Article by Kimberly Aurora

Are You A Spoiled Bride?  [ Back ] [ Next ]

Okay you have probably heard the stories about the bride that throws a tantrum in the dress salon, becomes overly demanding of her attendants, and makes a scene at the wedding because something was not up to standards.  While these examples of brides behaving badly are extreme, at some point every bride feels a little "overwhelmed" and may lose patience and become unnerved.  You may have heard the name "Bridezilla" and thought it did not apply to you. But when is the last time you thanked your friend for helping out? Or when was the last time you tipped a vendor who went over and beyond the top for you?  Avoiding being a Bridezilla does not mean giving up on what you want and letting others call the shots. Simply stop and take the time to act gracious to those who are trying to help, even when you are trying to stand firm.  

Expressing yourself in a gracious way will inspire those around you to be more helpful and more understanding of your dreams.  Aunt Mabel may suggest that her reception hall is better than the one you chose, but that does not mean you should brush aside her opinion. Simply thank her for the thought, but let her know that you had something else in mind.  Let her share your dream of why you love the place you chose and then it is likely she will begin to share your dream. 

If something falls short of expectations always assume that everyone is trying  their best to help you, even if their standards may not match yours.  If something goes wrong  avoid using apocalyptic and dramatic terms such as "this ruins everything" or self-centered phrases like "what am I supposed to do now?!"  Instead, kindly suggest that this is "not what you expected" or  come up with a cooperative and constructive questions such as "is there anything we can substitute or do to fix the problem?"   Remember that those around you are not there to sabotage your wedding.  Those who made the mistake will probably feel badly and be more than happy to help fix the problem if your are gracious about it.

Finally, if worst comes to worse, remember to put things in perspective -if the flower girl cries in your wedding photos, or if the cake shows up with the wrong color of frosting flowers, take a deep breath and remember what getting married is really all about!

KAK