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that’ s it! There are so many emotions and details that creep up in the days and weeks leading to your wedding; adding the task of hand-shellacking seashells to your list is not the way to zen out before the wedding.
• Family members should not be your vendors. Family members should be guests at your wedding. If you want to include their art or talent in your day, have them create a piece that can be finished before the wedding, allowing them to be fully present with you on your day.
• Elect a trusted friend / family member( or two) for each partner who can be in charge or putting out fires. This is true even if you have planner. Those people are on the inside and can work as a shield from the onslaught of questions and stress brought on by well-meaing guests. They also can quickly alert your planner of any issues so the planner can deal with it quickly and efficiently.
• Take several moments throughout the day to pause. The day goes by in a flash. Make sure you build in time to spend alone with your partner— take a few moments after the ceremony, maybe have a sweetheart table. You will spend very little time together on the actual day, as strange as it sounds. Be intentional with when and how you get to be together.
The most important piece of advice I can give you is not to lose sight of why you are having a wedding: to marry your beloved. At the end of the day, you’ ve promised to do life with another person— and this huge. It’ s the whole reason you spent 12 + months planning a dinner party for 175 of your favorite people. Everything else is just details. n
( Tessie Pratt Photography)
Jessy Turner is the owner of Birdhouse Event Planning and Consulting, LLC. Based in the Berkshires, Jessy specializes in crafting radically individualized events tailored to each client’ s unique story. In addition to event planning, Jessy offers consulting services, assisting new and existing venues with creating and updating their rental program. She also proudly manages the venues at Ice House Hill Farm, The Norman Rockwell Museum, TurnPark Art Space, and the Bidwell House Museum. Learn more at BirdhouseEventsBerkshires. com. Email BirdhouseEventsBerkshires @ gmail. com or call 860-402-8016.
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Holiday 2025 2023 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 63