My #1 Tip for Wedding Planning

A couple of things first:

- Thanks everyone for your kind words about my new blog design... I really had fun working on it, and I feel so refreshed and ready to blog away! :) 

- If you skipped over my post yesterday because it was sponsored (not judging), be sure to go back and enter the giveaway for a $100 Visa gift card here.  The winner is selected from the comments on my post only, so the odds are really good! 

- I know all you want from me is a Bachelorette update; but I haven't watched it yet (gasp).  Don't worry, I'm on it, and I'll have a post up soon.

In the meantime... In honor of my sixth wedding anniversary (which was Sunday), I'm sharing my #1 piece of advice for wedding planning today.

Are you ready for it?

Here it is...

Leave your reception early.

Not what you were expecting?

I will explain... But first, you should know that while I've only had one wedding myself, which hardly makes me an expert in the field, I have attended a lot of weddings (like, probably 50) and - although it may not be your typical advice for brides and grooms, I feel pretty strongly about it.

One more disclaimer:  YES, I believe your wedding should be about the bride and groom.  I really do think you should do what YOU want and be confident in that decision.  If you want to party the night away because, for the first time (and maybe only time) ever, ALL the people you love are in one spot, I totally get that.  I do.  (And, for the record, I've been to some awesome weddings where the bride and groom were the last to leave.) BUT, as a general rule, the best thing you can do to ensure that your guests will be talking about your wedding for weeks/months/years and calling it "the best party ever"  is to leave at the peak of fun.

You know the point I'm talking about right? They've said their vows & shared their first dance, bellies are full, drinks are flowing, and all the "formalities" like cake cutting and toasts are done.  This is the point in the night when the music gets cranked up, the dance floor is full, and (if it's a really good party) people are starting to look sweaty and a tad bit sloppy (think: ties and shoes off).

From our wedding in 2007.

Identifying that point really isn't all that hard; the tricky part, however, is timing it just right to get the maximum amount of fun for you and your guests while still ending on a high note. Just an estimate, I would say this part of the party lasts about an hour - sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.  You know it has passed when people start taking water breaks and don't come back to the dance floor, checking their phones, or (worse) leaving.  If you get to this point, you've gone too far.

So, bride and grooms, here's my advice... (Take it or leave it).

Try to have a reasonable time in mind for when you want to leave your reception - this time should allow plenty of time for all of the above, but also enough time for people to continue the party out or get home to babysitters too (let's say 10 or 11).  THEN, work with your DJ or band and wedding coordinator (if you have one) to structure the rest of the night leading up to that point - i.e. casually time everything so that you can reach "the point" by about 9 or 10.  Are you following me?  Then, relax, totally make the most of that last hour or so (absolutely no "obligations" allowed at that time - tell your photographer), and leave at or around your scheduled time.

The advantages to this are many:

1. You can change into a cute white dress and make a dramatic exit with fireworks/bubbles/whatever.  These always make really great pictures.

2. This makes for a much more seamless and positive ending to the event than simply the DJ packing up and the lights being turned on.

3. Your older guests will feel like they got to experience the whole wedding, and get home before the tired/grumpy stage sets in.

4. Your friends will remember your wedding as being SO FUN because it ended on such a high note; and, likely, they will still have the energy to go our dancing etc. somewhere else.

5. You will get to spend a little extra time with your new husband ;) before you both totally crash after not sleeping for the past week.

Have I convinced you yet?

Seriously, one of my highlights of the night!

One last thing... I've given a lot of thought to the fact that today's brides and grooms often don't want the party to end themselves and make plans to go out after the reception with their guests.  I think this is totally fine; but, I would still suggest that you leave at a reasonable time to officially "end" the reception.  I think it'd be an awesome idea to go check-in at your hotel, change clothes, sip champagne, whatever and then meet up with your friends at a pre-determined location.

So... what do you think?  Am I on to something?


Oh! Onemorething -- TOMORROW is the return of Midweek Confessions.  Get your confession on (I can't be the only one doing ridiculous things) & plan to link-up here around midday.  If you want, here's a cute little button you can put in your post.