Research a stylist, get recommendations from family and
friends, and plan to have a trial “style” done on your hair before the big day.  I did my trial “style” for our engagement pictures and wanted a simple wave curl for those and half up for the big day. Easy-peasy. It looked amazing for the photos, even if it was very humid and sprinkled on us a little bit. Then for our wedding a friend of ours offered us the use of his salon for a steal of a deal (cutting down cost, yay!…so we thought). My “new” stylist called me and we chatted for a bit while she told me about herself and how she likes to do things. She sounded perfect! The morning of the wedding was hectic…our wedding was at 12:30pm!!!  Hair at 8am?!? I am not a morning person, not that I could sleep anyways, so to the salon we went. Two of my bridesmaids arrived at the salon before I did so the stylist started on them. I thought they looked beautiful but was then informed that she had not styled their hair the way they had asked. My mom’s turn…same thing. Oh boy! My turn…gulp. I showed her two pictures of what I wanted.  She started curling and everything was fine…then she started tying knots on the top of my head? YES, knots! I asked her what she was doing to which she replied, “I’m giving you an elegant rose bouquet headband”…um no! I told her I didn’t like it; she then proceeded to give me a flat, huge bump on top of my head. It was awful!  Thank goodness for my girl friend, Mercedes (an amazing hair-stylist at Reign Salon in Southlake, Texas). She sat me down and fixed me right up! My hair looked exactly the way I had envisioned and she really helped save the day! Make-up:

When someone tells you they have done hair and make-up for
 models and has been featured in a few magazines…research them anyway! Find out any and everything you can. The same stylist who tried to give me an “elegant rose bouquet headband” also said she was a make-up artist. To be quite honest, I am a little embarrassed by this! She made me look like a completely different person! Painted on eyebrows, blue eyeliner, no eye shadow…and if she told me I looked just like Faith Hill but prettier one more time I could have screamed! Faith Hill is gorgeous and we look absolutely nothing alike! Dark brown lip-liner, light pink lipstick…oh, I just looked awful. I paid her and couldn’t get out of the salon quick enough, not only because I was already late to my own wedding, but also so I could cry my eyes out. I snapped a quick ugly-selfie in the car and headed straight for the church. Thank goodness for my awesome bestie, Becky, for watching make-up “how-to” videos on YouTube instead of studying for school on all those late nights because she also saved my day! Sentimental Venues:

Every venue or photography location we chose had 
a special meaning to us. Our engagement photo session locations, yes plural (poor Leaha), were all at places that were special to us and therefore made us even more comfortable in our pictures…not to mention the few bottles of wine we “incorporated” into the shoot. Our “Save the Date” location was shot at a local theater that had a very helpful staff that accommodated our idea. It was also shot by friends so again this made us very comfortable. We got married in our church, where I was baptized and Jason was confirmed; our reception was where we had our first Valentines dinner and since we had a day wedding we also had a Wedding Celebration at night at Trophy Room Dallas where we had our very first kiss. Not all of our venues were within the budget we set for ourselves but it was something we both wanted and after we talked about it all we easily agreed. It also made for great
 conversations with our guests and we were comfortable everywhere we 
were…I think that’s key! Massage:

By the time your wedding day finally arrives you will have put an enormous of time, effort and energy into it. Whether you have a wedding planner or not decisions have to be made like deadlines, budgeting, colors and the list goes on and on! It all can take a toll on your body and mind and unfortunately you might find yourself not being on the same page with your fiancé or maybe falling behind on your normal day-to-day things. You owe it to yourself to let that all out before one of the biggest days of your life! You’re getting married! Splurge a little and get that couples massage or a single massage and take 90 minutes for yourself. I promise you, you won’t regret it! It will help you decompress and get refocused on all of the tasks at hand.

Final Thoughts:

Getting married shouldn’t be about making other people happy.  I had to keep telling myself that over and over again. If I can give any advice from a bride who has no regrets regarding her wedding, besides not being able to spend enough time with guests, make sure your wedding
 represents who you and your fiancé are and do what makes you happy. It
 is no one else’s day but your own! Own it, love it and remember it forever!