Guest Post by Megan Ely of Wedology 101
Today I’m happy to share this informative guest post by the talented Meghan Ely who is one half of the creative team behind Wedology 101 (more info. at the end of this post). Based on years of experience in the wonderful world of weddings, Meghan has truly excellent for brides and grooms who are in the whirlwind of planning their wedding… read on!
Wedding Planning and Pleasing your Family: the Great Balance
Wedding planning is, quite often, a balancing act. Before you know it, you’re ordering place cards, booking reception venues and assembling out of town gift bags. What many may not tell you, however, is that the greatest of all tasks is the inevitable balance of planning a fabulous soiree while keeping your family life intact.
When you strip away the tulle and fondant, weddings are stressful. Strife comes with the territory but if you follow these Wedology 101 sanctioned tips, you’re more likely to find yourself humming “Shiny Happy People Holding Hands:”
1) If you want it, pay for it. While the tradition of the parents paying for the wedding day is still a common practice, I’ve found that many fights often start over brides wanting something and their parents not wanting to pay for it. Sure it’s your special day, but I’ve always contended that the person with the checkbook has the final say. So if you desperately want those chiavari chairs, then it’s time to ante up the Visa.
In a similar vein, if you are paying for your own wedding and are suddenly emailed a list of mom and dad’s extensive list of second cousins and work associates, it’s time to put your foot down, you are the host.
2) Insist that everyone be an adult. I’ve taken many phone calls over the years from tearful brides lamenting that they’re divorced parents won’t sit together at the wedding. Their initial argument? “Well it’s my Big Day.” I tell them to head back into the fire, and try the “We’re all adults so let’s act like it” approach. It’s a much stronger, and honest, line of reasoning.
3) Etiquette is your friend. Wedding Planning will put you in all sorts of predicaments- which names do I put on the invitation? Who is included in the wedding announcement? Who welcomes the guests? Instead of coming up with answers to appease everyone, dust off Emily Post’s Weddings and Crane’s Blue Book. Etiquette is in place for a reason so free yourself of these burdens and let the experts handle it.
4) Keep the lines of communication open. Always.
Ultimately, your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life. Don’t let a few family squabbles get in the way of that. After all, stress and tulle simply do not go together.
So why Wedology 101?
Between the two of us, Jennifer McBride and I have successfully executed over 700 weddings. Wedology 101 is our opportunity to share our Do’s and Don’ts in a fun and informative way.
We’ve hand-selected our nearest and dearest wedding professionals to sit on our Panel of Experts to give you the bride, an opportunity to ask any and all questions. And we have swag.
So join us before the pressures of planning your wedding get the best of you on August 15, from 1-5pm, at Wyndham Virginia Crossings in Richmond.
Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry, and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer for Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch’s Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.
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