This week we get to hear from a bride who’s had more re-pins of her wedding than any bride the Yes Girls have worked with…a bride who also happens to be a Yes Girl! That’s right we’re gonna hear from the author of our “Friday Rocks” blog Mrs. Becca Ring.
Becca and Chris got married on Thanksgiving weekend in 2012. Chris is from Tennessee and Becca is from Orange County, but she’s a country girl at heart. Becca and Chris met at a country line dancing bar, and even when she’s not dancing Becca prefers cowboy boots to heels. So a country themed wedding was a must for this couple! Well here’s what Becca had to say when I asked her what she would recommend to other brides and something that she wishes she could re-do:
Don’t let you limitations get in the way of your dream for your wedding. I always dreamed of a beautiful country themed wedding but when it came to planning it I felt like there was not enough money and no affordable venues in Orange County that really matched my theme. So we got creative! My budget was sort of limited, but I realized that with enough creativity we could make it happen. So I enlisted my bridesmaid to help stretch the budget and make our wedding as beautiful as possible.
I asked them if instead of throwing me a bridal shower (and getting me a shower gift) they would be wiling to put that money and effort into actually planning my wedding. They thankfully agreed and each took on a different aspect of the wedding (someone took the guest book table, another the photobooth, or the place cards, etc.). Even with a non-country venue, they were able to bring the theme to life and completely transform the space, to the point where when I walked down the aisle I was absolutely amazed to see that my country dream actually became a reality. In the end, my friends thought of everything (except they kinda forgot to bring Chris’ ring to the ceremony- but hey you can’t win ’em all) and it meant so much to me that they not only stood next to me that day, but that they were right next to me through the whole process.
My biggest regret from our wedding was not finding an officiant who really knew Chris and I as a couple. Because I was focused on cutting corners, staying within my budget, and our limited time frame I chose the most convenient option. Someone who really didn’t know us personally. Usually, the officiant will share a couples love story and really set the tone for the rest of the wedding. I’m not a very romantic or mushy person, but I felt like we really missed out on having that emotional connection as part of our ceremony. I think the ceremony is the most special part of a wedding and even though I felt a strong connection with Chris that day, I was a bummer that connection wasn’t shared with our guests.