Blogger Advice Archives

Smashing the Glass on What Makes a Truly Great Jewish Wedding

Our Jewish wedding expert is back again to share some of her wisdom with all of our wonderful Bridebookers! Karen Cinnamon’s, founder of the amazing blog Smashing the Glass, last guest post guided us through the top Dos and Donts for a Perfect Jewish Wedding and this time she’s going even more in depth with all of her expert insight into what makes a truly great Jewish wedding. So whether you’re planning a Jewish wedding or not, read on to get some tips from a pro who really knows her stuff!

Bridebook.co.uk Karen Cinnamon at work — Karen Cinnamon in action by Babb Photo

“Simply put, a great wedding is about two people, in love, declaring that love in an individual way. So the short answer to what makes a truly fabulous wedding is don’t have a cookie-cutter day! Try and make decisions based on what makes you happy, not what friends, family, or the rabbi / priest recommend or what’s perceived to be sensible, suitable or the done thing.

Stay True to Yourself

During the planning process, do your very best to cut out the ‘white noise’ and tune into what’s really important to you and your partner. Think about the things you really love, not those you simply like, and if thats’s a certain style, colour, era, or even a piece of music, build a theme around it! The best weddings capture the heart, soul and style of the couple, so give your guests a glimpse into your life, and allow them to feel that that they’ve had a one-of-a-kind experience and were part of something special.

It’s OK to take inspiration from a blog, magazine, or another bride’s amazing taste, but add a pinch of your own magic to make it your own.

My Jewish wedding blog, SmashingTheGlass.com, showcases hundreds of creative and original Jewish weddings, and whilst each one is amazing and wonderful in its own way, I’ve selected 5 weddings that will always stick in my mind for their brilliance. Each wedding has a gorgeous story, personal details, and two people hopelessly in love.

Jessica and David

Jessica and David incorporated so many personal touches into their wedding… and it shows. From the patchwork chuppah made by all their friends and family, and sewn together by the groom’s mum, to the “Balkanistic” boogie band and the jukebox filled with 100 of the couple’s favourite songs that guests played between sets. This was a Smashing The Glass wedding to remember.

Bridebook.co.uk collection of 3 jewish wedding photos — By Alex Brenner via Smashing the Glass

Danny and Aaron

Danny and Aaron both work in the music and television industries, and loved the idea of riding down the aisle to their chuppah atop a tallit-wearing unicorn (or Jew-nicorn, as they dubbed it!) to the tune of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’…so they did! What’s more Joss Stone (yes, THE Joss Stone) undertook the role of chazan, and a 16 person gospel choir was on hand for a few of the ceremony songs as well. Danny says, “you can create new traditions by adding a personal flare to the more traditional Jewish wedding rituals, making your wedding unique to you as individuals and as a couple.”

Bridebook.co.uk unicorn wedding — By Maya Myers Photography via Smashing the Glass

Sarah and Nick

Sarah and Nick got married in a smoked salmon factory in London’s Olympic Park, and traveled through the streets of the capital from their synagogue to reception in a red convertible Mustang. Oh and Sarah rocked a leather biker jacket and Ray-Bans over her Pronovias dress. These two have serious style.

Bridebook.co.uk cool and stylish jewish london wedding — By Reportage By via Smashing the Glass

Stacey and Jono

Stacey and Jono’s Jewish wedding was held on New Year’s Eve in an old arthouse cinema (the oldest still operating in the UK) and they invited their guests to sport fancy dress which made for a very inclusive, and genuinely special, atmosphere.

Bridebook.co.uk jewish couple at their wedding — By Martin Beddall via Smashing the Glass

Gena and Tony

Gena and Tony used an assortment of tissue paper honeycomb shapes, as well as paper garlands and a calico roof to create a chuppah that truly represented them. Gena also went for a supersize bouquet filled with flowers of every possible hue, glitter, ribbons, and pom poms, and what’s more, their very cute dog took centre stage during the ceremony too.

Bridebook.co.uk colourful wedding details — By Lara Hotz via Smashing the Glass

I’ll close with a brilliant piece of advice from Shiri, another Smashing The Glass bride who invited just 20 of her and her husband’s closest family members for brunch and then surprised them with a chuppah! Shiri’s brilliant words of wisdom are “the spiritual significance of a Jewish wedding is often lost in all the madness of putting it together. If there is one piece of advice I would give a bride it would be to try to experience the pure and blessed side of a Jewish wedding as much as possible”.

Happy Planning!

Ready to find the perfect suppliers to make your dream Jewish wedding a reality? Search through all of the U.K’s best venues and suppliers by what matters most to you on Bridebook today! Just check out our state-of-the-art supplier search tool.

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

Every Hot 2016 Wedding Trend You’ll See This Wedding Season

Let’s face it – who runs the wedding world? Bloggers. Wedding bloggers are the ones who tirelessly provide us with endless wedding inspo to swoon over, give us tips on the best venues and suppliers, and pick up on the biggest trends long before any of us could. They are the mavens of the wedding world, our knights in pearly armour.

So when we held our Bridebook Blogger’s Summit we were incredibly excited to get all of the UK’s top wedding blogger’s top trend predictions for the 2016 wedding season. Read on to get an insight into what it’s like to be a trend setter – and keep your eyes peeled to see if you or a friend’s wedding are a la mode this season!

1) More Involved Grooms

bridebook.co.uk bride and groom — By Margherita Calati Photography

The days of bridezilla are over! Now more than ever, grooms are getting in on the fun of wedding planning. You’ll be a team in your marriage, so you may as well be a team in the planning right? And with Bridebook, it’s now easier than ever to share your planning with your fiancée, family and friends so everyone can get in on the action.

Tip-off courtesy of Smashing the Glass‘s Karen Cinnamon

2) The Dress-Less Bride

bridebook.co.uk bride in a blush jumpsuit — Jumpsuit by House of Ollichon

Jumpsuits are set to be a permanent feature in the wedding world, so keep your eyes peeled. Whether you splash the cash on a designer jumpsuit, or take advantage of Bridebook partner House of Ollichon’s gorgeous pieces, dress-less is the way to go!

Tip-off courtesy of Whisper & Blush

3) Short-Wedding Dresses

bridebook.co.uk London bride and groom with bride in a short wedding dress — By Viva Wedding Photography

Not ready to take the plunge and wear the trousers yet, but still want to go non-traditional? Then you’re in luck as short dresses take center stage. The best part about short dresses is that you get to show off your gorgeous shoes.

Tip-off courtesy of Bridal Musings

4) Tropical

bridebook.co.uk tropical themed wedding invitations — Stationery by Paperchase Press

The tropical theme is making quite the splash this year and we couldn’t be more excited. Tropical themes are perfect for colour-obsessed couples and it’s near impossible not to have a great time in paradise.

Tip-off courtesy of Etsy’s own blogger, Jenny Gresham

5) Healthy Canapés

bridebook.co.uk healthy avocado wedding canapes — Canapés by Blissful Basil

We’re all too familiar with those overdone wedding canapés and menus. Lucky for us, a sure fire to keep your guests grateful is to keep your canapés light and fresh. Not only is healthy, delicious food super on trend at the moment, but it keeps your guests from getting too sluggish or filled up before the wedding breakfast.

Tip-off courtesy of Whisper & Blush

6) Dark Wedding Dresses

bridebook.co.uk wedding couple with a black wedding dress — By thismodernromance.com

Admittedly not for the faint of heart, but if you want to pull it off it looks so incredibly gorgeous. We say go for it!

Tip-off courtesy of Nu Bride

7) Naked Wedding Cakes

bridebook.co.uk naked wedding cake by Frances Quinn — Cake by Frances Quinn

A double-punch trend here, as it both looks beautiful and budget friendly – perfect! Check out this gorgeous naked cake by Bridebook’s very own expert contributor and Great British Bake Off winner Frances Quinn.

Tip-off courtesy of The Wedding Fairy

8) Industrial Venues

bridebook.co.uk bride and groom in an industrial wedding venue — By IZO Photography

We’re lucky to live in a country with so many beautiful and historic wedding venues, but if you want to take it up a notch, why not opt for a less traditional venue? Industrial spaces are perfect for couples who want to add their personal stamps on a relatively blank canvas while still keeping a stylish edge.

Tip-off courtesy of Bumpkin Betty

9) Colourful Wedding Shoes

bridebook.co.uk bride with light blue wedding shoes — By Tiffany Hughes Photography

In line with both trend 2 and 3, colourful wedding shoes are now more in than ever! Whether they’re your ‘something blue’ or rainbow coloured, this is your day to show off killer shoes. Sorry dress, but it’s not all about you anymore! Be sure to get more shoe tips from Bridebook’s expert contributor Jimmy Choo.

Tip-off courtesy of BLoved

10) Unplugged Weddings

bridebook.co.uk same sex wedding in Scotland — By The Kitcheners

One of our personal favourites. While we all love a wedding hashtag, the last thing you want is for you or your guests to be so pre-occupied with snapping pics and snapchat that they miss being present in what is one of the most important days of your life.

Tip-off courtesy of Smashing the Glass

11) Rose Gold Engagement Rings

bridebook.co.uk rose gold engagement ring — Ring by Emitations

Rose gold has been hot in the fashion world for a while now, and we’re excited to see it finally making it into the wedding world! We all know how flattering rose gold can be on certain skin tones, so we don’t blame you if you’re excited to have a chance to wear it every day.

Tip-off courtesy of Sparkles, Pearls & Lace

12) Dresses with…wait for it… POCKETS!

bridebook.co.uk wedding dress with pockets — Dress by Rosa Clara

Another Bridebook favourite! Not only do pockets lend themselves nicely to effortlessly cool wedding photo poses, it’s also incredibly practical. Never be unprepared and have a tissue and your lipstick always at the ready.

Tip-off courtesy of the Save the Date Podcast

13) Bold Lips and Nails

bridebook.co.uk bride in white with red lips and nails — By Greg Finck

The perfect way to up the style notch without much effort. A beautifully paired red lip with your nails looks so striking and glamorous.

Tip-off courtesy of So You’re Getting Married

14) Hollywood Glamour

bridebook.co.uk bride in hollywood glamour style — By Julie Vino

Talking of glamour, another theme that is set to be hot this season is old school hollywood glamour. Boho brides are old news now, and who can resist a bit of show?

Tip-off courtesy of The Wedding Fairy

15) Foliage and Herb Bouquets

bridebook.co.uk herb and foliage bridal bouquet — By Bethany Small

Another great trend that is both stylish and cost-efficient. With looser bouquets becoming more and more popular, foliage and herbs have also started making their stand by adding beautiful lush colours to any bouquet.

Tip-off courtesy of Bridal Musings

16) Two Piece Dresses

bridebook.co.uk two piece wedding dress — Dress by Solo Merav

We can’t seem to get enough of all these dress trends! This trend is perfect for those of you who want something a little different but still maintaining that touch of femininity. We especially love this trend when paired with a full skirt on the bottom.

Tip-off courtesy of Sparkles, Pearls and Lace

17) Tiaras

bridebook.co.uk bride and groom outdoors with a tiara — By Tec Petaja

Talking of femininity – what’s more princess-like than a tiara? Flower crowns are out and the more refined tiara is most definitely in. Now you can really complete your fairytale wedding from head to toe.

Tip-off courtesy of Bumpkin Betty

18) Gold

bridebook.co.uk gold accented wedding cake and decor — By Zoe Clark Cakes

Another trend that is steering us away from boho and more towards glam. But the best thing about this trend is that you can embrace it as little or as much as you want. Whether it’s the staple of your theme or just incorporated with subtle accents, it ‘s sure to look great!

Tip-off courtesy of Creme de la Bride

19) Pink Champagne

bridebook.co.uk mini pink champagne bottles as wedding favours — By Annamarie Akins

Our very own Founder and CEO, Hamish Shephard (certified wedding planner and on his own wedding planning journey!) is tipping off pink champagne as his top trend of this year’s wedding season. As more and more couples invest more time, effort and money into their weddings no stones get unturned. So why not extend your styling to your beverages for the night? Cue pink champagne for the ultimate final touch!

Tip-off courtesy of Bridebook’s Hamish Shephard

20) Bridebook!

bridebook.co.uk bride planning her wedding on Bridebook — By Mike Garrard

Last but certainly not least… Bridebook of course! With our state of the art digital planning toolkit, thousands of UK suppliers and amazing expert articles by the likes of Bobbi Brown and Mary Berry – Bridebook is the wedding trend of 2016!

Happy Planning!

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

Nu Bride’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Make-Up Artist for Your Skin Tone

Finding the perfect make-up artist can seem like a daunting task. But luckily for all of our Bridebook users, we have the champion of all things inclusive in the wedding industry here to help! Introducing Nova of the Nu Bride blog, the one stop shop for the modern couple packed with fun and informative posts for women and men of all ethnicities. So read on to get expert insight to guide you through finding the perfect wedding make-up artist for you.

Bridebook.co.uk brides of all skin tones — John Nassari | Nu Bride Bridal Beauty Shoot | Makeup by Joyce Connor

“Hello gorgeous,

One of the most frequent requests I am asked from readers is to recommend a make-up artist who can work with all skin tones. At first I used to find this request quite ironic. I mean, a lot of professional makeup artists are able to transfer their skills, techniques and work on ALL skin tones, especially with the body of make up products available. Skin is skin right?

Choosing an inclusive make-up artist for your wedding should be simple, but for some it can be a frustrating and unexpected challenge, often struggling to find examples of what make up looks will look like on your own skin tone. Most of us search for wedding make up ideas and inspiration online. A quality and inviting website with diverse examples of an make-up artists’ work is so important. Research has proven over and over again that, as consumers, we are more likely engage with a product or service if we see a ‘version’ of ourselves in the marketing. We often need to see an example of ourselves to feel confident in booking or purchasing a product or service. Without it, this is where some are left feeling stuck.

Below I’ve put together some tips to help you find an inclusive make-up artist who know their craft and can effortlessly rock their make-up brush on ALL skin tones.

Bridebook.co.uk beautiful bride holding bouquet — Photo by Binky Nixon via Nu Bride | Makeup by Natalie Danielle

Research

Before booking any supplier, always do your research and compare three like-for-like services. The world-wide-web is your oyster, take your time to do your research. Read reviews, follow their social media and always view their portfolio to get a feel of their work. If you like what you see, enquire. A make-up artist’s website and social media are indeed their shop window, so many professional makeup artists will use this to showcase various examples of their skill set in their portfolio. This is a good way to check if they have experience working on brides with diverse skin tones.

Bridebook.co.uk asian bride and black groom smiling — Photo by Helen Russell Photography via Nu Bride | Makeup by Kasia Fortuna

Consider Style

Explore the make up look you want to achieve. Use magazines or websites such a Pinterest to gather examples of make up looks that appeal to you, taking into consideration my point above! Always look for a make up artist whose individual style represents the overall look you want for your wedding day.

Bridebook.co.uk bride and groom walking hand in hand — By AO Photography via Nu Bride | Makeup by NARS Cosmetics

Hit the High Street

Another way to search for a reputable make-up artist is to hit the high street and head to a make up counter like MAC for example and ask for a demo and book a make up lesson to test them out, if you like what you see enquire about booking their services.

Bridebook.co.uk bride and groom in front of door — By Victoria Mitchell Photography via Nu Bride | Makeup by Nelson Catarino

Word of Mouth

You cannot go wrong with word of mouth referrals. Taking another bride’s word that has experienced the service in full, is a great endorsement. Ask friends and family or colleagues. If you have attended a recent wedding and loved the bride’s look, ask who their make-up artist was and, more importantly, if they would recommend them. Aside from their talent, their personality and work ethos also have a huge bearing on whether or not you want them to be surrounding you on what is likely to be one of the most important days of your life.

Once you’ve seen their work, try to meet with them and / or book a trial. Their professionalism, manner and personality also matter. Keep all of these factors in mind and you’ll find the perfect make-up artist for you in no time!

Go forth beautiful one!”

Bridebook.co.uk gorgeous laughing bride — By Vitae Photography via Nu Bride | Makeup by Nikki Makeup

Nova is founder and editor of Nu Bride: a modern wedding blog for the stylish bride, offering planning advice, a pinch of personality and a splash of diversity. Founded in 2012, Nu Bride is now a multi-award-winning wedding blog, dedicated to encouraging the UK mainstream wedding industry to be more visually inclusive with the way it markets bridal beauty. Nova is also an established wedding expert, freelance writer for national wedding publications and Life Coach.

Bridebook.co.uk Nova of Nu Bride — The wonderful Nova herself! Photo via Nu Bride

Ready to find your perfect make-up artist? Search through all of the U.K’s best beauty experts by what matters most to you on Bridebook today! Just check out our state-of-the-art supplier search tool.

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

Smashing the Glass’ Top 5 Do’s and Dont’s For The Perfect Jewish Wedding

I love inspiring brides and grooms with wonderfully original and inclusive ideas for their wedding day. Here are my Top 5 Do’s and Don’t’s For The Perfect Jewish Wedding:

bridebook.co.uk-karen cinnamon at her laptop — Smashing the Glass’ Karen Cinnamon, portrait by John Nassari

DO expect to kick up a storm, and have your face glisten with glee (and sweat) during the ‘hora’, the joyous tradition of Jewish dancing. Just be careful not to fall off the chair, and make sure those with a penchant for booze are not the ones nominated to lift you!

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass- couple on chairs being lifted up — Courtesy of David Bastianoni

DO try to experience the pure and sacred side of a Jewish wedding as much as possible, as the spiritual significance is often lost in all the madness of putting it together.

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass- ciew of a synagogue from above — Courtesy of David Bastianoni

DO create a Pinterest board to store all your wedding ideas in one place. Pinterest is your best friend when it comes to planning your big day, as you can collect beautiful images and wedding design tips and paste them all in one place. It’s not only useful for you, your boards will also help give guidance to your suppliers. If you don’t want your whole social network to see details before the big day, use one of your private boards for your favourite ideas.

DO incorporate things into your wedding that are important to you, for example, a nostalgic song that brings back memories of when you first got together, favours made by you or a family member, table centres incorporating things that are personal to you as a couple, messages from guests woven into your chuppah design – the more individuality you stamp on your wedding, the better.

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass couple being lifted up on a chair holding a blue cloth between them — Courtesy of Blake Ezra

DO take time to be calm and in the moment of your day. Hand over the reins, don’t think about any of the details and enjoy your wedding day for what it is: a joyous celebration!

DON’T try to please everyone. This is your opportunity to do things as you want and it’s a time to be making decisions without having to justify them or fit expectations. Real friends and family will understand and those that don’t are not worth losing any sleep over.

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass-rustic jewish wedding ceremony — Courtesy of Amy Shore

DON’T expect local guests to adhere to a black-tie dress code if you’re getting married in Israel. They will show up in shorts, with a couple of unexpected extra kids in tow. Expect guests that confirmed attendance not to show up, and guests that were not invited to make an appearance instead – that’s how they roll in the land of milk and honey!

DON’T think that you need a large bridal party of groomsmen and bridesmaids if that’s not your bag. What you do need is a circle of a few close friends to rely on for support, help and mini-errands on the day. Have a think on who you would like to enlist in the months or weeks leading up to your wedding – close friends and family will feel honoured and will be only too happy to help.

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass-groom jumping over wedding guests — Courtesy of David Pullum

DON’T invite too many people. Fewer and closely connected is better than inviting a cast of unknowns, and makes for a far more meaningful, intimate atmosphere.

DON’T follow the crowd. Be true to yourself and have the confidence to do things your way, whether that means incorporating something non-traditional into your ceremony, picking a weird theme or wearing a gown so impractical you can barely move. Go for it, this is your day!

bridebook.co.uk-smashing-the-glass-beautiful white outdoor jewish weddings — Courtesy of John Nassari

Happy Planning!

Want more amazing Jewish wedding inspiration? Head over to Smashing the Glass where you can get your fill of the wonderful world of Jewish weddings or have a read of our other article written by Smashing the Glass on Bridebook!

Bridal Musings’ Expert Tips for Wowing Your Guests on Your Wedding Day

Wedding planning can be a massive affair, and for most it’s the first (and last) time you’ll do it. Sometimes it can help to have a guiding hand through the marital maze, which is why at Bridebook.co.uk we have world experts on hand to answer your wedding worries. Think Mary Berry for cakes, and Jimmy Choo for shoes – and Bridal Musings for guest enjoyment. With Bridal Musings having more than 3.3 million followers on Pinterest you’ll want to take note…

Make it Personal

Of course a couple will want to make their wedding day personal to them (initials decor is so popular right now!) but if you really want to wow your guests, why not make your day personal to them too?

Whether it’s a wedding booklet with a note and headshot for each of your guests, a personalised photograph in every place setting or a crowd-sourced playlist with shout-outs from the DJ, tailored thoughtful touches are guaranteed make your guests feel just as special as you do.

Up Your Food Game

Even if you’re a big fan of beef or salmon, chances are you’re not going to be floored when it’s served to you at your wedding reception.

If you really want to impress your guests, opt for something different with your eats. You can search our wedding venue directory for loads of gorgeous blank canvas spaces on there that’ll let your individualise your eating! Keep it casual with food truck tacos or family-style tapas, or opt for a luxe twist like sushi platters for the cocktail hour or a boozy sorbet between courses.

Any kind of creativity will be appreciated by your guests, big time.

Entertain Us

The biggest thing couples wish they’d put more thought into before their wedding? The entertainment. Throwing a great party means more than just sussing some evening music – why not add in extra elements throughout your day to keep your guests entertained?

Lawn games for the little ones, a mariachi band for cocktail hour, or a table quiz for guests as they take their seats. Touches like these go the extra mile for making your bash the most memorable one of wedding season.

Be Considerate

So you’ve been planning your wedding for months, forked out a small fortune on your meal, and had to be ruthless with your guest list. Your guests are lucky to have made the cut, right? Wrong!

Some of your guests may have spent a lot of money, travelled a long way, or had to take time off work to make it to your wedding, so make sure you shower them with your appreciation.

If your guests have several weddings/hen nights/stag dos to go to in a year, they’ll be hugely grateful for affordable accommodation choices, or pre-arranged transport.

From organising late night foods or pre-ceremony snacks to keep them from getting peckish, to providing blankets (for outdoor weddings), flipflops (for the dance floor) or hairspray and breath-mints (for freshening up!) any little touches you make will be more impressive to your guests than even the fanciest gown, venue or centrepieces.

All The Lights

Want to wow your wedding guests, but don’t have lots of cash to spend on styling? Scrap your flower budget, and sink your cash into lights and candles instead.

Okay, so we absolutely adore blooms, but it takes a lot of them to make a big impact. Deck your venue out in as many fairy lights, string bulbs, spotlights and candles as you can possibly muster, and your guests are guaranteed to gush when they walk into the room.

Banish the Nerves

Okay so this one is easier said than done! But it’s important to remember that your wedding is not a show, it’s a party. (The best party, like, ever!)

And if you want your guests to have a great time, the best thing you can do is just relax, and have a great time yourself.

The most fun weddings are the ones where the love between the bride and groom is truly palpable, and the couple are having the time of their life!

Laugh your way through the vows, beam during dinner, and be the first ones to hit the dancefloor in the evening. Lead the way for a fun night, and your guests are sure to follow suit!

Happy Planning!

Rock n Roll Bride’s Top Three Secrets to Having a Truly Alternative Wedding

Kat Williams, the brains behind the wonderful Rock N Roll Bride blog, has shaken up the wedding world for the better. With her firm mantra that it should be you that defines your day, not the most popular Pinterest boards, Kat is the hero of all things individual and alternative. So when Kat shared with Bridebook her top 3 tips for having an amazing alternative wedding, we could hardly wait to share it with all of you! Remember, your wedding is all about you as an individual and truly unique couple – so be sure that you show it! Read on for Kat’s inspiring tips:

bridebook..co.uk- alternative couple kiss — Photo by Dale Weeks Photography

1.

Sit down with your other half and discuss the things that define you – is it tattoos? video games? movies? outdoor pursuits? And bring those things into your wedding. The ‘best’ weddings are those that truly reflect the couple, not ones that have things just because they’re popular on Pinterest!

2.

Get a really great photographer (and if budget allows, videographer). After the wedding those images will become your memories. Don’t scrimp on them. The biggest post-wedding regret I hear is from people wishing they had a better photographer.