The 10-Step Guide to Planning a Wedding, According to TV

By Nadia Chaudhury | Lists | July 2, 2014 |

By Nadia Chaudhury | Lists | July 2, 2014 |

We’re currently in peak wedding season. I should know: I attended one last weekend, and I’m attending another this Saturday. Then the day after that one is MY one-year anniversary (you can send your checks to [email protected]). I’ve read my fair share of silly wedding magazines, but, truthfully, I could have learned all about wedding planning from TV.

1. Embrace the imperfections
Learn to roll with the tides and don’t freak out, like when Pam tore her veil and Jim cut his tie in solidarity on The Office. Don’t stress out. It’s seriously not that big of a deal, she says, now that she doesn’t have to worry about seating arrangements.

2. Keep open communications with your friends
Always let your friends tell you big news on your big day — otherwise, it’ll become a WHOLE THING with coverups and lies and sadness, like when Rachel hid her pregnancy during Monica and Chandler’s wedding on Friends. It gets messy.

3. Really know who you’re marrying
Because poor, poor Martha on The Americans sure as hell didn’t.

4. Spring for two weddings, one intimate and one for everyone else
It’ll make everyone happy. You’ll get your small, intimate, cozy ceremony with the people you truly know, like Marshall and Lily did outside their venue with Ted, Robin, and Barney. Then go inside make your Uncle Frank happy by walking down the aisle.

5. But don’t rush into an elopement/quickie wedding
As tempting as it is to just get it over with, don’t. Carla and Turk on Scrubs realized this the hard way when they were about to get married in the hospital chapel with an officiant who forgot her name.

6. Do try to throw a surprise wedding
The Xbox pancake of couples, Andy and April on Parks and Recreation, know what’s up. Also, surprise weddings>surprise parties, but surprise puppies>surprise weddings.

7. Wear what makes you happy
Follow your heart and wear the outfit that fills YOU with joy on what’s supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. That’s a dealbreaker for Liz Lemon.

9. After the wedding reception, the real party starts
After-parties are a must, especially after parent-approved ceremonies. That’s when things can really let loose like Lane and Zach’s booze and rock-filled party on Gilmore Girls.

10. And whatever you do, NEVER under no circumstances play any version “The Rains of Castamere” like on Game of Thrones.

For their first dance, Nadia Chaudhury’s newly-wedded husband arranged to play the beginning of “The Rains of Castamere” before their for-real first dance song. Only one person laughed. No one died. Happy one-year anniversary!