Roses, Lilies or Peonies? White, eggshell or ivory ? Long, short, sheath, mermaid? Veil or no veil? Dj, live band, iPod or soloist? Weddings are all about choices. I should know, I’ve spent the past eight months choosing everything from table decorations and ‘aisle’ music to dresses, flowers, themes, and the list goes on. After writing the SPASIFIK Wedding Guide for the past two years, 2011 marks the year I can actually write it from experience. After becoming engaged in March and deciding to marry my partner of eight years this December, wedding talk has taken over a good chunk of my life.
Admittedly, I’m not your typical bride. I won’t be worrying about shoes on my wedding day and haven’t been too fussy about pretty dresses or elaborate reception decorations. And, although I decided to pass on getting an official wedding ‘planner’ and organise my own wedding, I’m proud to say I haven’t become a bridezilla. Surprisingly, I have come to enjoy it all. My mother commented earlier on that “For someone who never wanted to get married, you’re really into it now!”, and she was right, I am. I think it’s more my love of spending memorable moments with close friends and family members, and being able to share our love with the people we love, that has me excited.
Since getting engaged I’ve come to realise that you don’t need to follow any set traditions when planning your wedding. Nor do you need to adhere to any ‘rules’. It’s all about you and your partner and these days, anything goes. Apart from a few legal requirements in your ceremony, you could have the guests come dressed as aliens and no one can tell you otherwise. By the time most of you read this, I’ll be in my final weeks of singledom (well, more like de facto-dom), and then walking down the aisle to officially commit the rest of my life to one person. It’s a bit scary, but a bit exciting at the same time. Wish me luck, and I hope you get some inspiration, tips and guidance from the personal tips and stories shared in the following pages. Oh, and make sure you support our advertisers – they could be just the thing to make your special day unique!
