Weddings – A Matter of Perspective

by: Fernando Bellingham

When you decide to commit to someone for the rest of your life, you should start out on a high note. In this case, we are talking about a little perspective when it comes to your wedding.

Weddings – A Matter of Perspective

Weddings should be glorious events. Two people are happily committing to spending the rest of their lives together. Family and friends should be gathered at the event to share in the joyful day. Alas, more than a few weddings have gone off with the bride or groom failing to fully enjoy the day. Frankly, more than a few brides and grooms have had miserable times.

There is one overriding rule you must apply to your wedding. That rule is perspective. The wedding is for you! It is your day! It is not a day where you cater to others. It is not your mother’s day, father’s day or a day for trying to placate feuding friends or family. This may sound like an obvious idea, but it often isn’t followed.

I once attended a wedding for a young lady that had previously worked for me. There were over 200 people at the wedding. By the time the wedding ceremony rolled around, the bride was so stressed out, she was nearly in tears. The mothers were not getting along, a brother had consumed about three times the amount of alcohol he should have and her best friends were arguing. They were both bridesmaids! Things only got better at the reception. After her honeymoon, she told me the trip was as great as the wedding was horrible!

When planning for a wedding, there is a tendency to try to accommodate everyone but yourself. While you want to be friendly, you have to draw a line in the sand and you need to draw it before the wedding. Everyone has friends and family that can be a bit troublesome. Talk with them before the wedding. Explain to them that you want them to come, but you expect certain conduct on their part. If two old friends don’t get along, tell them to work it out or keep quiet at the wedding. “Party” friends should be told to keep a cap on their fun. Parents should be enlightened to the fact that this isn’t about them, particularly mothers.

At the end of the day, your wedding should be one of the greatest days in your life. Keep perspective of the fact it is YOUR DAY and take steps to make sure everyone knows as much. Problems may crop up. Fix them if you can. If you can’t, ignore them and have fun.