Hey friends! True story- these Tips posts take me FOREVER to write. Mostly because I prefer to put myself back in my “bride shoes” to think about what I had issues with when planning my wedding… and then I put on my “vendor hat” to add in the accurate tips and advice. (How’s that for accessory references? Even though I don’t really wear hats…) I have tons and tons of topics for Thursday Tips, but the thing is, I have to be FIRED UP about what I’m writing. Today, I’m more fired up about a wedding planning memory of mine rather than a specific topic. And so, I thought that maybe if I shared it with you all, I could possibly help someone!
Photo by Pure Sugar Studios
Today, I keep going back to a specific day when I was planning my wedding. I remember it well. My husband and I had a long engagement- about 16 months. A lot can happen in 16 months. I was about half-way through my wedding planning, and yes, a lot had happened. I graduated college, and started a new job. I had grown apart from some friends, and grown closer to others. We were all busy, working, pursuing careers, living in new cities… yes indeed- a lot can happen in 16 months.
On top of all that, when I was in college, I was part of a sorority. Of course I knew I couldn’t invite everyone, but I wanted to know how other people had handled it. I had questions and I wanted answers. Since I was the first of all my friends to get married, I didn’t have anyone to turn to for advice. And so what did I do? I turned to the internet of course! Google is my friend- most of the time. ;) But I didn’t find anything by Googling- just like every other time I was searching for wedding planning advice. My next stop in my search for answers was a BIG website and their discussion boards. I scoured the boards, looking for some kind of answer, and still turned up empty-handed. And so, I took a deep breath, and posted something to the boards. It was short and simple, just stating that I had been in a sorority, I knew that I couldn’t invite everyone to my wedding, had anyone else been in this same situation, and did they have any advice.
Photo by Michael Newman Photography
Well, needless to say, I did NOT get the advice I was looking for. I got berated. Made fun of. Mocked. I distinctly remember the words “little sorority girl” in the replies. I was so incredibly shocked and hurt. Here I was, innocently (and somewhat desperately I might add) searching for wedding planning advice, and I ended up getting WAY LESS than that. That was the last time I ever posted on a wedding discussion board, and the last time I asked any questions. But you know what? I’m kind of glad. Because in essence, all of those discussion boards are just brides sharing what their own experiences were, or what their friends experienced. It’s not necessarily all RIGHT- it’s kind of like spreading rumors… except it’s the spreading of inaccurate wedding planning information. I don’t know about you, but I would MUCH rather get the RIGHT answers from someone who knows what they’re talking about. Someone who has actually planned more weddings than just their own, and has actually worked at a wedding instead of just attending them. Wouldn’t you?!
The thing is, questions are a GOOD thing. I should have asked more questions- if there had been a place that I could have turned to get answers from PROS, I probably would have used it all the time. I myself love it when people ask me questions! Because answering questions means that I can spread correct and accurate knowledge about wedding planning, and THAT is what my ultimate mission is. :) I suppose it’s a good thing that I had such a hard time finding answers, because it’s one of the major reasons why I started blogging. So all of YOUR won’t have to go through what I did. There should never be any questions unanswered! And that is exactly why I created the Q&A page here on ELD- so it was easy for all of you to ask me questions and get correct and accurate answers!
Photo by BRAUNphotography
So today, instead of a specific topic for tips and advice, head on over to the Q&A page and read through what other brides have asked- you might find the answer to one of your own questions! And if you can’t find your answer, just ASK! [If you have multiple questions or just feel like you need help, you can also email me for a one-on-one consultation!]
Hopefully my little trip down memory will help some of you out! I’m curious if any of you have experienced a not-so-pleasant response when searching for answers to your questions… tell me I’m not the only one! ;)
Lauren
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Great post! I remember the same thing happened to me on one of these big bridal websites forums and I never went back again!