By Mark Williams, GM @ Williams on the Lake

Where are the candles? Who’s got the rings? What time do we cut our cake? (And a thousand other things to distract you…)

So you’ve gotten through making your invite list. That led to the response tracking, and counting who got chicken and who got beef. Which led to the seating chart, and a huge blow-up with your fiance’s mother about where the cat groomer would be sitting. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…

But really, why are you going through all of this confusion? As I write this, I am in the middle of a hectic Northeastern Ohio wedding season, and I see examples of all of the above scenarios played out each weekend. The point I try to bring to the forefront is that it is YOUR day. Yes, you want to make sure that Aunt Jeanne has a menu choice that will appeal to her, but this event reflects the two of you. You should be making the decisions actively, and planning for things that express your style and likes. You will never, never please all of your family and friends all of the time. However, you can make sure your Cleveland / Akron wedding reception is a great party that reflects those aspects you cherish as a couple!

The other point I try to bring up with wedding couples is also pretty simple, and it’s this: Make time for each other the day you get married! Your wedding day is full of hundreds of faces, people that want to congratulate you and support you. However, you’re only marrying one of them! Give that person a few dedicated minutes that only you two share, and enjoy the wonderful and momentous new relationship you have. Otherwise, you may get to the hotel after the reception to exhausted to do more than say good night to one another, as if it were any other full day.

So, is it important where your fiance’s mother’s cat groomer sits? To her, very important! Just make sure you prioritize yourselves into your day! As always, you can e-mail me with thoughts at mark@williamsonthelake.com, and thanks for reading!