In the weekend I spoke with Wendy who works in the wedding industry. Ten years go when she got married she said she could have been a Bridezilla but wasn’t! When I heard the story she told me, my ears tuned in. She mentioned what her Celebrant had done at that time and I asked who it was. The Celebrant in question, no longer in Christchurch, so I am thinking it’s ok to share this story and what she did.
At the wedding rehearsal, a day before the wedding the Celebrant said that she needed to start her wedding ceremony an hour earlier. The Celebrant had another wedding to do and she had told that couple that they needed to start an hour later. The Celebrant had driven between the two venues and realised her timing was way out. Thankfully, Wendy chose to speak clearly and said it was the Celebrant’s problem to sort and no she would not be telling her 100 plus guests that she was starting a wedding the next day an hour earlier!
It did remind me of a few times, when I have gone to a rehearsal and been surprised. I have a little checking system in place. This is an example of what I say to everyone present: “I will be here at 2.30 for a 3.00pm wedding”. On a few occasions I have been told No!!!!! “The wedding is starting at 2.00pm". I usually have my booking sheet with me and can show the couple the time they told me and I planned around.
I usually laugh and joke as I don’t want the couple to be stressed the day before their wedding. Inwardly, I am cringing and thinking oh my goodness how am I going to overcome this problem. Why, oh why, would a couple change their plans and not tell the Celebrant?
If I have another wedding scheduled or other plans, I say that I will do my best and have always pulled it off. This adds stress, that I can really do without.
So I suppose I’m saying – I try not to bring out any Bridezilla type behaviour through changes made which causes surprise and dismay to me.
So I encourage good communication, making lists, writing things down and planning well out in advance. I encourage questions and provide a Forum on Facebook (Canterbury Wedding Forum) for couples to discuss things that impact their day.
In the magazine “With this Ring” I found a quiz which I will share with you here.
Could you become a Bridezilla?
Answer these questions with a Yes or No (please leave comments below) interested to see how
you have got on.
Are you a perfectionist?
Have standards that are impossible to meet?
Experience frequent mood swings?
Are you impatient?
Expect everyone to follow your orders?
Fall out with friends and family?
Don’t trust the wedding coordinator?
Talk about wedding plans all the time?
Keep changing your mind?
Or won’t compromise?
Never think about anything else?
Become obsessed by tiny details?
Want the best of everything?
Expect lavish gifts from the guests?
Rarely say thank you?
Think money is no object?
Forget how to relax?
Take him for granted?
Refer to “My Day” not “Our Day”?
SCORE
0-5 Unlikely Bridezilla; 6-10 Possibly Bridezilla; 11-15 Likely Bridezilla; 16-20 Definitely Bridezilla.