My Big Day!

Posted by Naomi Gabay

It's Weddings Week on Martha Stewart Living Radio (Sirius channel 112). We've been learning so much from experts about how to choose a dress, navigate family issues, and get amazing advice for making your wedding unique.

This week has made me nostalgic about my own wedding, which happened only a year ago. My husband, Andrew, and I were able to set a scene that reflected who we are, and I couldn't have been happier with the results! I may not be a wedding expert, but as a recent bride, I'd love to share some tips with you.

Remember, you don't have to spend a lot of money to cover many of the small details. Some of the projects you can easily and inexpensively do yourself.

Welcome bags for out-of-town guests staying in the hotel: I bought plain bags at a crafts store and mailing labels at an office-supply store. Then I printed a simple design on the labels using a word-processing program, and put the stickers on the bags. Each hotel guest received a bag that I filled with water, gum, granola bars, cookies, and New Jersey keychains (write to your local tourism board -- they'll probably send them to you for free!)

Since our wedding included some religious aspects and family traditions, I created a program to hand out at the ceremony explaining the details. This was another simple project using card stock from an office-supply store and ribbon from a crafts store. I did the layout with a word-processing program, and printed it on a laser printer. Just fold the card stock in half, punch two holes into the spine, and tie it together with the ribbon.

Our seating cards were one of my favorite projects. I bought brown tent cards and thin light blue paper from a paper store, and used the leftover cream-colored ribbon from the programs. I printed the names and table numbers on the paper, and then cut them to size. The paper was then glued to the cards with a glue stick, and the ribbon attached to the edges with a glue gun. It took just one evening, and less than $25!

When you're in the first stages of wedding planning, make a list of the things that are important to you and your partner. I wanted an outdoor wedding, which made it more difficult to find a venue -- but I was determined. I was lucky to find my venue and have perfect June weather. Since you can't control weather, make sure you have a backup plan and stay calm if Plan A doesn't work out.

We agreed to get married using rings with a history; 11 couples in my family have used these rings! It was a wonderful way to carry on a tradition. You can start your own family tradition by incorporating aspects from your parents, grandparents, or other close relatives.

To me, a wedding is about merging, expanding, and creating a new family. So I wanted to include my adorable niece, Samara, 2, and nephew, Reuven, 4, in the wedding. Check out the ring bearer pillow -- it's hard to find them in the store in any color other than white, so I bought wide brown ribbon and tied it on to match!

My bridesmaids are amazing women, and I wanted each person to show off a different look. I chose a dress that worked on various body types, and they wore whatever jewelry they wanted, styled their hair to their liking, and chose their shoes on their own. To finish off the individual looks, they each carried a bouquet made up of a different type of flower. My bouquet was created from a combination of each of the flowers that my bridesmaids held.

If you have a quirky side, don't be afraid to think outside the box. Here's my "something blue." Something old was grandma's garter from her wedding; something new was my dress; something borrowed was my aunt's earrings.

You can always find ways to combine traditional with individual. We love chocolate cake with raspberry filling, but also wanted a traditional look. Here we were able to combine the two with a twist on a simple cake.

When we told friends that our wedding would be on a Sunday morning, many wondered if there would be an energetic party vibe. Our band's energy was so high it kept the dance floor filled throughout the reception. Make sure you choose music that will make both college buddies and your older relatives happy.

Remember that the most important thing about the wedding is the marriage. If something doesn't go as planned, let it go and remember why you're there. Take time on that day to enjoy each other, to absorb the moment, and to take a look around the room and remember that you're surrounded by the people you love.

What did you learn from your wedding that you can teach to other brides-to-be?

Comments

[AlexisT]

OK, I'm not married yet but I've been a bridesmaid a few times. As a bridesmaid, I think it's important not to disagree with the bride-to-be and be as flexible as possible. It's her day, not yours.

[Victor G.]

WOW! It looks like you did an amazing job of planning and preparation for your wedding. I'm sure that your parents greatly appreciated, and are very proud, of all the effort you put into getting ready for your big day. I love the fact that you used rings with a "family history" that undoubtedly goes back a few generations. My wife and I did the same thing; it's a great connection to the past. And a CHOCOLATE wedding cake!! Awesome!
Congratulations on your anniversary -- undoubtedly the first of many more to come.
Victor G. :-)

[rosalie]

I'm one of Naomi's parents' friends and attended the wedding. It was fantastic. I so enjoyed reading the blog. Happy 1st anniversary. Rosalie Kurland

[Jo Beth]

I was there and it was a superb day.
Best wishes on your upcoming anniversary.
Jo Beth G.

[Andrew Kirschner]

Whoah! We didn't do nearly as much with the crafts at our wedding. We did do it very cheaply since we had little choice in the matter. Still, like you say, what matters most is the marriage, and that made the wedding wonderful in my eyes.

[Delilah]

Wow! I love the diy wedding crafts ideas!

[Laura]

For all you bloggers: having been at Naomi's wedding, I will say that the feel, and connection between Naomi and Andrew set the most beautiful tone for all. It was warm, loving and so much fun! So, when planning your own wedding, make sure the couple has their won personality reflected throughout the event! We loved the day!!