This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and WE tv.
I like to think that I wasn’t a high-maintenance bride-to-be. Oh, I had my moments – like when I couldn’t decide on an everyday china pattern and when I didn’t feel like anything in my closet was pretty enough to wear to our rehearsal dinner.
You know, major life problems. Earth-shattering events.
But in all seriousness, I loved being engaged. I loved addressing wedding invitations, writing thank-you notes – the whole deal. I tried on three wedding gowns, decided on one, and pretty much skipped out of the bridal salon. I let my friend Bubba pick out my flowers. I let Mama and her friends plan all the food. I did my own hair. And while I probably could’ve been more thorough with some of the details, I was just as married when I walked out of the church as I would’ve been if I had stressed out for the five months preceding the wedding.
I just think that I was so ready to be married that the wedding wasn’t nearly as important to me. And I have never for one second regretted that more laid-back approach.
However.
Because I was a fairly low-key bride, I am fascinated – FASCINATED – by shows like “Bridezillas.” It’s a show I’ve watched before, and it cracks me up. It’s part of WE tv’s Ultimate Wedding Sunday (along with “My Fair Wedding,” a really sweet show about making people’s wedding-related dreams come true), and I recently got to watch a preview of an upcoming “Bridezillas” episode that features two brides-to-be named Martina and Natalie.
Now here’s the thing. Martina and Natalie are both beautiful girls. And they’re both engaged to guys who seem really kind and understanding. But what Martina and Natalie have in common is a tendency to get a little, um, wound up about wedding details, and oh, is it ever entertaining to watch. We see Martina obsess over painting an aisle runner (I seriously didn’t know that it was possible to personalize such a thing) and whether or not people are going to adhere to her “strict no-child policy” at the ceremony (and if you watch, be sure to check out Martina’s mom’s reactions to her daughter’s demands – made me laugh out loud). Natalie can’t bear the thought of giving up her maiden name and is so worried that one of her bridesmaids hasn’t picked out the right dress that she makes her try it on in the middle of a pedicure.
You know what you call that, my friends? TV GOLD.
Now that I’m a little older and (hopefully) a little wiser than I was when I walked down the aisle thirteen years ago, I wish with everything in me that I could crawl into the TV and tell Martina and Natalie that, at the end of the day, being married is way more important than having a perfect wedding. The wedding, by comparison, is easy-breezy. Marriage is work. But oh, IT IS WORTH IT. I hope Martina and Natalie will feel the same way after they’ve been married for awhile.
To celebrate the season premiere of The Ultimate Wedding Sunday on Sunday, June 6th at 9 eastern / 8 central, BlogHer and WE tv are giving away a $100 Visa gift card. If you’d like to try to win, all you have to do is answer one question:
What was your favorite part of your wedding day? And if you’re not married, then answer this: What’s the best wedding you’ve ever attended?
My favorite part? So easy.
All the people who shared the day with us. I can’t even tell you how touched I was when I walked in the sanctuary doors and saw the pews filled with people who just meant the world to us. It still makes me teary-eyed when I think about it.
Make sure you leave an accurate email address in your comment (that’s how I’ll contact the winner), and if you’d like to take advantage of four more chances to win, check out the BlogHer.com special offers page.
And as always, there are official rules for your joy and perusal.
Good luck, everybody.
Or to use a little wedding lingo: best wishes!
This giveaway is now closed.
The best part of our wedding day was the wedding night. ;-)
My favorite part of our wedding was our first dance and smooching. And, the best man’s speech was pretty touching..I was impressed. And a little surprised.
The best wedding is one I DIDN’T attend – I was away at school. When my father remarried, he snagged a winner. They’ve been together 21 years now and have the kind of marriage I can only aspire to.
My favorite part was just seeing all of my family together for the first time in years.
And I was GLUED to the t.v. yesterday watching the Bridezilla marathon!
My favorite part of our wedding was the dancing!
The best part of our wedding day, was the reception. Although I will always remember the moment at the alter when it suddenly felt like it was just my MoG and I. The reception is where we truly celebrated our life leading up to being US and our families. We had such a fun reception filled with the merging of each of our family traditions for weddings, including YMCA lead by some of our male guests randomly selected to be in costume. The dollar dance, which my retired Marine Corp, Uncle ended up dancing with my new husband, and everyone in our family on the dance floor dancing to Celebration. FUN Memories!
Three way tie…
seeing my hubby to be for the first time
praise and worship in the ceremony
and our first dance
:) magical.
After the ceremony, we walked out the back of the church, looked at each other incredulously and both said “that’s it?- we’re married ?” it went so fast!
Ten years later, it’s still so good.
And it’s still going way too fast.
My favorite part of our wedding day was seeing each other before the ceremony. It was such a special moment, caught on film by our stealthy photographer.
My favorite part of our wedding day was seeing my husband as I walked down the aisle. I will never forget that moment! :)
My favorite part of our wedding was when my husband totally flubbed the vows! He said he was so nervous and concentrated on me that he couldn’t pay attention to what our preacher was reciting! I was laughing so hard because it was sooo him! Made it perfect!
Having everyone we love gathered in one room to share our union. Jesus was all over it. Loved it!
Seeing our wedding party holding up score cards after my husband & I had our first kiss!
My favorite wedding was my brother’s- great food and a great swing band.
My favorite part was the night before becasue I was allowed to stay in a small house on the property we were getting married on. I stayed alone and just had sometime to think and reflect and make the seperation from daughter to wife. Actual wedding day, it rained on our outdoor wedding, got married in the living room, walked through the kitchen to get there:)Not exactly what I had planned, but you know, it took none the less, 12 years later!
My favorite part of our wedding day was the leaving part. We had filled embossed paper cones with fresh flower petals, and people threw those at us, and we left in an old-fashioned horse-drawn buggy. My favorite part was definitely NOT when the microphone we were supposed to use (to say the vows we’d written ourselves) stopped working minutes before the ceremony, and we were forced to lean INTO the preacher’s clipped-on mic!! Nor was it when the fresh flower head-piece my hubby requested I wear turned out to be gargantuan, and I had a little panic attack about wearing it. Yeah, it was definitely the leaving part. :)
My favorite part was having my Dad escort me down the aisle into an empty santuary before the wedding. My husband to be was waiting at the front so we could spend some time together before pre-wedding pictures.
Seeing my husband before the wedding, praying together, and having that 30 minutes before the craziness began to just enjoy each other. Also the cake!!
My wedding is next summer, and I hope I will have many favorite parts!
We celebrate our 23rd anniversary in a week! It’s been great! I had a beautiful wedding and wonderful reception. I was so great to share our day with so many friends and family!
i’m single – so my favorite wedding moment thus far has not quite happened yet – my cousin is getting married at a mansion in pawley’s island, south carolina and my sister and i are bridesmaids. we have had so much fun planning and i can’t wait to get ready for my cousin’s big day with my lil sis!
In the words of Shelby, “my reception, my reception!”
An AMAZING party with everyone we loved dancing, laughing, singing, the floor bouncing (it was on the 3rd floor of an OLD building)etc… People still talk about how fun it was 5 years later!
Taking communion with my husband during the ceremony….so sweet!
My favorite part of my wedding was the dancing. It was a beautiful summer evening, we got married outside and danced all night under the stars with our friends.
my favorite part was having my dad pray over us before he gave me away and then my small but beautiful reception. people still talk about it today!
My fave part was when the doors opened and we saw each other. He was pretty sappy! :)
We didn’t have a dance, but my brother-in-law brought his guitar in, and our friends & family sang a song for us to dance to. That’s a lovely memory.
My favorite part was when it was over and we went to the reception. The reception was so much fun! People still talk about it to this day (11 1/2 years later)
The best part of my wedding day was when he cried during his vows. My man of not many words, let alone tears, could barely get through them. It was so sweet.
My favorite part was when we hopped in the car to drive away. WE just looked at each other, alone for the first time all day and grinned from ear to ear because we were FINALLY MARRIED!
I loved EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of my older brother Daniel’s wedding last October. We were beyond thrilled to bits that he was marrying Erika after all our hints and comments and “what’s taking you so long’s”!! :)
My favorite part of the wedding day was when we got to put on our comfy clothes and leave the reception for our honeymoon and the beginning of our lives together — $20 years ago last month!
My favorite part was my Dad choking up before he walked me down the isle. Dad is a Harley man…long haired biker dude. He doesn’t cry, but that day he did. :-)
My favorite part of our wedding day was when we finally got a moment together alone. We had just climbed in the car to leave and my sweet husband grabbed my hand. It was a little moment but a good one.
The worship. Or the fact that my SIL was able to convince the flower girl (hit of the wedding) to walk down the aisle. Or the gorgeous October day we were blessed with. Or when it was over and we were on our way to the honeymooon…
It was the end of July in Kansas. ANd the weather turned out to be perfect (and not 111 degrees, like it could have been). My aunt found me before the ceremony and told me that God was blessing my wise decision with lovely weather. I still tear up when I think of that…
My favorite part of my wedding day was the fact that my dad, who is a pastor, performed our ceremony. He never cries, but completely choked up while he read the words to the song he’s always sung to me every night before I fell asleep. So sweet!
My favorite part of my wedding was right after the ceremony was over. It was just a feeling of giddy excitement that we were actually married!
We got married outside, high in the Snowy Range Mts of Wyoming at an outdoor chapel. After the service, everyone headed into town for the reception; Hubs, the photographer and I stayed to finish pics.
Then, when all the pics were done, Hubs and I jumped into my sister’s generously-loaned red mustang convertible and drove F-A-S-T!!! all the way back to town for the reception – veil whipping in the wind, grins big, so. much. fun.
My favorite part of my wedding day was seeing my husband’s face for the first time (that day of course) :)
We married almost 34 years ago at ages 17 and 19 and my favorite part was walking down the aisle to the most wonderful man I’ve ever met and seeing the tears in his eyes! Knowing we were going to spend out lives together was the best feeling ever!
Many favorite moments, but the neatest was after we said our vows, the minister has us kneel to pray over us, and he cupped our cheeks (FACE!!) with his hands as he said the prayer. I really felt like we were in God’s throneroom!
My favorite part was getting to meet my sweet man in the chapel before the pictures/ceremony started…just the two of us for a special time. I walked down the aisle to him and we got to kiss a kiss that says, “We’ll be Mr. and Mrs. soon…very soon.” It was wonderful.
Favorite part of my wedding day- walking down the aisle!
Waiting behind the chapel doors, feeling the butterflies as they opened in front of me, clutching my dad’s arm as we walked up the aisle and seeing my soon-to-be husband, and realizing that this was it – I had finally made it to one of the biggest and happiest events of my life.
i was not impressed with any weddings so far, so i am hoping my own will be the best
My favorite part was when I walked down the aisle and I saw my husband-to-be getting teary-eyed.
The best wedding I have been to was about a month ago. Short ceremony and long reception! Although, mine is coming up next year. Hopefully it will be the best!
Ours was a Sunday Brunch wedding, so just the unique-ness of that was my fave part. Oh and the mimosas… yes, the mimosas! Yum!
My fav parts were taking communion together before the ceremony, and being pronounced husband and wife!
I’ve been in and to a lot of weddings- but my favorites are always the low-key ones, where everyone is there to have a good time and there’s not a lot of formality.
To me, the best part of our wedding day was when I said the same vows my mother and mother-in-law had said on their wedding days. It bugged some of my bridesmaids , but I really wanted to make the same vow , and say “to love, honor, and obey” . Now, I am not saying that I do obey my husband all the time, but we have been married for twenty years now, so I must be doing something right.
My favorite part was the preacher said look at the ring we kind of cracked up. :) still do to this day!
My favorite part of our day was leaving with my husband to our honeymoon!!!!
My wedding is 11 days away (ahh!) and I’m hoping my favorite part will be looking out over everyone as we’re pronounced man and wife!
My favorite part is tied. One is when we were walking out. Our pianist played the theme from “Rocky” instead of the traditional walk-out music. My hubby, the pianist, and I were the only ones who knew he was going to do this. We decided he would play that as our march-out music when the musicians had gotten together to rehearse and that was what he played to warm up his fingers. It was awesome. Everyone started cheering.
The second best moment was the kiss. My brother-in-law swears it was 30 seconds long. I disagree, but he might be right. :)
My favorite part of our wedding was once we’d been annouced Man & Wife, and the happy walk back down the asile, plus the receiving line when I could talk with all the people who came…I just loved the whole time really, I was so happy to be married. And thanks for the happy reminders with our anniversery tomorrow! :)
The best part of our wedding was the end to the SEVEN YEAR courtship! No kidding!
My favorite thing was having my best friend (and bridesmaid) sing for us. She has the most amazing voice, and it meant the world to me that she did that for us!
I loved everything about our wedding. Corny, I know- but I really did. Everything from the 100+ year old chapel we were married in (which was the church I had attended since I was 2) down to the last dance we danced together. It was the happiest day of my life!
I loved most of my wedding day, but I think my favorite part was waiting behind the closed doors with my dad, then walking in and seeing my husband to be. Pretty special!
My favorite part was being married at the end of it! And knowing that our honeymoon was the “first” for both of us. :)
Besides becoming Mrs. Chris Smith, my favorite part was hearing my best friend’s dad, our pastor, say, “Who gives this… (Clears throat) (pause)…woman (eyes bulging–mind thinking, oh my) to be married?”
Ok so my fav part of the day was when we took communion together and my hubby teared up – so sweet! :-) Or maybe it was that moment when he said “I now pronounce you husband and wife” :-)loved it!
my favorite part was getting to the church to find that my future husband had come early and left a dozen red roses in the dressing room!! The card said, “see you at 2 (which was the time of our wedding)! love, Dave”
he still has my heart 15 years later!
I think my favorite part was having everyone we love all in the same room at the same time. It was so amazing to see people come from all over the country to support us and celebrate with us. We took a group picture of everyone at the reception so we would always remember that our wedding wasn’t just about us, but about unity, love, and commitment.
The best part wedding i’ve attended thus far was my friend Beth. She got married in downtown Chicago at a gorgeous cathedral church, it was like a dream! Then she had her reception at some famous place i can’t remember, but it was just spectacular!
My favorite wedding…..besides my own….was our daughters….where I was her matron of honor and her dad was the preacher.
My favorite part was having my Aunt & Uncle come to Michigan from California to play all the music for us.
Turning around after Mass was over and just beaming at everyone there!
The sweet moment: Walking down the aisle, clutching my daddy’s arm, and seeing my future husband giggling. He later told me, “It was either laugh or cry, so I chose to laugh.” The funniest moment: My bridesmaids had their dresses made, and the main reason for that was that my matron of honor big sister was 8 months pregnant. She had a meltdown the morning of the wedding when she realized the seamstress had sewn her dress with the wrong side of the fabric facing out. All my other girls were matte, and big sis was all kinds of shiny!! She was a bit traumatized, but it just made me laugh on a day when I desperately needed a chuckle amid my stress. I still love seeing those pictures of my shiny, happy sister!!
I think the best part of my wedding/wedding day was the humor that my husband and his brothers put into everything. When I was walking down the aisle toward him, he half jumped/half stumbled off the platform when remembering that he was supposed to meet me there. His brothers “couldn’t find” the rings in their pockets but instead pulled out trash and many random other things before coming across the rings. Many things like this brought humor to the day, and are one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband to begin with!
Walking down the hill with my Dad toward my husband–I kept telling him to slow down so I could take in every single smiling face.
We also took a group photo immediately after the ceremony with every one that attended–it was so cool!
my favorite part was when it was over! i don’t like being on display like that and i did a lot of embarrassing things. someday i think i would like to have a second wedding with just close family and friends and be laid back and relaxed like you described.
My favorite part was knowing that I was married. It just feels nice to have a partner for life.
My favorite part of the day was after the reception and clean-up. We received the gift of a night at a high-dollar hotel. Champagne, Steaks, Chocolate-covered strawberries…. and our caterer had prepared a basket of wrapped up treats from our wedding. She said that so many of her brides and grooms don’t have time to eat that she so thoughtfully puts together these baskets. It was such a lovely first evening of being a Mrs.. Thank you for the opp to reminisce.
My favorite part was seeing him in his dress blues (he’s a Marine) at the end of the aisle, waiting for me, with tears in his eyes! HE was the best part of my wedding!
My favortie part was when the doors opened and I saw my hubby waiting for me at the end of the aisle! It was perfect!!
My cousins wedding was the best wedding I ever attended. Ther were more than 800 guests on the lists. There was abput 20 stretch limos to carry the wedding party. The appetizer part of the wedding was like the main course for me. I felt like I was at a celebs wedding.
Lots of favorite parts but one that stands out is having several of our friends sing and play instruments
My favorite part of our wedding was our vows. We’ve had those vows tested in the past 10 years but we’re still here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
My favorite wedding was the one I attended this past weekend. The picturesque setting in the mountains in Vermont was spectacular, the venue was lovely, the photo booth that was used to personalize the guest book was fun…but the best part was my sweet boyfriend leaning over and telling me he hopes we’re next. :-)
Well, now, how’s this for irony? Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to pinpoint one part of our wedding, but I still get a kick out of when the pastor stopped and whispered to me, “Are you O.K.? Are you sure you want to keep going?” I was crying so much that he thought I wanted out! :) I’m still so sentimental.
Hard to decide – it was all wonderful. One of my favorite parts was the time with my dad before he walked me down the aisle and then seeing my soon to be husband and knowing without a shadow of a doubt I was marrying God’s gift to me. That was almaost 34 years ago.
The best part was the 10 course banquet everyone feasted on.
My favorite moment of our wedding was seeing my husband for the first time before the ceremony in a special time arranged by the photographer. And second, was taking an exact replica of a picture that my mom and dad had made on their wedding day. We both got married at the same chapel. So neat :)
The best wedding I ever attended was my baby sister’s. 1. Because she asked me to be her maid of honor, 2. Because I had to drive cross-country to Seattle for it, and 3. Because the ceremony and reception were on a yacht in the Washington Sound :)
the CAKE! we took the top of our wedding cake on our honeymoon, and i ate the dang thing there. :0) i figured why take a chance on saving it for a year?! why waste good (expensive!) cake?! haha!
my favorite was when we first turned around for the pastor to introduce us “for the first time Mr. and Mrs….”, and before he could say anything everyone cheered like crazy. It went on for what felt like forever- in a good way. I felt very loved, supported, rooted for. It was an awesome feeling.
My favorite part of my wedding was that my husband and I each chose a scripture to read to the other during the ceremony. Neither of us knew what the other had chosen – it was emotional,but such a blessing.
My favorite part of the day was the few minutes alone with my daddy before the ceremony. He was a calm and steady influence on a whirlwind of a day.
My favorite part of my wedding was seeing my (now) husband standing at the end of the aisle waiting for me. :)
My favorite part was my dad walking me down the aisle and seeing my sweetie waiting there for me.
My favorite memory of my wedding was walking out and seeing my husband for the first time. I was really nervous but when I saw him it was like we were the only two people there.
Right before my maid of honor (I had just one gal up front with me :D) and I got ready to walk down the aisle–we decided to get one last drink of water. Well, the water fountain went all crazy on us and splattered us with water. My dress was just an $80 cotton thing from Penney’s, but her dress was made of a shinier material and therefore showed all the wet spots. Oh, we laughed and laughed. And then slowly walked down the aisle. :)
19 years ago I walked thru the church doors to see my groom crying. We decided not to see each other until that time, and it was well worth it. It was my favorite part. That, and having grocery cart races. Yes, we were both put in grocery carts and raced up and down the sidewalk. Of course, I won!
The best part of my wedding day was having my ailing grandmother there who surprised me by attending.
The best wedding was my daughter’s wedding (almost a year ago now!). The perfect blend of American/British culture, a small gathering of people who made an impact on their lives, held in the oldest church in NC. Perfect!
All the family and friends under one roof together!
There were a lot of moments that were meaningful and special on my wedding day. This is not one of those. I remember that as we were leaving, I felt an overwheming thankfulness that, after all the hard work of wedding planning, I didn’t have to stay and clean up the mess from the reception :).
Easy one!! My husband sang “Household of Faith” to me during the ceremony. We both had come out of previous difficult marriages that neither of us wanted to end. But God in His providence knew this would be His love story, so when my guy sang that me, the significance wasn’t lost on anyone. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and my heart overflowed!