ONE of the most useful axioms I learned growing up was to "do as I say, not as I do". Mum used that annoying little chestnut all the time to enforce the principle that while she might not always be providing the best example in a practical sense (as few
Eva Bradley: Why I need to contain my inner Bridezilla
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Eva Bradley.
The moment I realised this, I experienced a sensation not unlike what it feels like to have one's stomach trade places with all the bits tucked up below it.
Instead of taking the advice I have dished out to dozens of brides over the years when they have called me in a froth upon seeing their own unsavoury weather forecast 10 days out and chilling the heck out, I frothed.
In the following 30 seconds I considered crying, postponing, shifting venues, shifting regions and calling the whole thing off.
Then I swapped my Bridezilla pants for my practical wedding photographer ones and realised something even worse. Despite always encouraging my brides to prepare for a Plan B and pick a venue that wouldn't cause heart failure if the weather packed up, I had instead chosen a dreadfully romantic yet highly inappropriate venue for a wedding at any time of year, let alone late May.
Worse still, in my bid to have an experience at least a little bit outside the box of what I see and do every Saturday through the summer, I had timed kick-off for 5pm when the light is almost guaranteed to be as difficult as possible for any photographer, even the fabulous one I had booked.
In short, I did not do as I say.
When I recovered from hitting my head against the wall and took off my photographer pants along with the Bridezilla ones, I found myself feeling fairly exposed in a metaphorical sense, and consequently more acutely connected to my emotions.
The reality is that along with the wet weather speech, I also always tell my brides that whatever happens on the day will be the official version. Ultimately as long as there is a foxy groom standing at the top of the aisle feeling like the luckiest man on God's good Earth, it can rain, hail and thunder and it won't make a blind bit of difference. It is going to be one of the very best moments in life, guaranteed.
Of course, although I sincerely believe that, this doesn't mean I won't be slyly checking the forecast as the day draws closer and pulling back my curtains on the day hoping for blue skies and happy ever after.
-Eva Bradley is a columnist and photographer, who runs Napier-based Eva Bradley Photography.