Every bride is bound to hit a few bumps while planning a wedding.  With just five months to plan mine, here’s how I prioritized and maneuvered.

By Erin Meanley Glenny

1.  What I wanted: This Dress from Prenovias.

The Problem:  I did not look like the model.  And the dress looked different, too.

Problem Solved: I’d tracked down this dress style from the spring 2014 runway to a boutique in Pasadena (only 12 U.S. stores had purchased it, according to Pronovias’ corporate office).  I had dragged my family two hours north to see the gown in person (insert screeching sound):  The beads turned out to be sequins (gag).  The look was ice skater-esque.  Not to mention, the gown didn’t work for my body type.  There was no built-in bra, and the dress would not arrive until five days before my wedding in San Diego.  So, on the drive home, I called Mission Valley’s Here Comes the Bride and ordered a dress that I knew was flattering, made me feel the most “me,” and, most importantly, would be ready in time. Moving on!

Image via Found Creative Studio

2.  What I wanted:  A Pink and Gray palette.

The Problem:  My oh-so-close-to-the-church venue was Spanish-Revival, with red curtains, red paintings, and red, Oriental rugs.  Red is not a friend of pink.

Problem Solved:  I briefly toyed with the idea of decorating the entire space in Spanish Revival/Mission-style items, like Oriental table runners and a wrought iron grill to hang the escort cards.  But it didn’t answer the question of what my bridesmaids would wear.  In the end, I kept thing simple and decided on gray and pink in the church; neutral flowers and linens at the reception. Done.

Image via Found Creative Studio

3.  What I wanted:  Chiavari chairs at the reception.

The Problem:  When my mom heard I wanted to rent Chiavari chairs for $960, she said, “Why? The venue already has chairs.  Anyway, people can’t see what they’re sitting on when they’re sitting.”

Problem Solved:  One good way to explain that Chiavari chairs are “necessary” is to take your naysayer to a wedding that features Chiavari chairs.  I definitely had to take this step because my sister had gotten married two months before and never asked to rent chairs.  With a contract from the rental people in my hand, my parents and I took a tour of our venue a few hours before a wedding was happening there.  My mom saw how beautiful the space looked with the candles, flowers, linens, and- you guessed it- Chiavari chairs, and she was sold! Contract signed.

Image via Found Creative Studio

4.  What I wanted:  Fewer Kids at the Wedding

The Problem:  My friends’ kids totaled 53.  FIFTY-THREE.

Problem Solved: When you say “I do” at the age of 35, almost all of your peers have spawned offspring.  The plus side?  Tons of flower girls to choose from.  But I was not prepared for the Babygate that went down 24 hours before my Big Day, when I learned that tons of women were planning on bringing their kids.  I also discovered my mom had a strong opinion about screaming babies during a church ceremony.  She did not want babies taking attention away from her baby (moi).  I had to get on the phone and face the music with many women who think their kids are the center of everyone’s world.  One of my outspoken bridesmaids helped me spread the message as well.  The policy?  If the child was coming from out of town, he or she could attend.  Luckily, I already had a babysitting service hired for the flower girls and my stepson at the reception, and I asked her to sit in the “cry room” at the church during the ceremony. FYI, there is a difference between a newborn and a 7-year-old:  One can sit still during a ceremony, one cannot.  Who knew?  Draw the line and be clear.  The sooner, the better.