Having walked down the aisle, we can relate to the “One Thing I Learned” question posed to brides after their big day.  Below are some of our favorites from the Real Weddings section of past Martha Stewart Weddings and The Bride and Bloom Magazine for your to peruse.  Not all will apply to you but it is good food for thought…and after a day filled with lots of food, some thought sounds pretty good!

“Don’t be afraid to be different.  Instead of a classic cake, we chose several zabaglione-filled Italian cakes, and everyone loved them.”

“Ask your officiant to read well-wishes from those dearest to you during your ceremony.  It’s incredibly meaningful.”

“End the party on a high note by asking your band to save a few of their best songs for last.  Your guests will leave wanting more.”

 ”Your fiance should feel like he’s part of the planning.  Tim compiled our favorite New Orleans music onto CDs that served as welcome gifts.”

“Hire a wedding planner and spend as much time with your family as you can.”

“Start early.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to do the table planning as you go.  Also, always keep your guests informed of any changes.  We had a wedding website that was really helpful and would blast out emails to people about updates.”

“Feed your vendors.  I thought they shouldn’t have to starve and eat cold sandwiches so I set up a buffet and had them take a break and eat hot food.  If people have a little more energy they’re going to give you a little more effort.”

“We infused our wedding with many of my family’s Southern traditions.  We featured a Hutchison family mint julep as our signature drink and gave my grandmother’s miniature Kentucky Derby pie as favors.”

“We made the best of unexpected showers: I put on sneakers under my dress, and Allan and I went for a walk in the rain.  It gave us a chance to share some special moments together before the ceremony.”

“Planning a wedding is like coloring when you’re 4: There’s no right or wrong way to do it.  And everyone will love it because they love you!”

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