In the last year, I get engaged, got married and created a 12 episode web series called “Fully Engaged.” The series is about Erika and Danny, an engaged couple living in New York City and trying to navigate the world of wacky vendors, crazy family, and other general wedding hysteria.
Along the way, I spoke with so many brides who told me they had similar experiences to the show’s lead. They said that they were losing sleep over the most inane things and they were uncharacteristically stressed. They also said that they worried friends and family would think they were a “Bridezilla” because they were so obsessed with making every last detail perfect.
Well, we’re here to blow the lid off those secret insecurities! Because what better medicine is there than getting it all out there in the open among people who understand? So, without further adue, here are the Top 5 Insane Bridal Insecurities:
- People will think my dress is too “princessy” OR too “modern.” Bridal magazines and blogs have long told us that we shouldn’t care what anyone thinks…of anything! But many brides secretly admit to worrying whether others will judge them for their taste in dress. Even worse, they’re worried that people will ascribe attributes of their dress (like traditional or sweet or embellished) to their personalities! Can’t we just pick a dress because we like the way it looks!?
- Nobody will dance at the reception. Different couples have different priorities for their wedding. Some feel that food is the most important thing while others say that style is top on their list. For some brides, having a rockin’ party is crucial. The problem is that many things are out of our control, including the moods of our guests and their willingness to really let loose.
- The bridesmaids will hate their dresses but only say it behind my back. I have yet to meet a bride who doesn’t geniunely want her bridesmaids to feel great and be happy in their dresses. The old trope of the evil bride who wants to be the only attractive woman in the room is just false! That’s why many brides are going the route of non-traditional bridesmaid outfits or letting their bridesmaids wear whatever they want!
- The pictures will turn out bad. Go to any wedding board and you will find brides complaining about their wedding pictures. The photographer took all the photos from an unflattering angle or they completely skipped over important family members. Yes, it helps to be very particular and do one’s research when chosing a photographer and planning pictures, but who really wants to spend the ENTIRE day of their wedding doing a photo shoot? At some point, you have to just say “I’ve done my best and now it’s time to live in the moment!”
- My family and his family won’t get along and the cocktail hour will be super awkward. Ok, nobody has a perfect family, right? But everyone feels that THEIR family situation is the worst! You worry about what politically or sexually inappropriate thing your Uncle Ted is gonna say to your conservative mother-in-law. It’s important to face the facts: there will be awkward conversations, big faux pas, and general weirdness. Oh well! It’s too late to call it off now!
So there you have it: our deepest fears and scariest secrets revealed. Now let’s all give a big sigh of relief and throw those insecurities out the window! To watch episodes of “Fully Engaged” go to www.fullyengagedseries.com and let us know if you relate too!