
So long as you understand that not everything on your wedding day is going to be perfect or run smoothly, you’ll be able to remain calm and relaxed. You don’t want the only things you DO remember to be the bad things, do you?
When something goes wrong, just take a deep breath and move on from it, because theres not much you can do anyway, so don’t let it ruin the day.
2. Be unplugged
Leave your phone in your bag the entire day.
Don’t look at it. Don’t update your Facebook status or post on Instagram. Enjoy your day and be present in the moment. In fact, have an unplugged ceremony to ensure your guests are present and in the moment too!
3. Take a moment during the ceremony
One of our couples did this and since seeing it, I really think EVERYONE should do it. The officiant told them to take moment and look around the room to witness all of their loved ones surrounding them.
They took about 30 seconds while a friend did a reading to soak everything in during the ceremony and look out into the crowds. It was so amazing to see their faces, and the little waves they gave to people.
Kind of goes back to #2. If they had taken that moment to look out into the room, and all they saw were cameras and iPads and phones in front of peoples faces, instead of seeing their ACTUAL faces…I don’t think they would have been very happy scanning the room.
It would have ruined that moment for them.
4. Do a first look
I’ve said it before and I will always repeat myself: a first look is not for everyone, and I will never push it on you.
However, I believe it can create some of the best memories of the day.
When you wait for the aisle walk to be your “first look”, the moment you’re up at the alter together, the ceremony starts and there’s no speaking to each other.
So an hour after seeing each other for the first time, your both will FINALLY be able to tell each how amazing you look and how much you love you each other.
With a first look, its instant. You get a private moment together, and you both can compliment and kiss each other all you wants!
Not mention, a first look allows you to spend an extra 2-3 hours together on the wedding day with each other, your friends & family AND you get to mingle at your cocktail hour and talk to your guests!
5. Keep it small and intimate
I have nothing against big weddings. At my first one, we had 150 guests, mostly my family and it was awesome! I don’t hide the fact that I’m divorced, but yes, I was married to someone else before Jay (and so was he!)
But I don’t remember a lot of the day. I didn’t get to eat my dinner because people kept coming up to talk to us. I didn’t get to eat the cake, minus the piece that we fed each other. I remember some parts, like the last song of the night, but other than that…not much else!
And I hear the same from brides who had a big wedding with lots of people: missed out on dinner, missed out on eating cake, don’t really remember much of the festivities because they were talking to so many people.
Jay & I had an intimate wedding with 5 people and it was so relaxing and fun! We spent a few days hanging out with our guests before and after the wedding, and everyone came out to dinner with us after the ceremony! We still had gorgeous & unique details, we had the photographer of our dreams, our wedding outfits were F-I-R-E and we went on an epic honeymoon
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
Ready to book your wedding with us? Get in touch here!
