All You Need To Know About Weddings in 2020

We’ve kicked off a New Year, and our team at Rubies Home Furnishings is so excited about all the things in store for 2020! One part of our business that continues to grow is our Bridal Registry! We always list our couples on social media and our website to help spread the word for their friends and family to shop at Rubies. 

We always have SO much fun getting to know the wonderful couples that come into the store, and we love being able to play such an important part helping create that feeling of home for our brides and grooms. In fact, last year, we partnered with our sister store, City Home Center, to write about how a newly married couple near Laurel made their house a home with Rubies Home Furnishings and City Home Center. Read more about it here.

Whether you’re dating, engaged or even already married, we all have a bride in our lives that is looking to make their big day extra special. So, to help out, we chatted with Shea Gibson, a Hattiesburg-based wedding photographer, who helped us identify some of the most important things brides need to know this year to make their wedding perfect. Here’s what she had to say.

What's the actual #1 most important thing for a bride on her wedding day? 

A wedding day timeline! A well thought out wedding day timeline planned in advance relieves the stress of having to make important decisions on your big day. I suggest developing a wedding day timeline with the help of your photographer and coordinator and sharing it with all of your vendors. It helps keep the day flowing and prevents the need for having to make decisions on the fly. When all of those decisions are made in advance you will be able to relax and enjoy your big day. 

As a photographer, what "moments" on a wedding day are the sweetest/best to capture?I'm a HUGE fan of when the groom sees the bride for the very first time, whether that be in a first look or when the bride is coming down the aisle! It's always an emotional moment for me because I become so close with my couples by working with them over several months. I can't help but cry a little (or a lot!) when they see each other for the very first time. Ceremony time is also my favorite! There's something so special about seeing them take part in the holy sacrament of marriage. Once they start reciting their vows, I'm usually in tears yet again! 

Any tips/ideas on budgeting for wedding?
Nail down your budget EARLY! I recommend doing this within a month or so after getting engaged. Then, start researching your favorite venues, photographers, planners, etc., so you can get an idea about what they cost and how their pricing fits into your budget. It's so important to decide early how much you can spend on the things that are the most important. Know that there will be some unexpected things that arise along the way and have an extra bit of cushion that you allow specifically for those instances. 

Wedding themes. Love them or hate them?
LOVE them!! I want to tell the story my couples share. Their wedding theme is usually tied to their story and who they are as individuals and as a couple. Themes help me decide how I should style things like their wedding day details for shooting. They also aid in the blogging process for me! When I blog a wedding day, I want my readers to get a feel for what the day looked like without actually having to see any photographs. Themes really are a big help!

Pre-wedding stress. Any tips/thoughts on how to avoid or reduce stress prior to a wedding?
Just know that stress is going to happen, but it can be managed effectively! Everyone handles stress differently, so pinpointing the best strategies for YOU personally to deal with the stress early on is important. Be willing to ask for help early on and rely on the vendor team you've hired. Take time for yourself throughout the process. Self-care is so important! And above all - don't forget about your partner. Rely on them and have open communication about what's going on at the time. After all, the whole reason you're planning this marvelous event is to become their spouse! 

What's the most memorable wedding you've ever captured?
When I reflect back on my body of work I remember special moments from multiple weddings. A wedding might have had gorgeous scenery, the perfect sunset, or a funny moment that sticks out in my head. As I sit here thinking about this question, I cannot think of one wedding where something memorable did not occur. However, the one constant that sticks out in my head are the people that I have met along the way. 

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We are so grateful to Shea for contributing to this blog and giving some great pointers for brides for their upcoming weddings! We always love to treat our couples extra special. So much so that we give 10% of the amount purchased from their registry back in a gift card to Rubies. This means couples can get any extra items for their home like furniture, décor or even gifts for their wedding party! The options are endless. 

If you’re interested in registering with Rubies, simply fill out the form located here on our website.  

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About Shea Gibson Photography  
Shea is a wedding + portrait photographer based out of Hattiesburg, MS. While working on her doctorate, she started her business and you can now find her shooting 25-30 weddings a year. She has been awarded Best of Weddings by The Knot and was also named Top 5 Mississippi Photographers by Mississippi Magazine. Her work has been featured in I Do Y'all Magazine, Mississippi Magazine and on blogs such as The Bride Link, Let's Bee Together and The Aisle Society. Shea is married to her high school sweetheart, Corey, and together they have 7 furbabies: Shadow, Jep, Macie, Sasha, Sadie, Teddy and Remi. You can book Shea for your wedding or portraits at https://www.sheagibsonphotography.com.