Weddings Are Not About Perfection

It rained ice all morning, but this bride got her outdoor ceremony at Appleford

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that couples believe they have to create the "perfect" wedding.  The perfect timeline, the perfect flowers, the perfect weather, the perfect photographs. The Perfect Day.

After all my years in this business, I can tell you something with complete confidence, there is no such thing as a perfect wedding.  There are only meaningful ones.  I've watched rain force beautiful outdoor ceremonies inside, seen elevators stop working, vendors running late.  I have handled family dynamics that became more complicated than anyone expected.   At the end of the day, none of that mattered. And, in the planning process there is no point in stressing over timelines, making every nuance of the decor picture perfect or micromanaging every detail of dinner service. No one is going to notice. They will notice the joy, the fun, seeing people they haven't seen in a long time and watching you as you start your life together. Timelines are fluid, everyone gets fed and no one has a diagram of what you imagined the decor should look like.

What I have watched is couples laughing through the unexpected, dancing until the last song, hugging the people they love, and leaving at the end of the night saying,"That was everything we hoped it would be." Many of those weddings were not perfect.  But, they were still the best day ever. Why?  Because they focused on what truly mattered.  

It rained on the rooftop terrace and the groom had a boot and a scooter, but this couple at 620 Loft and Garden had a perfect day despite the change in plans

Your wedding isn't a performance.  It isn't a competition.  It isn't a Pinterest board brought to life.  It's the beginning of your marriage.  The details matter, of course they do.  But they should never matter more than the people standing beside you. Things will be out of budget, compromises will have to be made and something may not be exactly as you dreamed. But, your day will be amazing because you are marrying your life partner, your families are surrounding you and there is love everywhere you look.

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself during wedding planning is permission to let go of perfection.  When you stop chasing perfection, you create space for joy, for laughter, for real moments.  Your wedding is for creating memories that don't depend on whether every candle was perfectly straight or every flower faced exactly the right direction.  Beautiful weddings aren't remembered because nothing went wrong.  They're remembered because love was bigger than anything that did.

The love in this room was so evident!

If you take away one thing from this article, I hope this lesson comes long before you walk down the aisle.  Perfection isn't the goal.  Being fully present is.  Let go of the small stuff and enjoy the journey!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, please reach out. I've Got You!

And, if you feel overwhelmed, please reach out.  I’ve Got You!