1. Weddings really are just a giant, expensive party.
2. Have a packed lunch stashed somewhere.
3. Be flexible, anything can go wrong anytime.
4. Choose a bridal party that is proactive and supportive – not using your wedding as a personal debutante ball.
5. There is no such thing as a perfect wedding. There is what everyone else approves of and what makes you happy.
6. Delegate delegate delegate. Even the best wedding planners have people helping them.
7. Do not sacrifice your relationship with your family for your wedding. But don’t let them walk all over you either.
8. You both matter. It is not MY perfect wedding, it is OUR perfect wedding.
9. A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime.
10. Its not about how much you have, its about how you use what you have.
11. Just because he isn’t crying at the aisle doesn’t mean he isn’t touched.
12. ALWAYS have plan B. Always.
13. African time is not a thing. The bride can be late, not you!
14. Less is more. Except when it comes to food. More is more with food.
15. Yes, your aunt is an excellent cook. But cooking for 10 and cooking for 100 are NOT THE SAME THING.
16. The day before the wedding is probably too late to still be hoping to find your stuff ready. Lie and say your wedding is two days before the actual date if you have to, just make sure you get your clothes on time.
17. Ask for referrals and actually call them. Make sure it is not a relative of theirs. It is your money, you have a right to know it wont be wasted.
18. If you can’t afford it, leave it out.
19. Honor your elders. Your wedding is about community not just you and your friends.
20. If you know babalaas is your Achilles heel, maybe rather bachelor/bachelorette a couple of days or a week before your wedding. It’s bad enough having to deal with nerves, you don’t want an angry spouse at the aisle.
21. Eat something. Or at the very least, hydrate. Too nervous to eat? DRINK something (non-alcoholic because alcohol will just leave you even more dehydrated and drips are a kak accessory at a wedding)
22. Repeat after me: I cannot please everyone. I cannot please everyone. I cannot please everyone. Find balance.
23. If you know your person can’t dance, PLEASE keep their choreography simple. Shine together then you can have your solo after.
24. Seriously. People are going to eat and drink. Top of your list is toilet. Come now!
25. If you are going to sulk and not voice your objection, do not bitch and moan at your wedding.
26. If it is going bankrpt you, if you have no real plan of where the money to pay for this wedding is going to come from, DON’T DO IT!

FOOTNOTE: I found this unpublished tidbit when I was dusting off the cobwebs of my blog. I figured, meh, why not, just share the damn thing before you delves into Tumi 4.0 🙂