Truth #4: Be Practical

Hello to all of you brides and/or soon to be brides out there!

I know its been a while since I have shed my advice to the wedding world, some minor bumps and bruises have hit me along the way. But I am back in bridal action!

My 2 cents worth for this post is to be practical. Weddings are completely and totally unpredictable. No matter how hard you may try to control every detail, unexpected changes are destined to happen. Shall I give an explanation?

The wedding veil that I am dying to wear on my big day is no longer an option. Having an open bar for 4 hours is way to expensive so we are dropping it down to 2 hours. Bridesmaids dressed may not fit all of your beautiful friends perfectly. And getting your makeup done may not be within the budget. But it is okay! Don't stress over the little things, this is your one day where you can focus on the person you are marrying. Isn't that what is important anyways?

I mean, your lovely groom has seen you at the best and worse of times already, and wants to marry you. So be happy! Who cares if you gained 3 pounds and wanted to lose 10. Who cares if the flowers or invitations didn't turn out exactly how you wanted them to (there just going to be in the trash eventually anyways).

Remember, that as much as you are living and breathing weddings at this moment, the whole world does not depend on your wedding. I learned this a few weeks ago when an F4 tornado left a path of destruction in Tuscaloosa, AL. My fiance and I were in the middle of it and are fortunate to be alive right now. In light of this tragedy, I have realized how unimportant flowers, invitations, and self monogrammed napkins are, and how fragile life can truly be.

Society has blown weddings way out of proportion. The wedding industry will nickel and dime you to death. However, hollywood weddings and TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" fail to reveal the divorce rates in this country. Ladies, focus on your groom, work at your relationship. Marriage is work, and commitment. One day the wedding will be over, and your lives will lay ahead of you. That's where true love can be displayed and fulfilled.

65 days to go!

Truth #3: Dieting = Bridezilla

Here's a difficult truth to grasp for most brides I think. The wedding industry has somehow made young engaged females think they have to drop 20 pounds in time for their wedding, even if they weren't overweight to begin with. I am guilty of falling for it, as I am sure many other brides are. The instant I got engaged, I had facebook ads asking me to "drop 25 lbs in just 2 weeks! get in wedding shape!" or, my personal favorite, "lose 30 lbs by eating 4 cookies a day!" (do I want to die of starvation? no thanks)

I don't know about yall, but if I am hungry, I get angry. What makes people think I am going to starve myself just so my collarbone can be perfectly poking out in a wedding portrait? NOPE. If I did, bridezilla would be coming out.

BUT, let's remember one important thing: your fiance has chosen to marry you, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. He wants to marry you, flaws and everything. For better or for worse remember? He definitely doesn't want bridezilla.

God has chosen to marry us, flaws and all. He loves us just the way we are. The world is trying to distract us with false beauty, but we need to remember to keep our eyes focused in front of us, at the end of the aisle. Because at the end, is our true knight in shining armor, looking at us with unconditional love, despite our mishaps. And even though we are as filthy as rags, God lets us where a pretty white gown so that we can wear his righteousness through the work of His Son.

Walk down the aisle with confidence ladies.

Truth #2: Picking the Wedding Party

Alright, picking the wedding party can be so tricky. And such a pain. ESPECIALLY, if your a really sensitive person to other people's feelings and if you hurt them just a little bit you feel like lucifer bride reeking havoc on your peeps. SO, here are some thoughts on the wedding party selections:

1) Remember that everything really will be A-OKAY. You can't have 50,000 bridesmaids chilling up there watching you get hitched. People have to get cut, thats simply how it is. So, as a bride, GET OVER IT. The sooner you grow a thick skin, the better.

2) Most of the time, people will understand. Especially if it seems like everyone you say hey to is getting married. People get that its a hard decision. And if they are reasonably thinking people, they completely understand.

3) DON'T FORGET TO TELL YOUR OWN SISTER SHE IS A BRIDESMAID. just sayin.

4) For the love that is good, pick a bridesmaids dress that is reasonably priced. I mean come on, your bridesmaids don't want to put a down payment on a dress they will only wear once. (but you could SO cut it off and wear it again! -(favorite quote from 27 Dresses))

5) PLEASE, PLEASE, don't text your friends, "hey grl, wnt to b in my wdding?" God gave you a mouth. use it. (Well I wrote letters as a christmas/will you be in my wedding doodad..just don't text)

6)Your bridesmaids are your friends, not your servants. Naturally, they will want to help, but don't make them wash your feet or anything.

I think I have exhausted this topic. So long savvy brides!

Truth #1: Expect the Unexpected

Ladies, when it comes to finding your one true love. "Finding" the person is the trick. What if you don't find him? Or what if you think you find him but he turns out to be a serious dud?

Love is unexpected. That has been my experience. Unexpected for my life involves engagement at 21 years old. Last time I checked, I was an independent, single woman looking to move to Texas after my college graduation. Now I find myself nose deep into planning the wedding that will make me the proud wife of a wonderful man. This wasn't in my plan, but God never asked me for my plans.

The Lord turned my life completely upside down. When my fiance began pursuing me, I didn't want to have anything to do with him. I even broke up with him because I was so set in my single woman ways. In our relationship, I have learned that loving the Lord before each other is what keeps the relationship alive. Otherwise, I end up failing him, and he ends up failing me. Divorce rates are rampant in our country, and I truly believe it is because husband and wife look for perfection in each other. They expect their soulmate to make them happy, every day.

So, if you are single, and just dying to find that one prince charming, look to the heavens. He is there, smiling down on his beloved bride. And for those ladies who are engaged/married, look to the heavens as well, because, as much as he may desire to, your prince charming will never satisfy your longings for a sovereign, holy love. Yes, the Lord has brought them into your life for a reason and life partners are a gift from above. However, everything comes back to the Lord. Praise and Honor be to His name!