How do you ensure that your wedding day is the best day ever? Well, we recommend trying your best not to micro-manage and just accept the chaos and minor mistakes. Letting go allows you to smile and genuinely have a good time with the people you love. Our next bride, Erin, has some advice for brides-to-be that she wishes someone had told her before her big day. Slip ups aside, Erin and Michael's pink and purple wedding in Maryland was gorgeous and an experience that they are sure to remember forever.
Looking for more? May we remind you that there is always more to be seen in the full gallery. It gives you the chance to see every last detail captured by Bara Miller Photography, so why wouldn't you want to go check it out?! Be sure to read on to see the full budget breakdown of this Maryland shades of pink wedding.
Advice from the Bride:Don't stress over dress alterations or try your dress on repeatedly. I constantly felt like I needed to change things about my dress and it was my biggest source of stress for the wedding! In the end it was exactly what I wanted and it felt like me.
Also, get several estimates when considering vendors and everything. It's hard to know what you "should" spend without having some comparisons. Don't be afraid to tell someone what you are willing to spend or what you have budgeted. Most of the time, people will work with you.
When we envisioned our wedding day, we wanted it to be rustic, relaxed, and casual but chic. Maryland’s eastern shore was an ideal location because of the beautiful fall weather by the bay, and The Inn at Huntingfield Creek provided a wonderful natural backdrop for the wedding that needed very little dressing up. Our entire bridal party stayed as guests at the Inn, and the ceremony and reception were held on site. We had approximately 85 guests outside for the ceremony, and the groom’s brother was our officiant, which we felt made it more personal.
I have a ton of things I wish people told me. For one, buying suits for the groomsmen is very economical and allows you to personalize things much more! We loved the suits our groomsmen wore and they got a great deal.
The reception was held in an upscale barn with an open tented area off the front and back of the building. Some of our favorite touches were the personal, homemade additions. We had a special table set up with weddings photos of parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The tables were covered with wooden candle holders my parents made. At each numbered table, we had a picture of us at that age. We also had wine bottles in place of a guestbook, that guests signed in gold pen for us to open during wedding anniversaries. As wedding favors, we gave out small burlap bags with black-eyed susan seeds, the state flower of Maryland.
As far as things we would change, we would have gone on our honeymoon Monday after our Saturday night wedding. We didn't have enough time off work to do so, but traveling at 5am after your wedding is exhausting. Even so, the weather was perfect for us and the evening was filled with dancing with loved ones.
Budget: $20,500
The biggest things we spent money on were:
1. Venue
2. Catering and service
3. Event rentals
4. Our band (worth every single penny!)
5. Honeymoon