3 Things You Don’t Need At Your Wedding

During our wedding planning process, I got a lot of, ” you have to do this and that.” At first, I added them all to my list. As we began planning the events for the wedding weekend, I started to wonder why. Why did I have to do these things?

The funny thing is when I started asking why NO ONE KNEW! They had no idea where the traditions came from or why it was significant. After a few of those conversations, I reminded myself of something I promised to carry long beyond the wedding…

This is OUR WEDDING, OUR MARRIAGE and we get to make it OUR OWN!

For all of the brides wondering do I have to...the answer is NO. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Below you will find 3 things you don’t need at your wedding.

1. A Dress That Fits The Venue

Get a dress you love! Should you get a dress that is fully see-through for a wedding in a cathedral? Probably not, but that also doesn’t mean you have to get a ball gown just to fill up space. We had a destination wedding and there were a ton of rules around what was appropriate. In the end, I didn’t care that my train or cathedral veil would get dirty in the grass. I knew I felt beautiful, and the combo I selected made me look exactly how I always pictured I would, beautiful!

2. Any “Traditions” That Don’t Speak to You

We didn’t have a garter or bouquet toss, and guess what? No one missed them. No one asked about them nor did we feel like we missed out. I wanted a party and I didn’t want the reception to be choppy with a ton of things that would slow down the vibe. I have no regrets!

3. The Opinions of Others

This can get tricky if your parents are paying for the wedding. I would still encourage you to speak up. You and your partner will look back on this day forever. You don’t want it to be clouded with memories of making everyone else happy. This is your day! Sit down with your partner and decided what your non-negotiables are. This will allow you to incorporate the opinions of, say your parents, into areas the two of you don’t feel as strongly about.

From the wedding to your marriage, do what feels right for you and your partner. Don’t make decisions out of fear of hurting someone’s feelings or what they may think. Do what feels right for the two of you!

XOXO, Laya