Don't Let US Dictate YOUR Wedding
by Nathan Wacker
It's common knowledge that it takes many creative, hard working individuals to pull off the perfect wedding. There are so many small details to worry about, it would be enough to drive the bride and groom insane. This is why they hire us, the wedding professionals. This includes, but isn't limited to wedding planners, caterers, photographers, justices of the peace, etc. This list can go on forever, depending on the extravagance of the wedding and the amount of details you are willing to leave to someone else. It isn't always understood however, that the bride and groom still reserve the right to control their own wedding.
Often times, the couple places themselves at the mercy of the wedding professionals, and are afraid to comment or direct them in any way. This relationship may work fine in most cases, but sometimes this results in the bride and groom being placed in uncomfortable, or undesirable conditions, or ending up with a product that is less than they had envisioned. Hand feeding your spouse cake or smashing it in the others face isn't always what couples want. Long drunken speeches may not be your idea of pleasing either. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it if it is your idea of a good memory or photograph; it's just not for everyone.
As far as photographs and food go, the couple will be much happier if they feel they have some control, and end up with an end result that resembles what they were thinking about when they started hiring people. Don't let us, your wedding professionals, put you in places you are uncomfortable with. It's your special day, not ours. We are just trying to make it as perfect as possible. We have no desire to take over your wedding; we are just trying to do our jobs. Problems naturally arise because we may have a different vision of your perfect day than you do. We, the professionals, are not perfect. We can't read minds, and we probably don't think the exact same way you do. Our opinions are often subjective, and reflect what we would want at out own wedding. Just because we have a vision of our perfect day, it doesn't mean that it's the same vision you have of yours.
While it's important to give your photographers and other professionals the freedom to do things that they know will result in a good final product, don't be afraid to tell us what you want. After all I hardly think this is the day that we have been dreaming about since we were little girls. And I really don't think we lost any sleep wondering when the perfect time to pop the question will be. The bride and groom are the most important part of the wedding, and a good wedding professional knows this. We are almost always willing to be flexible for you, because we aren't happy unless you are. So feel free to show us samples of things you like, or pictures of things you find beautiful. Any help you can give us will help you get the wedding of your dreams.
