City Chic Nuptials: The Days Before

The days before our wedding were actually pretty relaxed.  I worked the first three days of the week, then had off the Thursday and Friday before the wedding.  My sister, my maid of honor, and Brad’s brother, his best man, rolled into town on the Thursday before the wedding.  We had a blast just hanging out with them and relaxing before everyone else came to town. We did our favors on Thursday, and my sister and I picked up my wedding dress and had lunch together.  The weather was beautiful and it was so nice and relaxing.

Our favors on the table. 
Photo courtesy of our awesome photographer, Sarah Immel Photography.

And then.  Friday.  The day before our wedding.  Why does no one tell you that you’re going to be an emotional wreck the day before?!  Seriously, guys.  I was a MESS that day.  I must have cried at least three times before 3:00pm…but more on that in a second!

My sister and I got up early and treated ourselves to mani-pedis.  It was so fun!

We were some of the only people in the nail salon and I remember thinking it was SO weird that I was getting married the next day. 

Afterwards, we headed over to the venue to set up our picture display, so that the caterers didn’t have to do it.  It was a little unnerving, as the venue coordinator wasn’t there and everything seemed to be in disarray.  Regardless, we got it done and then went home to have lunch, where I had my first breakdown of the day.

Surprise!  Our photo display all set up.  I was FLOORED with how great it turned out, and a lot of people commented how much they loved it. 
Photo by our fabulous photographer, Sarah Immel Photography.

And now I need to get on my soapbox for a second.

I know it’s normal and that this happens with every wedding, but A TON  of people canceled on us the week before the wedding  (like, more than 5 guests).  I don’t know about you guys, but I think that this is BEYOND rude and I’m not going to apologize for finding it completely unacceptable.  Truthfully, unless there is an extreme emergency (which there was for two of our guests and they are TOTALLY excused), this is one of the rudest things you could ever do to a bride and groom AFTER THEIR FINAL BILL IS PAID and to be frank, it WILL change my opinion of you.  The only thing worse in my opinion is NOT SHOWING UP AT ALL and then not apologizing or explaining it to us later (which happened to us as well). 

We did the best we could and rearranged things, but paid is paid and there’s no getting money back for guests who cancel or don’t show up (at least for our venue/caterer).  I had my first breakdown of the day when a guest who said he wasn’t coming decided TO come and then decided again NOT to come.  I mean, what the shit?!  Who does that?!  What caused me to cry about it, though?  The fact that we had already been to the venue and “now the escort cards are going to be all fucked up.”  Oh, honestly, Amy.  It was like the straw that broke the camel’s back or something.  I think back now and laugh, because escort cards?!  Really?  No one cares anyway and everything ended up fine…but it was as though that one minute detail finally broke the dam open.

From there, it was downhill.  I cried when my parents got to the hotel, I cried in my hotel room after I checked in and was alone for awhile and didn’t know what to do with myself, I cried NUMEROUS times at our rehearsal dinner (both happy tears, sad tears, and holyshitIjustfellonmyasswaittilyouhearTHATstory tears)…ugh.  I was a mess.  So listen up, ladies who aren’t married yet:  IT IS OK.  YOU CAN (AND LIKELY WILL) BE A MESS THE DAY BEFORE YOUR WEDDING.  It’s stressful.  It’s emotional.  It’s life-altering.  And it’s ok to FEEL all of that in the 24 hours ahead of time.  A few of our married friends who were at the rehearsal told me they were the same way—a complete mess the day before their weddings.  So remember, this is normal.  And it’s ok.  Because guess what?  The next day, you’ll wake up and you’ll be GETTING MARRIED.  And you will feel blissfully happy, which is exactly what I felt that day.

And with that, recaps are under way!  Up next, we rehearse.

Were you a mess during the days before your wedding?  And why did no one tell me I would be?!

*All photos by me unless otherwise noted.  Do not use without my express permission!