Bridal Stories: Weddings Amidst Crisis

The original plan was to have a 100+ person wedding in Downtown Lynchburg on Sunday, March 29th, 2020. It was on March 15th that Jess and Karch realized that their wedding would not go as planned. As different orders were issued, their venue, caterer, and other vendors cancelled and returned their deposits. 

Although corona virus is an unprecedented event, so many brides have their wedding plans changed. Changes can be caused by a military deployment, financial situation, or illness. No matter the cause, what should brides do when their wedding plans go up in smoke?

A few weeks after her rescheduled wedding, Jess spoke to Church Street Bridal. She provided brides with the following advice: 

1. Mourn the loss of your original plans. (With your fiance) It's incredibly disappointing to have to change any aspect of your wedding day. Take time to mourn the loss of your plans with your future groom. Speak openly about what you were excited about, before you start making new plans.  

2. Perfectionism is not your friend. An attitude of perfectionism fixates on what is not “right” about the wedding day. Originally, Jess was disappointed to get married at her home. It became one of the most special details about her day.  

3. Accept help from friends and family. As Jess talked about her wedding, she fondly remembers the contribution of each person. She talks about how the groomsmen cleaned and set up the front porch. The simulcast was set up and run by a tech-savvy friend. Her mother-in-law decorated the porch. Her sister surprised her with her incredible hair skills. When Jess allowed other people to take control of tasks on her wedding day, she was able to relax and enjoy her day. Rather than frantically delegating details, she viewed each piece of her day at a gift. 

Jess married her best friend, Karch, on March 21st, 2020 on the front porch of their home. The sun shone beautifully after a day of drizzling rain. A neighbor let the bridal party take photos in their backyard, among their flowers. A small group of family and friends sat in chairs on the lawn, as people watched online via Facebook Live and a simulcast. The groomsmen and bridesmaid lined the sidewalks as Jess and Karch exchanged their vows. 

Rain or shine, small or large….your wedding will bring hope and love to any situation.

Insider Advice: Wedding Planning & Bridal Shopping Resources

It’s so exciting to look through bridal magazines when you’re engaged! The glossy images can give you some great ideas, but why stop there? We have scoured the internet and found 4 channels on YouTube to help you with your wedding planning/bridal shopping journey! Grab a snack & get help with your wedding planning from these four awesome ladies!

1. Rachel Burt Garcia is an incredible wedding planner and owner of ‘As You Wish’ Events. She’s based out of Dallas, Texas, but is sharing her matrimonial skills online, via her Instagram and her Youtube channel!

2. Hayley Segar was a bridal consultant for 5+ years. She’s beautiful, positive, and full of advice for brides headed to shop for their special dress! Click here to check out her playlist of wedding & bridal related videos.

3. The Unveiled Bride is a Youtuber who gives tons of wedding & honeymoon planning advice. Her Instagram & Youtube channel chocked full of advice for brides up to their eye balls in details.

4. Jamie Wolfer’s Instagram bio states “We’re big fans of uncompromising brides, understated budgets, and unbelievably beautiful weddings…” WOW! She’s sounds like our kind of girl! She has videos about eco-friendly weddings and things that your guests may not actually care about! Check out her Youtube channel and Instagram for her knowledge and tips!

Insider Advice: Picking Your Ideal Bridal Shopping Crew!

The consultants at Church Street Bridal have helped hundreds of brides and their families and understand how to help talk a bride off the “let’s just elope in sweats” ledge. We have assembled 5 tips to help you choose a team full of MVP’s to help you shop for your gown!

1. WHO YOU DON’T NEED: Some brides opt to bring large parties full of family members, younger cousins, and friends, but the consultants at Church Street Bridal have seen large bridal crews backfire. Large groups can overwhelm the bride with opinions (even if everyone is very kind and super supportive) and parties with children don’t usually have the endurance for a full day of shopping. (Because most bridal shops aren’t as exciting at 8 year old girls need them to be.)

2. HOW TO MAKE YOUR PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED: No one wants to exclude their friends or family from their wedding planning process or bridal occasions, but a huge group of people can be overwhelming. If you decide to have a smaller group come with you to shop for your wedding gown, choose different people to go with you to other bridal appointments. Do you have a cousin who hates clothes shopping but has an eye for design? She should totally go with you to pick out flowers or venue decor. Having a smaller bridal shopping party doesn’t mean you have to exclude your favorite people!

   OPINIONATED FRIEND PSA: Your opinionated friend is awesome. We love her. She’s the one that will send back food that isn’t correct and stand up for her girls. However, if you have a hard time stating your opinion or speaking up for yourself with this person, she should not be a part of your shopping party. Have her help you with picking the menu or making a tough call with the venue. Her strong spirit and opinions will be an asset to your big day!

3. BRING YOUR RIDE OR DIE: When choosing your bridal crew, opt to bring 1 person who has known you for a long time. Whether this is your mom or your longtime BFF, this person remembers that you hate the feeling of satin or think fit & flares make your butt look GREAT. Her presence will inspire some much needed bridal confidence!

4. BRING YOUR FASHIONISTA: The next member of your VIP crew is your style icon. If you’re got a CoCo Chanel channeling aunt or a coworker turned confidante who regularly pushes the envelope, this person is a must have on your trip. The fashionista is going to encourage you to try something you may not have picked out & might just pick out the dress you never knew you needed but can’t get married without!

5. BRING YOUR CHEERLEADER: The friend to round out your bridal crew is your cheerleader. This person is the one who you talk to about your insecurities or the stress surrounding your wedding. She knows how to help you get out of a slump and they are there to help you understand when it might be time to take a bridal break for a quick snack. She’s essential (and so are the snacks she brings).

   Having a streamlined bridal VIP team is going to make the process amazing! Click here to make an appointment to visit Church Street Bridal with your dream team.