Things I've learned from our wedding

Ira and I tried our very best to be as organized and as prepared for the wedding as possible, but there were just a few things that we either didn't think about or did not do a very good job at it. Some of these tips though are probably not needed for those that are having a more extravagant wedding and hiring people do things, i.e. a Wedding Coordinator.

Things I've learned:

• If you do want to keep your top layer, make sure your cake maker is going to give your caterer's a box to put the top layer of your cake in. We had our aunt make our cake for us. She does it on the side, but I don't think it's a very professional business. Mainly for family and friends. We made the assumption that the caterer's were going to save the top layer and give it to us, but since a box/container was not given to them to put the top layer on, they were not sure if we wanted to keep the cake. In the end, we did not get the top layer. They did box it up, but no one was given the box in time.
• Make sure you delegate someone to pick up the top layer from the caterer's for you.
• This tip is mainly for those who are not going to hire a professional Wedding Coordinator. When you choose someone to be the Wedding Coordinator for that day, make sure they understand the exact role of the coordinator. I thought it was clear when I asked my friend to coordinate for that day, that she would understand. I informed her that we would like her to be the one to make sure we're on time for our schedule, make sure everyone is in line, know what to do, etc. Basically just be the mediator between the vendors/wedding party, and us (bride and groom). I also informed her that this means we would need her at the rehearsal so we all know what's going to happen. She said okay, but it was very apparent that she did not understand she had to take charge of the rehearsal and help make sure everyone knew what to do. So in conclusion: Be very clear on your instructions! Even if it means spelling out everything, to the point where it seems too much. It's better to be over-communicated than under.
• Make sure to put people in charge of things that need to be done before, during, and after the wedding. I.E. Someone to bring home the gifts, someone to pick up the top layer of the cake, someone to pick up the centerpieces, etc.
• Be very organized. Even treat it like a project. Meaning: keep excel files of things (addresses, gifts, budget, etc.), create a To-Do list, create a task list to help see what's pending, deadlines, and what's completed. The more organized you are, the less stressed you will be.
• Don't be afraid to delegate! Don't think you can do it all. We thought we could, but really, you can't. Plus, your family and friends are more than happy to help. That's why they are there for you. For some people, it may even be offending if you do not let them help.
• Finally: ALWAYS expect things to go wrong. The only thing you can do is try your very best to PREVENT things from happening. If things do go wrong during the wedding, let other people handle it. That's what they are there for. For example, there were high chances of rain for the time of our reception. Instead of worrying, I let the coordinators deal with it. They found a way to handle all the tables and it worked out fine. This caused the name tags and table arrangements to get mixed up, but I let my friend deal with it rather than running in to fix it myself. This may be harder for those brides that want to be in charge of everything or are perfectionists, but really, don't stress yourself out. Let others handle it so you don't have to be stressed. It's your day. Allow yourself to be pampered.