Before you run out and buy every magazine under the sun and start experiencing the advice of everyone — and I do mean everyone — who has an opinion of what THEY think YOU should do, you and your intended should sit quietly, close your eyes and just think.
Picture yourself on your wedding day.
Are you inside, outside? What colors do you see? Is it a formal affair or loose and breezy? Daytime or night? What does it look like, feel like, sounds like, smell like? After about 3 minutes write down all of the words you can remember from that experience. Go back and circle the 3-4 words that are the most important to you. Use them to complete your wedding day VISION statement. “My wedding will be xxxxx and xxxxx and xxxxx.”
OK, now close your eyes again for another 2-3 minutes. This time think about yourself and your partner. What is your couple personality? Fun? Active? Smart? Serious? Sporty? Literary? Artsy? Outdoorsy? Romantic? Glamorous? Cozy? That’s the feeling you will want your guests to take away from your wedding. Open your eyes and write it all down. Now pick the one (or two) words that best define your couple-hood.
That’s your wedding day PERSONALITY. “Our wedding must be xxxxxx.” OR “Our guests should share in our love for xxxxxx on our wedding day.”
Now you have the most critical part of your wedding day planning finished! Your Wedding Day Vision and Personality is yours and only yours. So when you start reading and hearing about what you could do and should do, bounce these ideas against your Vision and Personality statements. If they don’t fit, they might be cool but they might not be right for you. Stay true to yourself.
When it’s time, share your Vision and Personality with your bridal party and your wedding day vendors so they can help to make your day exactly how you want it to be. Remember, this is your day and it should be all about fulfilling your dream!
