Food for thought: 7 Wedding Regrets From a Real Bride by Caitlin Krebs

7 Wedding Regrets From a Real Bride 

by Caitlin Krebs

 

As I watched and re-watched my wedding video (PS - submit yours here!), I questioned whether there were moments I may have missed—or done differently. Here are seven regrets I still struggle with regularly:

I didn’t give my dad a hug or kiss as he gave me away

If you were to ever meet my dad, he would be wearing a blue button-up shirt, khaki shorts, and tennis shoes. Never in my 23 years have I ever seen him wear a suit and tie. As we walked down the aisle, we made every step last until he gave me away to Brian. He got so choked up that he sat down in a hurry. I didn’t get the chance to give him a hug or kiss. Thank goodness my mom had a handkerchief waiting for him! 

We didn’t exchange gifts during our first look 

Brian and I went back and forth on this for weeks, maybe even months, before our big day. We ultimately decided that we weren’t going to exchange gifts, just handwritten love letters. On the morning of, my MOH handed me a set of pearl stud earrings—a gift from my groom. Of course my initial reaction was, “I didn’t get him anything. Do I already get the worst wife award?” I wish we had stuck to our word, and also read our cards aloud to each other during our first look. 

I didn’t purchase a pair of comfy shoes

I purchased a pair of Badgley Mischka wedges thinking to myself, “Oh, I’ll definitely be able to dance.” Wrong. After singing to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” I told my sister-in-law to go get my Sanuk sandals. The soles are literally made of yoga mats! She saved the night, and I was able to beat those blisters. If I were to redo my shoe choice, I would opt for a more comfy option. 

I should have included more family shots on my photo checklist

My photo checklist included group family photos of my parents, grandparents, and siblings, but I forgot to include individual family photos of my parents, grandparents, siblings, and both labrador retrievers. Not to mention it would have been a pretty cool candid to get 175 people together! Don’t make the same mistake I did, consult your photo checklist to make sure you have ALL the shots you want. 

Related: 15 Ways to Deal with Wedding Withdrawal >> 

Our first dance felt way too long

We picked Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” for our first dance. It’s only slightly over three minutes long, but because we hadn’t practiced, it felt like it was five. After winging it for about 60 seconds, we walked off embarrassed. We should have hired an instructor to teach us how to move with the music. It would have been totally worth learning the ins and outs of the twirl. 

We didn’t plan an after party

Since our reception ended before midnight, we expected guests to hop on the shuttle back to the hotel for some much needed rest. However, they weren’t tired! We hadn't planned for an after party, knowing the lobby bar would be closed at that point. Instead, guests walked out onto the pier’s pavilion, plugged their iPhones into the sound system, and continued to celebrate. 

We slept in until 11 a.m. the morning after

Brian and I didn’t bother to set an alarm for brunch with our bridal party. We thought they would come banging on our suite’s door to scare us. We woke up around 11 a.m., which was the same time we had to check out. We missed out on mimosas, saying goodbye to a few family and friends, and the pre-game show for the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns. 

Don't get overwhelmed!

#wedding #regrets

Had to share: 10 Ways To Grow Your Hair Long For Your Wedding

10 Ways To Grow Your Hair Long For Your Wedding 

It's a bride's worst nightmare: A week after you've worked up the courage to get that trendy LOB you've been wanting, your boyfriend (now fiancé) proposes. And while you may love your short cut, you've always envisioned long, beautiful waves on your wedding day. If extensions aren't in the budget and time isn't on your side, here are 10 tips that will help your hair grow back (fast) for your wedding. 

By Amanda Elser

1. Don't trim your hair every month 

Contrary to what you've always heard, constant trimming isn't great for your hair, but neither is ignoring it completely. Your hair grows a half an inch every month and you don't want to be cutting off all that progress. At the same time, a split end can travel up the hair shaft causing your hair to break off, which isn't good either. The solution: Give your hair a slight trim every three months to cut away dead ends without stunting growth.

2. Be gentle 

Be kind to your hair! Avoid harsh chemicals (if you can) and limit the amount of times you shampoo to two or three times a week. Cleansing your hair too often can strip your strands of natural oils, making hair more prone to breakage (read: hair breaks before it can grow). You can avoid oily roots by brushing your hair a few times a day with a natural bristle brush—it distributes oils down the hair shaft and helps you fight the temptation to wash. 

3. Avoid the elements

Summer can wreak havoc on your poor locks. Exposure to UV rays from the sun can strip hair down and cause damage over time, while salt water and and chlorine can dry hair out, making it brittle. Always wear a hat outside and rinse your hair with fresh water immediately after a quick dip in the ocean or pool. 

4. Go heat-free

You may think that blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons keep frizz away, but in reality they are frying your strands and causing more frizz. Let your hair air dry whenever possible for healthier locks, but don't brush or sleep with wet hair: Damp strands are more susceptible to damage. Instead, detangle damp hair with a wide-tooth comb and gently squeeze excess water out with an old T-shirt for a less-rough approach. 

5. Drink lots of water and eat right

The best way to keep your hair moisturized and healthy is to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water helps push toxins out of your body and promotes hair growth. Eating more fruits and veggies will also strengthen your hair strands from the inside-out. 

6. Leave it down 

Rubber bands, clips and pins may seem like a simple solution to a bad hair day, but pulling your hair back into a ponytail can actually cause more damage to your hair in the long run. Leave your hair loose and avoid pulling it back—especially when it's wet—and you'll notice a difference over time. 

7. Avoid silicone shampoos 

Silicone coats your hair, which effectively blocks out nutrients and prevents hair from getting the proper nourishment to grow long. It might be more expensive, but buy shampoos and conditioners without silicone in the ingredient list. You'll be washing your hair less, so it will all even out in the end. 

8. Give yourself a hot oil treatment 

It might sound counterintuitive to put oil on an oily scalp, but a hot oil massage can breakdown scalp buildup and stimulate hair growth from the roots. A quick way to do this at home is to apply either coconut oil or jojoba oil to your scalp before you get into the shower. Let the oil sit for 15 minutes in the steam from your running shower—rubbing it into your scalp—and then wash it out with shampoo. 

9. Try some DIY rinses 

You would be surprised how many items in your kitchen are good for your hair. Rinsing your hair weekly with either an apple cider vinegar, onion water, palm oil or grape seed oil will help promote hair growth and keep your strands silky and healthy. 

10. Use silk pillow covers

It sounds like an unnecessary luxury, but sleeping on a silk pillowcase can actually help your hair grow long. Cotton or linen fabrics can pull or tug at hair, causing it to break while you're tossing and turning at night. Silk won't cause any unwanted friction, so your hair remains smooth and knot-free in the morning.at hair, causing it to break while you're tossing and turning at night. Silk won't cause any unwanted friction, so your hair remains smooth and knot-free in the morning.

#wedding #hair #longhair #beautiful