Here Comes the Bride

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a bit wedding crazy! I love everything about weddings: what they represent, the fashions, the planning, the beauty, and the uniqueness of each wedding. When talking to my friend Paulina in Sweden, I shared the details and planning process that I went through planning my wedding and she shared some interesting details about weddings here in Sweden too!

As a event planner myself, I may have a different perspective on weddings. Mix event planner with type A personality, and I can tell you that I was on top of every detail that went into the big day. I had multiple lists, one for a countdown, one for the bridesmaids, one for purchase arrivals, and definitely a spreadsheet for my budget! Can you image not being the one in control for this momentous occasion!?

Well in Sweden, people do things a little differently. At first you may think, ok well I know wedding planners take control of weddings so the bride doesn't freak out. I think wedding planners are great! They have insight, experience with creative ideas, and vendor relationships that most people don't. But still, that is not how it works in Sweden.

Being asked to be the Maid of Honor and the Best Man holds more weight than ever in Sweden. That's right, it's not the Bride or a wedding planner that makes the couples dreams come true, it's the Bridal Party, mainly being the Maid of Honor and Best Man. The couple trusts their friends to make their wedding day come true. Of course, the Bride still has direction, but the weight of the wedding lies on the shoulders of not just family, but friends.

This is such an interesting and unique trait to me, that I was shocked! I love my friends, but putting that sort of trust in them for my wedding day would be very hard. Paulina told me about her experience as a "wedding planner/Maid of Honor." She showed me how hard she worked and about how she wanted to make the day perfect for one of her best friends. It was something that she took great pride in.

Maybe the Swedish people are on the right track. When a person is your best friend, and has nothing to lose or gain from putting on the perfect wedding, maybe they are more invested than ever. I know that if I was in charge of my best friend's wedding, I would move mountains to make it perfect for her and make sure she got everything she dreamed of! It puts even more meaning behind the decision of having your best friend and/or family member standing beside you in support of a new marriage! 

Cheers to the Maid of Honor and the Best Man!

A special congratulations to David and Paulina who just got engaged this past holiday season! No one deserves better than you two!