I have been catching major flack about my wedding planning.
Or lack thereof, rather.
I got it from my sister, one of my brother’s chimed in last weekend and I hear it way too often from my love.
I know there is a lot to do and to be honest, knowing that, makes me feel overwhelmed. To the point that I don’t want to get anything done.
Maybe it’s the anti-planner in me, but it’s an extra thing on my to-do list and quite frankly, I’d rather not deal with it right this second.
That is, until I saw Solange’s wedding photos.
Honneeyy.
Up until that point, I found every reason under the sun why I couldn’t do it.
“I work long hours. I am still looking for a job in my field. I like having home cooked meals. I still have to keep a clean home” and yada, yada, yada. You get the point.
But Solange’s wedding photos were the main reason I finally decided on a couple wedding invitations I liked. I even ordered samples that I am excited about. Though I won’t know until they arrive, I am pretty confident that I found the one.
Anyway, if there is ever a bride I want to be like, it will definitely be Mrs. Ferguson. For me, she changed the idea of what it means to be a bride and I think every soon-to-be-Mrs. can learn something from her. Here’s why:
Photo courtesy of NecoleBitchie.com
1. White and it’s cousins don’t have to be traditional
When I first got engaged, I told another recently engaged woman that I didn’t want to wear white, off-white, or cream because it was too traditional. And I don’t see myself as a traditional bride. Neither is Solange and she still pulled off cream.I love that her dress is simple, but the caped look gives it something special making her look goddess-like in her photos. So while colorful wedding gowns are all the rave, it might be beneficial to peek at colors on the not-so-traditional side.
2. Be naturally beautiful, be naturally you
As a natural girl, I am always faced with the daunting question about what to do with my hair for special events. I’ve been scouring Pinterest for ideas, but it wasn’t until I saw Solange’s photos that I even considered wearing my fro. I think it’s a pretty awesome feat to take a hairstyle that is still so taboo and show that it can be wedding-photo beautiful. Everyday, but especially your wedding day, you want to feel as beautiful and confident as possible so do what works for you. Regardless what others think.
Photo courtesy of NecoleBitchie.com
3. Non-cheesy photos also make a statement
I don’t know about you, but every wedding photo I have ever seen, everybody was all smiles. I get it, it’s an exciting day and love is in the air, but tell me this photo isn’t just everything. Somehow the blank look just works so don’t be afraid to hold back your full smile.
4. Arrangement is key
By now, you’ve all heard about the importance of the seating arrangement, but I think the same can be said for photos. Though this is not a typical wedding photo, which I love, be mindful about where people stand. In April,I was in my brother’s wedding and in some of the photos, I am standing next to the bride who is maybe 5 feet. I was towering over her more than usual with my heels and I wished that someone would have pointed that out to me.
5. Dances don’t have to be stuffy
Okay, so maybe this isn’t a photo, but it’s a visual aide so it’s practically the same thing. I mean, really, how adorable is this mother-son dance. And when Julez does his solo, I just want to melt. In the words of my friend, “she made being a mother and getting married her way look so cool” and I couldn’t agree more.
