Don’t Tell the Bride?

So, I LOVE the programme, ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’, it’s my guilty pleasure (as well as Bon Jovi, but that’s for another time and place) and I think there are a few others like me that feel the same. However I got to thinking, why? Is it because I’m safe in the knowledge that I’ve had my wedding day which I had huge amounts of input in so won’t ever be in that situation; or is it because the ultimate message this programme gives is that – it doesn’t matter how it happens, the couple just want to be together and married?

Despite all the fears and anxiety portrayed by the bride, (and yes ladies, it is mostly the bride stressing and weeping) ultimately I have yet to watch an episode where the couple don’t get married. Even with the dubious choices the groom has made, (anyone see Luke theme his wedding on his favourite football team, or Nick choose for his bride her worst night mare, princess Jordan-esque style dress?) the bride always appreciates some of what the groom has gone through to organise the wedding – I won’t go so far as to say they love all of what they have chosen!

Obviously this is for TV, and the sceptic in me says at least parts of it has to have been staged – I love my husband, but if he’d had to organise the whole wedding I’m not sure the finer details would have been high on his list of priorities – but the less sceptic, romantic side says, it’s the thought that counts, so who cares if he’s had a bit of help to complete it.

A lot of couples lose sight of the reason they have pencilled a day in the diary to have the biggest blow out party they have ever staged. The flowers, car, venue, photographer and who can forget the dress, it can be so easy to get lost in the material items that disappear without trace after the ‘celebration’.

The time planning your day and talking about the details should be a happy time. Yes, it can get stressful and feel overwhelming, but sticking together and talking through things makes the stress dissipate. If you get to your wedding day, dreading things are going to go wrong – let me put your mind at rest now, something WILL go wrong – you’ll miss this day you have spent your waking life planning.

The sun will rise, the day will begin, and keep going, and no matter what you think, it won’t stop for you to have a stress about whether the colour of the flowers match the tie on the grooms neck. Your guests are there to celebrate with you, that you have taken the next step in your relationship, so why shouldn’t you be doing the same thing?

It might be TV, it might be staged, but on the most basic level DTTB shows that the couple want to be together, and despite all the dramas, tears and tantrums they all walk down the aisle in the end knowing they want to be with each other. So, whatever you think is the most important thing about organising for your day, shouldn’t that be the message you keep in your mind too?