This weekend my cousin got married. She has grown up beside me as a younger sister, so it felt like I was the one giving her away. It was a beautiful spring day and one filled with many surreal moments, emotions and love. Just the way a wedding should be.
We laughed, smiled at the camera, cried as she walked down the aisle and danced as the band played and the sun disappeared. What a blessing to be a part of a wedding six weeks before my own. I noted what I love, what I could do differently in our wedding and was also reminded of all the things we still need to do. *insert panic* Here are some of the little gems I took with me from her wedding.
Insist on waterproof mascara.
Once the makeup artist had applied my makeup, I sat down to write my cousin a card and began to tear up. I willed the tears to stop and asked her, “Just how waterproof is this waterproof mascara? You may be as hard as nails, but I tell you that when the bride first puts her dress on, you will cry like a baby.
Luckily the makeup artist ran into the bedroom with Mac in hand to save our faces. If you still find yourself dry eyed after that, walk down the aisle and turn around as the bride reaches the altar and witness her teary Dad removing the veil from her face. You don’t want to end up resembling a racoon at the altar.
Choose your dress wisely.
Many girls have this fairytale idea of the white dress they have always wanted to wear. But as my cousin confessed, very few give any thought to their ability to walk let alone dance in the designer creation. She was totally in love with her dress; it moulded to her perfectly and was a breathtaking mermaid tail creation.
But she couldn’t walk without having me hold the front and the back else she would’ve had to shuffle like a geisha. When she realised she still had to waltz, her mom and mother-in-law worked their magic with pins. Before you knew it, the dress was pinned up perfectly and she was twirling around the dance floor. So when you’re envisioning your perfect dress, remember to have it slightly off the ground or have a hook made to lift it all up whilst in motion.
Relax and enjoy.
Really. Once the big day arrives, there is nothing more you can do. The planning, preparation and organising has been done and all that’s left is to marry the man of your dreams and share the day with the special people in your life. My cousin was the picture of peacefulness.
I don’t know how she did it, but even the night before, she was still sewing pillows for the ring bearers and looked like she didn’t have a care in the world. On the day, if she was nervous, she didn’t show it and actually had a ball of a time at her wedding. It made me realise that all the stressing and attention to detail didn’t mean that much in the grand scheme of things.
At the end of the night, you will leave, the guests will leave and all that you have planned for ages will be left on the empty tables. So savour the day, it’s over in a flash.
Read more from Lauren as she plans her wedding in our Bride to Be section.
Photograph courtesy of Kathryn Rossiter © (photo taken at Lauren’s cousin’s wedding, she is the one beside the bride)
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