From one bride to another: essential wedding tips!

Posted by Danielle Harvey on 7 July 2022

four brides all chucking their bouquets in the air Greetings card marketplace thortful.com interviewed 15 newlyweds to share their essential wedding planning tips to help future couples-to-be. From what to plan for the big day itself to things to remember when getting ready, here are the top 15 pieces of advice from one bride to another.

Spokesperson at thortful says, "We wanted to make the tips as authentic and real as possible, so we asked newlyweds what they wish they could have told their pre-married self as they prepared for their big day. We hope these tips can truly help any bride who's worried about the planning and make the day extra perfect!"

wedding planning diary with lots of notes on it on a table with a mug of coffee

Make sure to start saving early on. Visit several venues and explore different options for entertainment, food, and dresses before you put down anything non-refundable!
Don't let anyone else's opinion get in the way – do what feels right to you and the groom.
Choose someone you trust to oversee the course of the events on the day itself (i.e., speaking with kitchen staff regarding when the food is coming out, rounding people up for photos, and getting guests on the dancefloor). Someone reliable, to make sure the day is going well, and people are having a good time.
You don't necessarily need a big wedding cake on the day. One newlywed said they kindly asked some of their friends and family if they had time to bake, as they were good bakers, and ended up with some lovely cakes on the day that cost less than any wedding cake would!
Double check your DJ has your song list, not having one can cause a bit of last-minute stress on the night.
Invest in good entertainment – one newlywed said they didn't have a band, but we wished they had, as they can really get the party going.
Don't print your table plan too early and try to make it on something you can easily edit for any last-minute dropouts (handwritten in chalk/pen usually works best).
Make sure you check your dress and veil in the bag before you pick them up – one of the brides interviewed didn't double-check and ended up with the wrong one!
Bring a second dress to change into, as some wedding dresses can be heavy and uncomfortable, and in turn make dancing at the end of the night quite the challenge.
Have a designated bridesmaid/mum/friend to help you with the dress when you're going to the bathroom.
Go to a hairdresser or make-up artist you are familiar with, so that no nasty surprises happen on the morning of – you don't want your hair or lashes falling off!
Be present and enjoy the day! There's no need to constantly make sure people are having a good time, that you're speaking to everyone, and making sure guests have drinks, etc. You can end up feeling more like the event organiser rather than the bride.
Spend 10-15 mins of quality time with your partner as you're both likely to be mingling with other people and not really spending that much meaningful time together.
Don't be afraid to make a toast as the bride or groom! It's lovely to hear from the bride and groom on their special day, and the guests will feel very appreciated!
If you’re viewing your venue during the day, remember it will look different at night. So perhaps go back to check out the lighting etc if you’re having a winter wedding. Mine was a bit gloomy in the evening, luckily, we had fairy lights too but it’s worth checking out.

To read more tips please visit thortful's blog.