My official BAM...8/22/2015...ProPics....Continued (starting on page 4)

1. While planning, trust your gut and do what you want and not what others want you to do. I wanted a 100 person wedding with close family and friends. This meant we had to excluded extended family, including second cousins, third cousins, aunt's in law, etc, etc, etc. I feel if I would have bent to others will instead of trusting my gut I wouldn't have had as much fun as I did. 92 people RSVP'd, however only about 84 people came. It was perfect for me and my DH because we are not very center of attention type of people and it was fun to enjoy the day with close family and friends/people who have supported us through our long journey to where we are now.

2. HIRE A WEDDING COORDINATOR...a professional one!!! My coordinator was hired for month of coordination. I paid $1600 for her and her team (the lowest price I found was $1000 for an up and coming coordinator with services starting 2 weeks before, so this was a reasonable price for my location). She and her team honestly didn't start their job until about 2 weeks before but they confirmed all vendors, developed timeline for vendors and also the entire day. I DIY'd my entire ceremony and reception besides the ceremony backdrop and also the flowers themselves (but I made the vases), so they set up everything starting the day before (thanks to my venue which starting setting up on Thursday). Her and her team also coordinated the ceremony, picked up food for us to eat while we were getting ready, and most importantly made sure the ceremony started on time...at 6 pm on the dot. She adverted some wedding situations including my DH getting make up all over his ivory suit after our first look, she held my dress for me as I walked to the park where we did our first look (it rained early in the day), she kept the photographer on time with all the preceremony pics, she made sure the DJ was in place and also in a place appropriate for the ceremony (he wanted to be in the front, however the coordinator put him more appropriately in the back), she made sure I was aware of timing for the reception (we had a separate room where we ate before the reception, so she let me know when everyone was seated so we could enter, do our first dance and also open the buffets so people could eat). She asked me if I was ready to change my shoes. Took my veil for me when I was done wearing it during the reception, helped me change my shoes, and of course packed up everything once the reception was over. Not a single family member or guest had to do anything that day but show up, look nice and have fun!!! They are worth every penny!

--The only thing I would advise is to go over every detail with your coordinator before. The venue/catering coordinator was not there. I thought the lighting should have been dimmer for the reception and my DOC didn't really know how to tactfully work the lights so it wouldn't be so obvious that we were going to adjust the lights. Also, I wanted the lights down more for the ceremony. My FH and the groomsman saw the ceremony space before the ceremony and the DOC asked him about the lighting, of course he said it was too dark, so she turned the lights up.

Sorry my computer is only letting me upload one photo at a time

3. FIRST LOOK...do whatever is for you! We did the first look because I just wanted to see my DH alone before the ceremony, I wanted to save time between ceremony and reception (I have been to weddings with greater than 2 hour cocktail "hour"), I wanted to get some good pics and video of us, and I don't care about tradition. I will say after we ate alone before the reception, I really didn't see my FH too much as he and I were getting pulled all kind of ways by family and friends. I will say that since we did the first look that when I was walking down the aisle I was looking more at my family and friends and that was actually a special moment also!

4. HIRE A VIDEOGRAPHER!....I haven't gotten the video yet, but after looking at these photos, which are nice, I think the video will do even more justice reliving the day. Our officiant, who is my DH's uncle, had lung cancer, we asked him 8 months before the wedding to marry us, he told us that he would do it however he couldn't make a promise because he didn't know how he would be healthwise. By the grace of God, he married us. He died 3.5 wks after the wedding, we went to the funeral this past weekend. I am anxious to see the video. We were the last couple he married.

Gorgeous dress! Can't wait to see more, F5ing! Great advice

So amazing. I'm sorry about his Uncle, I'm glad he was able to marry you.

Great advice and gorgeous pictures!!

You guys are a gorgeous couple!!

F5! F5!

Soooooooooooooo gorgeous! CONGRATULATIONS!

5. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS...others have said to savor the moment, take it all in, etc, etc. Since I planned and DIY'd everything, I paid attention to every detail, which actually in turn helped me to take it all in and enjoy every moment. The day actually went by at a go reasonable pace, not to fast and not to slow.

6. DON'T SWEAT ANYTHING, I mean nothing!!! Laugh off everything. My front sole of my shoe split on the elevator right before the ceremony however I laughed it off and still was able to walked down the aisle and wear the shoes all night. My FH's uncle and father were late for the preceremony pics and his father only made it to the venue about 30 minutes before the ceremony. There was some sort of thumb print in our cake. We dropped the cake on the table after cutting it. We feed each ourselves the cake instead of feeding each other and we forgot to drink the champagne. The photographer was running behind on taking photos before the ceremony. It all made for a great day.

7. BE VERY DETAILED ABOUT THE PICTURES YOUR WANT....let the people who you want to take pics with, know exactly where and when the pics will take place and make sure you discuss these details with photographer. I would suggest some sort of timeline for pics. I gave my photographer a list of "must have" pics, however after the ceremony everyone was so excited, it was hard to get all these pictures, especially since my ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception were all in one location.

8. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!! I thought I'd be so nervous, that I would need to drink to stay calm. Surprisingly I was not nervous at all and I only had a few sips of champagne. The adrenaline of the day somehow puts all your nerves at ease.

Thanks for reading, now I'll post the rest of the pics. Please be patient, my computer is moving very slowly.

You are gorgeous and I love that last photo! I'm so sorry about your DH's uncle, but I'm so glad he was able to marry you. You'll always have that to look back on.

Awe Joy! I am so sorry about DH uncle and I am so glad he was able to marry you. Your BAM looks amazing. I keep F5'ing. Where did you get married? I live in NOLA.

@ Stephie...I got married at the Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Center.

Before ceremony pics.

I know exactly where that's at! Great choice! I was trying to make out the building in the background..lol.

First look.

One more word of advice....DON'T DO AN UNPLUGGED CEREMONY! There were pics that my friends and family took that I loved and that my photographer didn't get. I will try and post those toward the end.

Gorgeous...and great advice!

and it's great you're able to laugh things off, its a great quality.

Bridesmaids.

Obsessed with my cake!

Oh my gosh your dress! That back is so unique and beautiful. And your pictures look so "real" if that makes any sense. So beautiful. Congratulations!