Wedding Planning - Part IX

In this last article in our series on wedding planning we're going to be covering the big day itself, the day of your wedding.

Well, you've finally made it. The day of your wedding. It seemed like this day would never come. Now it's here. Obviously the actual plans for the day are going to vary from person to person depending on time of ceremony and reception but there are a few things that are pretty constant.

For starters, this is the day when you'll be getting your hair done. When you arrive at the stylist make sure you go in some beat around clothes. You don't want to have your hair done in your wedding gown. If you're the groom, go get a haircut. Again, go in a pair of jeans and an old shirt. After you get home make sure you shower and shave since your haircut will probably have you looking like you've been shedding with all the loose hairs all over your neck.

For both the bride and groom, take your time getting dressed. Fortunately for both they'll have lots of help with this, the groom his best man and the bride her maid of honor. Make sure that after dressing you take a good look in the mirror so that everything is in place.

For the bride, make sure your makeup is applied properly. You don't want to overdo it here as the last thing you want is for people to think you're trying out for a part as a circus clown. Less is more.

If everything is going according to plan the transportation to the ceremony should be arriving at your home on schedule.

Have a family member check to make sure that everything that needs to be brought to the ceremony and reception is ready. The last thing you want is for something to be left behind and for someone to have to run back to the house to get it. Especially make sure you bring a change of clothes with you for when you leave for your honeymoon.

When you arrive at the ceremony let the clergyman take things from there. These people have done many weddings and you can be certain that everything will go as planned. You'll be nervous enough deciding if you really want to go through with this without having to worry about the person conducting the service screwing things up.

After the ceremony itself things will start to get a little crazy. At the reception the photographer is going to want to take a lot of photos and many things are going to seem staged. Sadly, they are. That's just the way weddings are. Go with it. Have fun with a lot of the cliche stuff. You'll look back at it someday and laugh.

Most of all, have a good time. This is YOUR day. Hopefully it will be the only wedding you will ever have if you're one of the fortunate few who actually stays married until death do you part. Take a good look around. Don't let the day pass you by. Make a mental note of everything that you can. You will be glad that you did this as your wedding day is one that you truly will want to remember. In a world where so much is forgotten so quickly this is one day you will hope to be able to replay in your mind for years to come.