Bride's side, Vol. 4: If I knew then, what I know now

Bridal blogger: Chrystal (of Chrystal & Ben) of Glenburn, Maine*
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 (06.07.08)
Wedding Location: Wedding ceremony and reception at the Spectacular Events Center in Bangor, Maine
Guests invited: 150
Guests attending: 100 (12 from out of state)
*You can see original coverage of Chrystal and Ben's wedding here on the old I Do Click Wedding Photography blog and watch their slideshow here

If knowing what I know now, I could write a letter to me then, here is what I would have told myself:

I would tell her that despite all the stress and worry you're going through now, after the wedding you will be an extremely happily married woman, who takes comfort in knowing that you best friend will always be right by your side.

I’d tell her that ivory is just as common as white. And there’s no need to have a meltdown the morning after ordering an ivory dress- everything comes in ivory and it will be O.K.

I’d ask her if her cake really is that important, and when she said yes I would tell her to hire a professional bakery to make it for her. Having a friend do it for a bargain won’t be worth it when you look over from your head table to see it leaning over so far that you’re afraid it may actually fall.

I would tell her not to worry about the extra money she will spend on a bridesmaids dress, it will all be worth it when her amazing friend gets to stand up with her on her big day.

I would tell her to accept all the help people are offering- it’s just silly not to when you have so much to do. Remember they wouldn’t offer to help if they didn’t want to.

I would remind her that while all she can think about is the wedding, other people around her still have lives. Don’t get annoyed when they forget something wedding related, it doesn’t mean they don’t care.

I would tell her that maybe she too needs to “forget” the wedding for a little bit. A break from planning may be just what she needs to regroup and stay grounded. Remember the big picture.

I would tell myself to stop worrying about the weather, it will be perfect. And even if you think it won’t, you’ll be marrying your best friend so who gives a darn about the weather.

Lastly I would tell her that on her big day there a few things she should do:
-Stop and take a minute to enjoy that the sky really is that blue
-Notice how tenderly your dad will look at you as he gives away his baby girl
-Soak up all those lovey dovey looks from your groom as he says his “I Do’s”
-Just have a blast, you spent a long time planning a big party -now enjoy it!


Biggest planning surprise: How expensive everything was- I think I was little naive about how much everything would cost before I really got going.

Favorite wedding planning resource: Sam’s Blog! Seeing pictures of what real brides had done was a big help. And websites like WeddingChannel and The Knot.


I wish I'd spent more time: Trying different hairstyles to make sure I absolutely loved it.

I wish I'd spent less time: Worrying about the weather. It turned out to be the most perfect day ever, but even if it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have been able to change it so what's the point in worrying about it.


I am glad I/we did: Pictures before the ceremony. We had a lot more time and didn’t feel as rushed between the ceremony and reception.

I am glad we didn't: Spend the night apart before the wedding. It was comforting to wake up with Ben on the morning of our wedding and to be able to talk to him before we both went our separate ways to get ready.


Favorite wedding moment: Seeing Ben for the first time once I was in my dress and ready to go. Seeing his smiling face -everything else just melted away!

Detail that was worth it: Our guest book. I made a scrapbook with pictures of us from all 4 years we had been together, including some awesome engagement shots from Sam. It was on black paper so we got some metallic silver pens and let people write messages around the photos.


Detail that was a waste: Bubbles for people to blow once we were pronounced husband and wife. I saw some people blowing some but overall it didn’t turn out how I had hoped.

Best wedding splurge: Sam for sure! Worth every penny!


Best wedding steal: My shoes, I found them on clearance at a local bridal shop for $10.

My best advice is: To relax, let go of the things that aren’t perfect and just have fun.


And, for a bit of shameless self-promotion, what was your favorite part about working with Samantha Warren Weddings: Her ability to be a best friend to someone she barely knows! Sam was amazing the whole day making sure I stayed hydrated and had everything I needed. She even gave me the amazing idea to ditch my crinoline and bra when it started bothering me after the ceremony. Thanks for that Sam, I felt so much better after I took it off!

Read Past Bride's Side Posts:
-Vol.1: 10 tips for making the "Best Day of Your Life" just that
-Vol. 2: 'Remember you are starting a life together'
-Vol. 3: Go green, but stay real