I debated a while about whether or not I was doing this, especially after the recent changes. But then, I remembered all the really helpful advice and support this community has given me, especially with some NWR things, like when we feared my FIL had pancreatic cancer. So to the WW community, thank you! And now, some advice:
Don't sweat the small (or big) things. Our timeline went crazy from the beginning- luckily our photographer was awesome and worked with us. Also, let go of things you can't control- like freak snow storms that shut down major interstates because nobody thought we were going to have any accumulation so they didn't salt the roads. We actually ended up delaying our ceremony by about 30 mins because our guests were having such a hard time getting there, which brings me to one of my regrets- no one made an announcement to let our guests who had made it know what was happening, our DOC thought DH or the priests were going to do it, and he didn't realize this. (But honestly, it all worked out.) We also ended up ending our reception early because of the snow, as lots of our guests left after dinner.
My other main regret lies with our DJ- no one could hear his announcements (apparently my MIL had told him to turn down the volume because it was too loud) and he didn't realize and adjust for this, and we didn't think to say something until too late. He also didn't do the greatest job with keeping the party going, although this may be a side effect of an ever changing audience due to the weather. (Snow fell from about 1:30-9:30 that day.)
Hire a photographer you love. Seriously, our photographer got so many great shots and did such a good job of helping us get back on track. If you're in the Columbus area, definitely check out Story Told Photography, because Ali is amazing!
If you're on the fence about a first look, do it! It's absolutely wonderful to get that time together and was one of my favorite parts of the day. I also suffer from anxiety, so seeing DH before was a great way to help keep me calm. He still teared up when he saw me coming down the aisle, so it definitely didn't take away from that!
After the ceremony (and yes, it was freezing!)
Bridal portraits in the snow!
