Communication (v): The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium.
There are various types of communication in life. There is verbal or oral communication; nonverbal communication; visual communication; written communication; human communication and nonhuman
communication to name a few.
Do you remember playing that popular game as a child “Broken Telephone”? Life can often be like that. The communication breakdown or failure happens because we’re all so overwhelmed in life today. And maybe that’s due to technology? Here, I’m talking about the communication between you and your loved ones. We’re so pre-occupied with our busy schedules that we forget to breathe!
In this day and age, technology is bringing us closer together and making the world a smaller place. With video calling, Skype, BBM and so on, it really is very easy to communicate with loved ones, colleagues and clients too. But are we really communicating? For example, your body language plays a very big part in communication. I am currently reading an ebook called “What is Every Body Saying” and it is certainly a very interesting and fantastic book on what our body is saying to other people face to face. Body language just adds to every-day life communication.
Over the past year, I’ve noticed with the Brides that come into Blush Weddings, how important Wedding Communication is.
Written Communication is used when sending out your wedding invitations. Throughout the Wedding Day itself, there is even more written communication such as the Order of Service, The Menu, The Table Seating Plan and The Name Place Cards. If you didn’t send out your Wedding invitations, how would you inform your guests that you want them there to celebrate your union? Sure, you could email or SMS your guests but that’s not very personal. Some couples opt out of a traditional wedding, but they still have wedding invitations sent out. Not every couple getting married has order of services or even name place cards but all weddings have a table seating plan. It would be utter pandemonium if people were asked just to sit wherever they like. It’s simply not realistic. If you didn’t communicate to the caterers or the venue, your wedding day will be in absolute chaos!
It’s all very well having the written communication down to a T, but the most important communication is between you, the Bride & Groom. It is imperative that you both communicate your wants and needs for your special day, to each other and to all involved in making the wedding day work and work well. As the bride, you may dream of releasing pure white doves after the ceremony but your groom may think they’re disgusting creatures riddled with vermin. If you don’t talk about it and discuss your wants and needs, it may land up in an argument. Most people think that the wedding day is all about the bride, but it’s really not that restricted. There’s far more to a wedding than people assume. It’s about you, the Bride and Groom as a couple, but it’s also about two families joining. And you might also start your own family one day.
At Blush Weddings, we’ve noticed another big failure in communication is not informing the bridal party of their duties. Bridesmaids and Mother’s – of – the Groom are often not told what their roles and duties are and for very different reasons. Lack of communication causes confusion and disinterest which can lead to tears…
It’s a typical cliché but the Mother – of – the – Groom is often left out of a lot of things. And the Mother – of – the – Groom is often referred to as “M.I.L.D.E.W” which stands for Mothers In Law Do Everything Wrong. That “label” as such, is wrong in itself! Yes, planning your wedding is generally done between you and your mother, but you are marrying into another family and you need to include your future Mother – In – Law too. You may hate the silly bitch, but make her feel special and needed. Remember, her son is getting married too!
Many Blush Brides have had difficulty communicating with their bridesmaids.
If you don’t allocate, designate and stipulate exactly what you want out of your retinue, then you can’t blame anyone but yourself. Yes, bridesmaids are there to add fun to the wedding planning stresses, but more importantly, they are there to be at your every beck and call (realistically of course). Most bridesmaids these days don’t see it as an honour. They simply see it as throwing you a Hen Night and getting trashed on champagne at your expense. No! They are supposed to attend your Wedding Dress Fittings, help with the running around, attend your hair and make – up trial and so on. Some brides these days have close to ten bridesmaids. That, in itself, is a communication disaster waiting to happen! If you don’t sit down with your ladies in waiting and discuss the details, then the days leading up to your Big Day will be a disappointment. You don’t need drama on your special day! (Watch this space for our next blog which is all about Bridesmaids and their duties...)
So remember Brides, talk to everybody. Don’t only communicate using with today’s modern technology. Talk and make your wishes and desires known and then there’ll be no room for disaster!
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