Tami Winn Events: What I Wish I Would Have Known....

Everyone has an opinion about your wedding. Your friends, your relatives, even your co-workers. So whose advice do you take? How about brides that have walked down the aisle recently, and know firsthand what you should or shouldn’t do? Tried and true, these brides are battle-worn when it comes to wedding planning. And no matter how much or how little you worry about the small stuff, there are always lessons to be learned.

Surprisingly, one of the most often ‘forgotten’ items in a wedding is the one document that makes it legal: your wedding license. Belle Karr, former bride of Tami Winn Events remembers that little detail getting lost in the hustle and bustle of other planning. She reminds future brides to make sure both you and your fiancé sign the document and then have your Officiant sign it after the ceremony.

Photo by Jenny Martell

Married in December and also a former bride of TWE, Nicole Clark feels very strongly about the importance of the professionalism of your vendors. Her biggest lesson came while hiring her photographer, who was pretty new to the business. “I should have given her a list of specific pictures I wanted, but I didn’t. Because of that, I have one photo of me walking down the aisle with my husband. I wish I would have told her exactly what I wanted and what were the most important moments to me," says Nicole. Her advice can be applied to every vendor that you hire. Ask for references, go over the contract very carefully, and ask for referrals from other vendors.

Mother of the Bride, Julie Rosener, has the same piece of advice for brides and mothers. “I met with one vendor and they recommended Tami Winn. I met with another vendor, and they, too, referred Tami. These people are in the business, and know who is the best.”

Communicate clearly what your vision is. And don’t be afraid to check in with the vendor to make sure they understand exactly what you are expecting.

Photo by VIM Studios

One of the most important things most brides decide on for their wedding is their dress. And although it’s important to share that moment with loved ones, it’s also important to make sure you are being true to yourself. Nicole admits to letting herself get caught up in the moment, which left her with 2 dresses, neither one her dream dress. “I listened to those around me instead of listening to myself,” she says.

Personal Photo from Nicole Clark

With so much pressure on being in front of a crowd and cameras, Belle adopted a great mantra for the day: “Fake it ‘til you make it!” She and her husband had to use that to get them through the moment of cutting into their cake and realizing it wasn’t the flavor they ordered. “Knowing that everyone was watching and pictures were being taken was a lot of pressure. Luckily, not many know the cake was the wrong flavor!”

Photo by Jenny Martell

Whether you are the bride or the mother of the bride, the budget can be one of the most stressful factors of your big day. One thing Julie and Nicole agree on is the difficulty of maintaining a budget.

As the mother of the bride, Julie said that it was definitely the most stressful thing during the planning process. “I thought I could wing it and piece it all together, but I should have put it all down on paper. At the end of everything, I had no idea how much I spent,” agrees Nicole.

Photo by VIM Studios

The one thing that every former client of TWE advised, was to ENJOY YOUR DAY! Belle says to let go of the planning and enjoy the moment. “Do your best to take it all in. And before walking down the aisle, take a few deep breaths!”

Nicole says that the key to enjoying your big day is to remember to not sweat the small stuff. “Don’t let the planning ruin your day. Your husband, friends and family are the most important things. Focus on that and you’ll have a great time.”

For mother of the bride Julie, the most important thing was making sure her daughter was happy. “You can either let things upset you and ruin your day, or get over and soak up every moment. At the end of the night, my daughter said it was the best day of her life. And to me, that’s worth every penny.”