5 Tips That Are Worth Remembering When Planning YOUR Day
We are continuing our series in sharing tips from recent brides! These following tips were given by Devin Gertkin. Devin and Nic's day was absolutely beautiful from the outdoor ceremony to the sparkler send off after the evening was through! Devin was kind enough to share a few tips to the engaged couples out there that are planning their big day, in hopes that these tips are helpful to you!
TIP I. "Remember it's YOUR day: Even if your families are chipping in and helping you pay for things, it's okay to remind them that in the end it should be all about you. It's easy for them to start to live out their dream wedding in yours, but once you kindly remind them they (usually) are brought back to reality! Just because "everyone else does it this way", doesn't mean you need to! We didn't do a lot of the "traditional" things like throwing the bouquet, dollar dance, cake, and really tailored our day to us. I couldn't have imagined it any other way!"
"remember... it's your day"
TIP II. "Give yourself time to plan the wedding: We had 14 months to plan our wedding and it was amazing. We didn't feel rushed, we secured the big things right away (ie. place, DJ, food, photograhper/videographer) but then gave ourselves some time to just enjoy being engaged."
TIP III. "Skip out on real flowers: It's a huge budget eater. After pricing out flowers and having a mini heart attack, we went with babies breath and dried hydrangeas. You can buy bulk flowers from somewhere like Sam's Club for cheap cheap. We had a jar full on each table, about 20 else where, made 3 bridesmaids bouquets and had flowers to spare for around $300."
"skip out on real flowers... it's a huge budget eater"
TIP IV. "Spend the money on a photographer/videographer: These will be your only true keepsakes from your wedding besides your memories and it's so worth finding true professionals to capture it. As I look back at our photos, and especially our video, there are so many moments I had forgotten. The day flies by and it's impossible to remember it all. I still cry every time I watch our video and I look forward to sharing it with our kids in the future and re-living that perfect day."
"I look forward to sharing it with our kids... and re-living that perfect day"
TIP V. "As everyone says, don't stress the small stuff: You have NO control over things like weather on your day, and if you're planning an outdoor wedding you risk rain, wind, too hot, or too cold. We took the risk, and although it was misting through most of our pictures and pouring during our first dance - I never let it bother me. Because in the end all that matters is that you get to marry your best friend."
I hope you find that these tips were helpful to you and that you found a tip that you can incorporate into your wedding! Something that immediately stood out to me while watching Devin and Nic's wedding video was the smile she had her face the whole day! She exuded pure joy! She mentioned in her tips to let the little things go because you can't control everything. It seems like such simple advice, but when you actually think about it and take in what that would actually be like, it's a little scary. Giving advice to let go of some things when they don't go as planned on the day that is supposed so be perfect and the most magical day ever, is not just advice that can easily be taken. This advice may not be easily grasped but it's worth a shot, especially if it helps you smile more than worry on your big day, because it is going to be the happiness you had that you will remember more than any rain or clouds.
"it's going to be the happiness you had that you will remember"
It's very true, your wedding day is huge and, yes, there is a lot of pressure that goes along with that. However, as far as having the perfect day, it will be perfect for you and your future spouse because of what you made of it and because of the words of commitment you shared on that very special day. As far as those little bumps that may arise, they will give you a good story to tell! So as much as you can, fight to let those little things go and laugh about it because after all, you are getting married! How awesome is that?!?
Don't waste your energy or one second of the one day that is ALL ABOUT YOU worrying about things you can't change. Instead, try your hardest to focus on the constant that is in your life now and will be forever starting on that very special day. Give that commitment and future spouse all your attention, because they sure deserve it! In taking Devin's advice I hope you will have the most happy day, just like she did!
"give that commitment and future spouse all your attention... because they sure deserve it!"
Thank you Devin for your contribution to this series!
Thank you for reading!
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Watch Devin and Nic's beautiful wedding video!
Amanda + Matthew - June Wedding in White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Amanda and Matthew had such a wonderful wedding! Everything was just perfect including these two. Nothing could stop the smiles on their faces. I don't think they stopped smiling since they saw each other for the first time while Amanda walked down the aisle. I had a great time filming with you guys and hope you enjoy reliving your big day over and over! Thanks for choosing Olsen Media!
Music licensed through art-list.io and musicbed.com
Trevor + Anna - Summer Wedding at the Arboretum
Kiel + Grace - Wonderful Barn Wedding in Central Minnesota
What an amazing wedding this was! Amazingly decorated barn, Prairie Bay catering (honestly a favorite of mine), a lake in the woods, a really fun group of people, and a great couple that are a perfect match for each other. All the ingredients for an incredible wedding day! Thanks again to Kiel and Grace for having me capture your big day!
Music licensed through art-list.io and musicbed.com
Benjamin + Emily - Beautiful Fall Wedding in Southern Minnesota
There's nothing better than a crisp, fall day in Minnesota and that's exactly what Ben and Emily's day was. Fallen leaves, a little chill in the air, and more than enough laughter and joy to go with it. These two were a pleasure to film with and have such a genuine love for each other. Thanks for having me film your big day!
Music licensed through art-list.io, musicbed.com, and songfreedom.com
Corey + Leah - Awesome Minnesota Engagement Video!
Nic + Devin - Fall Wedding at it's Finest
My wife and I agree that if we were to go back a do it all again, this is the kind of wedding we would have. Outdoors, in the country, reception in a tent, fun and inviting! Nic and Devin put together a joyous and relaxed environment that put everyone at ease and welcomed them to enjoy the celebration. What a great wedding to be a part of and to capture. Thank you both and blessings on your marriage!
Music licensed through Art.list.io and musicbed.com
Michael + Kaylin - Beautiful Rochester, MN Wedding at Mayowood Stone Barn
Coordinator - West Weddings and Events
Venue - Mayowood Stone Barn
Photographer - Copper and Coal Photography
Patrick + Megan - Gorgeous Minnesota Wedding on Lake Minnetonka
Everything about this wedding was just beautiful from the venues to the clothes and especially the people, inside and out. Megan and Patrick were such a joy to film because they are the genuine article, their love is plain to see! Their celebration was full of laughs and sentiments and couldn't have turned out any better. Thank you to Megan and Patrick for having me film your big day!
Music licensed through art-list.io and musicbed.com
Planning - White Peacock Weddings
Photography - Melissa Oholendt
Venue - St. Bartholomew, Wayzata
Reception - Golden Valley Country Club
Dan + Carmen - Minneapolis Wedding at the Basilica!
What a joy it was to film these two! As you can tell from the video, these guys had a blast the entire day and their family and friends celebrated to the best of their abilities. This was a stylish, fun, and warm wedding to be a part of and I thank you both for having me film your big day!
Music licensed through the Art List.io and the Musicbed
Megan + Michael - Wonderful Wedding in Willmar, MN
What a wonderful day with these two and their party! It is plain to see in this video that the love they have for each other is genuine and long-lasting. From getting ready at the farm to the sunset walk on the golf course, it was a great day to celebrate their relationship. The forecast was beautiful despite Willmar getting drowned in rain a few days earlier so we were all thankful for sunshine and sunsets! Thanks to Megan and Michael for having me film your big day!
Music licensed through art-list.io and the Music Bed
Mike + Carleen - Beautiful St. Paul Wedding at University of Northwestern's Nazareth Chapel
I am a bit biased when it comes to this wedding because the Northwestern University Nazareth Chapel is the venue for the ceremony and it's where I also got married! It was so awesome to go back there and film with Mike and Carleen. Their day was really fun and exciting! From the chapel to the guthrie and even getting the new Vikings stadium in the shots, it was memorable. Thanks to Mike and Carleen for having me film their celebration!
Music licensed through the Music Bed and Art List.io
Peter + Lauren - Incredible Wedding in the Twin Cities, MN
Peter and Lauren are such a fun couple! They have so much personality mixed in with their genuine love and affection for each other. Their wedding was beautiful and they were given a special sendoff by friends and family with a chorale arrangement that was incredibly beautiful. Thank you to Peter and Lauren for having us capture your wedding!
Music licensed through the Music Bed and Art List.io
Videography/Photography - Olsen Media
Venue - Corpus Christi Roseville
Makeup Artist - Beauty by Jacquelyn
Andrew + Alyssa - Awesome Wedding in Plymouth, MN
A perfect day for a perfect couple! This wedding day couldn't have gone better. Andrew and Alyssa is a love story that was meant to be and it was awesome to be able to capture it all. You could tell that their relationship, rooted in Christ, is built to last. Thank you guys for having me film your big day and congratulations!
Music licensed through Musicbed.com and Art list.io
Adam + Kelsey - Beautiful Wedding at Grandview Lodge in Brainerd, MN
I love being in the north woods of Minnesota. I've been going there since I was young and even lived there for about 4 years. So, I jumped at the opportunity to shoot at Grandview Lodge. The real bonus though was filming with Kelsey and Adam. They just had fun all day and celebrated their love together. Thank you both for having me film your big day and congratulations!
Music licensed through the Music Bed and Art List io
Photographer - Tim Larsen - timlarsenphoto.com
Venue - Grandview Lodge - grandviewlodge.com