Dr. Steve, our resident expert, answers all your questions about love, life, and videotape,
in this library of helpful hints. This is wedding advice from a male perspective (with a little
help from his wife). So pour yourself a cup of tea, pull up an ottoman, and let's
have a chat.
Q:Dear Dr. Steve,
I need to get organized! I'm getting married, and I have ideas but I've never planned anything this
big before! Help!!! Overwhelmed in Ontario
A:
Hello, young lovers!
Well, Overwhelmed, your wedding is approaching, and all the lovely steps and planning can become a bit ... well, overwhelming sometimes. There are so many things you need to do, want to do, and how will it all get done?
First step: relax. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a great wedding. Getting your bridal "ducks in a row" means different things depending on what phase of the planning you are in. Let's take a look at three different brides who are at different stages of their planning:
Daisy is a born planner. Her wedding is two years down the road, and she already has a lots of ideas for favors, music, colors, and special moments that will make her day beautiful and unique. If this sounds like you, breathe a big sigh of relief, and take advantage of the time you have. Figure out the things that absolutely must be done right before the big day. Everything else is fair game to be conquered ahead of time... but not all at once! Set up a schedule for yourself, breaking the tasks into manageable chunks. Do a little bit at a time. Progress will happen steadily, and you'll have time to handle any unforeseen issues that might crop up. Before you know it, your seemingly far-off wedding date will arrive, and you'll sail calmly through in a stress-free mood, ready to enjoy the party!
Diana has a few months till her wedding. She wants it to be perfect, as all brides do, but she's stressing out about the million-and-one details that have to be handled. Romantic dates with her groom have turned into a wedding checklist marathon. How can she possibly get her ducks in a row in this race against the clock? If her situation rings a bell, don't panic! First, decide what counts as a "need" and what is merely a "want" for your wedding. If some of the "wants" can be eliminated from the list, you will immediately feel as if someone has taken a weight off your shoulders. Next, enlist the help of family and friends to handle some of the remaining tasks. You might be surprised how much they want to be a part of this magical time with you. And when you and your fiance are together, cherish the love you feel right now. That's the reason you wanted to get married in the first place!
Courtney is getting married in a rush. Her fiance only has a short leave from the military, and her head is a whirl. She can't help thinking about all the things she has dreamed of for her wedding, ever since she was a little girl. Getting her ducks in a row seems to be a joke, and all she can think of is her looming "to-do" list. If this sounds familiar, never fear. There is hope, if you're willing to let a few things slide. Maybe a lot of things. You may have to give up on a dazzling affair with Cinderella coaches and white swans. Instead, set your sights on a classically lovely, homespun wedding at a friend's home or a beautiful public garden. Remember how happy Grandma and Grandpa looked in their simple wedding pictures, posing under a rose arbor? When you have the essentials, true love and cake, nothing else matters. Keep it simple. Figure out what needs to be done, and make a timetable, working backwards from your wedding day. Remember to pencil in a little time alone, to reflect and calm yourself. Then go forward into your new life with a smile!
No matter what stage of planning you find yourself in, a wedding video from Memory Lane 4 Us can help you get your ducks in a row. Knowing that we will capture all the moments of your beautiful wedding day puts your mind at ease. The day itself is likely to fly by in a haze of love and champagne. You may not be able to take it all in, or remember it perfectly. Guests have come from out of town, the families are all together, and you may not have time to visit with all of them for as long as you'd like. Having a wedding video means you can relive it all again and again, with all the sights and sounds, the music and vows, the laughter and tears.
