Weddings should be a joyous time that reflect the love and personalities of the bride and groom. Quite often, the hobbies or interests of the bride and/or groom are shown in various aspects of their ceremony or reception. A groom’s cake may be created to showcase his favorite sport, the wedding colors may be the bride’s favorite colors, or a family heirloom may be interwoven into their day or attire.

While it may be fairly easy to share with others many aspects of your wedding and reception, communicating the overall vision for the day may not be as simple. Here are a few ways to help you develop and express your desires for your wedding:

1.  Have a dream session. Brainstorm all the things that you think you might like. Rate them 1-5 with 1 being “a must” and 5 being “not important”.*
2. Make a list of little touches you have seen at other weddings that you would like to implement at your own.*
3. Write down a list of words that describe what you envision. Look these words up in a thesaurus for additional qualities. Some words that might help you get started are intimate, elegant, traditional, romantic, tropical, rustic, vintage, and casual.*
4. Find pictures that express your vision. Make a Pinterest board, a wedding notebook, or dream board that you can frequently update and share with others.
5. Know what you don’t like as well as what you do. Sometimes it is hard to describe what you want, but by eliminating what you don’t like, you are able to communicate with your planner and other vendors so they can help you put into words what you are envisioning.
6. Realize that it’s okay to change your mind if what you thought you liked doesn’t bring you peace and excitement. It’s not unusual for brides to realize during the planning process that what is really near and dear to their heart is different from the glamour of photoshopped pictures and glitter of bridal shows.
7. Be mindful of the circumstances surrounding your wedding to help you define what you truly desire. If having your best friend at your wedding is more important to you than having over-the-top decor, be honest with yourself and others. Look for ways to add meaning to your wedding first, and then include the extras.

Happy Planning! Make your wedding Always Yours!

*Ideas adapted from Wedding Etiquette, The Definitive Guide to Your Wedding Experience,  fifth edition by Peggy Post.