Getting married is a wonderful experience. That being said, there are tons of different pressures and myths surrounding the entire wedding planning process that can turn an otherwise memorable and amazing experience into a stressful second job. Here are five wedding myths that you should never believe -- because they're going to make your life a hell of a lot harder in the coming months if you do believe them.
1. It's your special day. I'm all for having a wonderful wedding celebration that showcases you and your groom's amazing relationship and your happy future together. That's what weddings are about, right? However, the minute a bride starts really believing that a wedding is her day her way, trouble begins. Because your big day is never going to be just your day, nor is it ever going to be perfect. Keep your wedding day in perspective and remember the things that really matter -- the relationship of you and your better half, and the loving family and friends who have been supportive of you two the entire way.
2. You'll "Say Yes to the Dress." Going wedding dress shopping is an incredibly exciting yet stressful experience. Finding the dress you're going to wear on your wedding day isn't easy for most brides. There probably isn't going to be a choir of angels that descend from heaven when you slip on the perfect gown. Like your road to finding the right man/woman, you're going to have to slog through a bunch of messes and disasters before you get the perfect fit. And you may not try on your wedding dress and love it right away, or after a few minutes, or even after a few days. You may have to think about it, and change your mind again and again. And again. And you know what? That's okay.
3. Your bridesmaids are your bitches. Oh, man. I really can't stress this one enough. Unless you've got a sort of friendship with your best friends where you all call each other "bitch" and are weirdly passive-agressive to each other (it happens), don't -- I repeat don't -- think of your bridesmaids as your bitches. Ever. Because you know what? They're not your wedding bitches. They're your best friends. If you want them to stay your friends after your wedding, it's important to remember that they are real people with real lives outside of being in your wedding. Thinking about them as your bitches will actually lead you to treat them like your bitches, which in the end just makes you... kind of a bitch.
4. You need to DIY something. All the biggest wedding blogs and the best Pinterest boards out there will throw tons and tons and tons of DIY wedding inspiration at you. You might think after seeing all those pretty DIY projects that you'd be a fool not to try to DIY 75 percent of your wedding decor. But you know what? Sometimes DIY isn't as easy, cost effective, or time efficient as you think. You don't have to DIY something at your wedding. Nobody's going to look at you funny if your souvenirs aren't gold-foiled-paper-mached masterpieces. In fact, they may not notice. In short, don't waste your time or money on DIY because you feel like you have to. Only do it if you really, really want to.
5. It's all about the details. With all the wedding inspiration out there, it's hard not to get caught up in all the little details that go into the picture-perfect weddings featured in magazines and the larger wedding blogs. Those details, while adorable, can incept your mind and convince you that you need those small touches to make your wedding perfect. You need the paper straws! You need the decorative outdoor chandeliers! You need the hand-written 10-foot-long version of your vows to serve as your ceremony's backdrop! The truth is, you don't really need any of those things. You just need your significant other, an officiant, and maybe some rings. Everything else is optional -- so choose what you think is the most important, and don't lose sight of the bigger picture.