Sugar Bride Guide: Advice

Lauren Turner, PopSugar

If you could have done anything differently, what would it be? I would have started the wedding earlier! We were the last people to leave the party and I honestly did not want it to end. There were a few moments between dances and speeches and pictures and cake-cutting that it felt like quite a long to-do list! You only get one wedding day, so you might as well enjoy it for as long as you can. Also, hire a videographer or have a friend bring a video camera. It goes by so fast and it it doesn't even seem real the next day. You'll want to watch it later, I promise!

I feel like a lot of couples get stuck in the idea that their wedding day is their one and only moment to express themselves as a pair. So not true! I absolutely wanted ours to reflect us, but I also knew that every person that was there was special and important to us, and already knew what kind of a couple we were so I tried not to put that pressure on myself. Of course it's a big, important day, but it's still just one day in a whole lifetime of memories. Choose what you like, do what makes sense to you, not just what you're "supposed to do," and have some fun. It'll come together!

How did you stay sane during the planning process? Take a break from planning. People ask every other day what's going on with the wedding and how it's coming along, but it's OK not to be planning every hour of every day until the wedding. Take a week off, or more! Also step away from the blogs. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning scouring wedding blogs and Pinterest boards too many times. It doesn't help a stressed out bride-to-be to also be a tired and cranky one! At a certain point, I had to walk away from my computer because it was making me crazy! Sure, there is a place and a definite need for all of the amazing images and advice (hopefully like this!) out there, but it helps to shut it off, even if just for a few days.

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? When you wake up that day, let it all go and enjoy yourself. My wedding planner was an hour late, the bar was set up in the wrong place at the reception, we were short one bridesmaid bouquet, and someone from the venue was actually stringing lights on a tree during the maid of honor speech! None of those little things affected the awesomeness of our day.

Photo by Mi & Mo Photography

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Lauren Hendrickson, Community Product Manager

If you could have done anything differently, what would it be? To be honest, nothing! We wanted our wedding to be a big party and for all of our families to celebrate with us! And that is exactly what the day was.

How did you stay sane during the planning process? Planning is key. We did wait to the last minute on a couple things that did make it a little more stressful, but in the end it all came together. So get all of those small things out of the way as quick as possible.

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? It is hard but don't get too overwhelmed by the process. It should be fun for both you and your husband-to-be. And when the day finally arrives, just enjoy it; don't worry about the snafus that happen, as there are bound to be a few. Just enjoy it; the day will fly by.

Photo by Tom Tomkinson

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Tara Block, TrèsSugar

If you could have done anything differently, what would it be? Not worn pink suede shoes! It turned out fine, but the one thing that was out of our control — the weather — decided to be disagreeable, and the unexpectedly rainy day meant my pretty bridal shoes were trashed (and the bottom of my dress dyed pink) before the ceremony had even begun. But other than that, I wouldn't have changed anything — the wedding was truly love-filled and magical, even with the pouring rain!

How did you stay sane during the planning process? We got all the big things taken care of first, like booking the venue, food, and photographer. And booking our wedding planners Ashlyn Carter and Heather Cook of Carter & Cook Event Co. early on was also integral. Since I was planning an LA wedding from San Francisco, having planners in Southern California was incredibly helpful. Their local wedding expertise not only quickened the process of choosing everything from the DJ to the party supply rentals, it gave me peace of mind to know that I was choosing quality vendors in my budget. Also, all the help we received from friends and family for DIY projects, prewedding parties, and last-minute duties kept me from being overly stressed out.

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? Don't be afraid to ask for help from your loved ones, hire quality planners, it's OK if you don't have the time for a million DIY projects, and choose your vendors carefully. And remember, it's the relationships that really matter when it's over, so be kind, loving, and patient with your family, friends, and fiancé throughout the wedding planning process.

Photo by Michèle M. Waite

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Mandy Harris, Associate Editorial Production Director

If you could have done anything differently, what would it be? Our venue assigned a wedding planner, and she was great, but she was also pretty hands-off. If I were doing it over again, I might consider bringing on a dedicated planner to handle some of the smaller details. Right before the ceremony, there were suddenly a handful of details that needed to be dealt with right away, and my mom ended up being the one to deal with them. That meant she wasn't in the bridal suite for much of the time I was getting ready, which she and I both regret!

How did you stay sane during the planning process? We just kept reminding ourselves that it was ONE day. Of course we wanted it to be amazing and perfect, but ultimately, if something went off track or some piece of our plan didn't come together, that wouldn't be the end of the world. That helped us both keep some perspective. We also have incredibly supportive family and friends, which made things much easier!

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? Don't let anyone pressure you into anything you don't want. Our family was very pressure-free, but everyone else, from vendors to co-workers to semistrangers, seems to have an idea about what you absolutely HAVE to do on your wedding day or a tradition that you can't go without. Stick to your guns and stay true to what you and your husband-to-be really want, and the day will be a success.

Photo by Kristyn Stroble

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Elka Karl, CasaSugar

If you could have done anything differently, what would it be? I would've ensured that there were more lights in the outdoor spaces for older guests' safe walking . . . and that there were lights in the bathroom!! The lights burnt out and I didn't know. It was kind of treacherous.

How did you stay sane during the planning process? I made a "cry" list (a number of times I was allowed to cry before leaving for WI before the wedding). For some reason, it made things seem more manageable. This seems a little melodramatic, but sometimes you just need to allow yourself a few times to cry it out. Seriously, arranging the wedding without a planner from a distance of 2,000 miles was going to be hard — I knew that from the beginning — but I was happy to take on the responsibility of it because I knew it was going to turn out to be a great day. Keeping my eyes on the prize made it easier. Also, I was very conscious about not being too self-involved, and worked really hard to not be a bridezilla in any way.

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? Hire a great photographer, and remember to just let go on the day of your wedding and enjoy every moment! Don't worry about the small stuff. It will all work out for the best, and your day will be amazing!

Photo by Tom Tomkinson

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Laura Given, Editorial Assistant

How did you stay sane during the planning process? For me, the best way to stay sane was setting deadlines throughout the planning process. I worked from one major checklist and every item had a monthly deadline, so I always knew exactly what needed to be done by the end of each month. To steer clear of wedding overload, I dedicated one day of the week for all things wedding. My fiancé got involved and we'd plan while having a picnic or over drinks so that it was something we'd look forward to. And at the end of the day, my best bet was always to just call Mom. Some things never change, right?

Photo by Cooper Carras Photography

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Karli Bulnes, PopSugarTV

How did you stay sane during the planning process? I'm not out of the woods yet — the wedding's not until August — but my advice for brides-to-be who end up experiencing an unexpected snag in their plans (even possibly leading to a postponement like me) is to not let it get in the way of the excitement and happiness you deserve at this time. Your big day will happen and it will be amazing because you'll be solidifying your relationship with your best friend in front of the people who care about you most. And after all, a grand celebration after a setback will truly prove that you're both in it "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, and in good times and in bad."

What's your best advice for brides-to-be? Other than that, I say indulge yourself in a bunch of bridal magazines each month, watch lots of episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, treat yourself to new clothes for all the wedding-related occasions (don't forget to buy new bikinis for the honeymoon!), maintain a good manicure since your ring finger will be getting lots of attention, call your partner your "fiancé" while you still can, take tons of pictures along the way, and enjoy your moment.

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