2018 Brides: Tips To 2019 Brides

I was truly blessed to capture some amazing weddings in 2018 and I feel like my 2018 Brides have a lot to say to my 2019 Brides. "Let the Bride Say It". I asked a few Cheers brides from 2018 to give tips to those soon to walk in the same footsteps, and here is what they have to say:

Jadelle Remy: Freebird Restaurant, Petrotrin

- Do a hair trial.. even if you've been going to the hairdresser for years... do a trial!

- "Choose the right bridesmaids, stay out of their group chat and tell your chief to instruct them not to tell you about their internal squabbles. You don't need any extra drama and trust me, they'll work it out."

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Tsianne Conyette: La Soledad Estate, St. Joseph

- Don’t sweat the small stuff, you won’t remember a thing afterwards

- Delegate responsibilities by at least the week before

- Do what makes YOU & YOUR HUSBAND TO BE happy, it’s your day, Don’t have any regrets!

- Don’t let the day, get bigger than the reason for the day, Wedding Planning is stressful so always remember why you’re doing it and plan as a team.

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Melissa Perseval: Stonehaven Villas, Tobago

Just relax and recognize that the marriage is more important than the DAY. Invest in each other, time and energy!

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Genesia Straker, Third Exodus Assembly, Longdenville

- Personalize Personalize Personalize! I'm glad I personalised but I wish I'd set aside some of those items to keep in my home. Heartfelt Designs was a great supplier!!!!! They made magic with my ideas.

- If it may rain...spend money to make sure your guests are comfortable. Flooring goes a long way.

- I'm glad I took photos with a great photographer!!!

- I wish I had known about Dwellings gift registry. It has many items as affordable as Excellent Stores that I would have preferred and guests could have bought their gifts online and have them delivered home to me after the wedding.

Katerina Belle-Smythe, Third Exodus Assembly, Longdenville

- Make sure and enjoy the day, It only happens once!

- I wish I had gotten more time to take more photos but I know we were limited on time...

- We had an Excel workbook for planning...a page for guest list, one for food list, etc so everything was recorded and shared with both families

Recommended Suppliers

1. Cheers Visual Communications (photos for my wedding)

2. MTF Rentals (rentals of cutlery, catering other services)

3. Marilyn's Restaurant (the food)

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Hadassah Noel: Lead Wedding Photographer, Cheers

Now, I am not yet married, but after observing weddings for 13+ years, I think I have my own little two cents to add in, lol.

- Do Trials: Don't wait until your wedding day, to see what your suppliers can do, test it out well advance to your wedding, see how they last for a day, not everyone may need to do that, but it sure helps.

- Size Control: Quantity or Quality, the choice is yours, but I am of the personal opinion that smaller weddings are more, intimate, the people that love you most or vice versa are your guests, and hunny, the bills won't cross into your third year of marriage!

- Plan & Execute: Have a checklist, Keep everything in one notebook, Delegate tasks, and very important, follow up! If you can't afford a wedding planner, a spreadsheet is your friend; and we all have one very organized friend that we can ask to oversee the day, (that person should not be in the bridal party) make calls in the morning, to ensure everyone is on time. Have a contingency plan, if things like weather etc, may affect your plans, have a back up plan and a team to execute.

- Time Management: A common 'Trini' issue is the last minute syndrome. Do not wait till the week before your wedding to buckle down on things. Things can happen that are not expected, leave room for things to change etc.

- All In One Venue: Some of the smoothest weddings are those where everything is centralized to one location. Choose a venue that can at least accommodate two or more segments of your wedding (Segments: Dressing, Ceremony, Portraits and Reception), so a lot of time is not spent commuting.

- Enjoy Yuhself!- Every Bride seems to say it! The industry has become soooo commercialized, its barely about supporting you on your day, but more about making money, off of your love. Do your homework! The wedding industry is crowded with suppliers in Trinidad and Tobago. Look for the best quality at the best price.

All that being said, our next post is one you wouldn't want to miss! I am putting together, detailed wedding budgets starting @ $25,000. with local suppliers and just what you're gonna get included. So you won't have to go around like a headless chicken to find the right suppliers at the right price. You're gonna want to subscribe.

Well I can say a lot more, but for that you would need to set up an appointment at my office,.. lol. Happy 2019 Brides to be, and all the best with your planning!

A few online wedding checklist to help":

https://www.theknot.com/wedding-checklist

https://www.thespruce.com/wedding-checklists-to-help-you-plan-your-wedding-1358256

https://www.herecomestheguide.com/wedding-party-ideas/detail/90-day-wedding-planning-checklist