Here at “Let Them Eat Cake,” we write a lot about what to expect before your Big Day, when to check things off of your to-do list, trends for colors and fabrics and much more. But, sometimes the most helpful and comforting words can come from a fellow bride-to-be.
Claire Sargent is the head of audience development at our parent company Renaissance Publishing. She recently got engaged and we wanted to get an inside look to where she is now, how she’s feeling and all that is in between.
-KM
My experience as a bride-to-be so far has been mostly exciting and laid back because I’m not letting myself become overwhelmed by a day that’s supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. I learned early on that it’s extremely easy to become overwhelmed, and in the beginning, I was. I got engaged on May 15, 2019, and during the summer, I was overwhelmed by the cost of a traditional wedding. It seemed like I couldn’t have a nice wedding without spending a fortune, and I became discouraged. That’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to let myself be overwhelmed by wedding planning, and I started looking into more unique wedding options.
To save money and have a stress-free wedding experience, we decided to have a beach wedding in Gulf Shores, Alabama. My fiancé and I love the beach, so when we saw how beautiful, yet affordable, a beach wedding could be, it was a no-brainer. We are getting married on April 18, 2020, which is an excellent time for a beach wedding both weather-wise and cost-wise. We’re saving money on a location, décor, and my dress. I found the perfect bohemian beach wedding dress for only $500 at David’s Bridal, and I can’t wait to wear it on our Big Day (Don’t worry, the groom hasn’t seen it yet).
An important lesson I’ve learned during my wedding planning process is that you can’t make everyone happy. At the end of the day, the only happiness that matters is the bride’s and groom’s (or brides’ and grooms’, depending on who’s getting married). Thankfully, most of our family and friends are delighted that we are having a more casual event, although I’m sure there are people that aren’t quite as happy due to the need to travel. Having a beach or destination wedding can cut down the guest list since people have to travel, but don’t worry, the important people in your life will make sure to be there.
I wish that someone had told me in the beginning to not let wedding planning become overwhelming because I think it’s silly to let yourself be extremely stressed. This is supposed to be a happy and exciting time, so make sure it is. Another piece of advice I have is, if you’re going to be putting a lot of money into your wedding experience, make it your honeymoon. The time you spend alone with your new spouse will mean more than the actual wedding, in my opinion. We’re planning on taking a cruise for our honeymoon and having a fund that our wedding guests can give to instead of buying a gift. I’m looking forward to having a fun wedding at the beach, our honeymoon cruise and spending the rest of our lives together!
-CS
