10. The food

Yes, weddings are beautiful celebrations of love, but don’t lie to yourself… your stomach is grumbling through the entire ceremony and you can’t wait to get a taste of the delicious three-course meal you’re about to get afterward.

9. The venue

The venue is absolutely half the fun. The location can range from a person’s quaint backyard to a classic church to a beautifully decorated hall to a destination wedding, but no matter what, it captures the blended personalities of the newly married couple and lets the guests become the (hopefully kind) judges.

8. The reception

The ceremony is over, the couple is officially married, and now the real party can finally begin! Whether it’s a DJ or a live band providing the music, everyone will be dancing the night away and making so many memories with the bride and groom that will last a lifetime.

7. The hours before

The pre-wedding jitters are real for all those involved. Whether you’re the bride, groom, in the wedding party, or a guest, everyone will be desperately praying for nothing to go wrong – no rain, no curl out of place, no wardrobe malfunctions, and definitely no cold feet. But even though it can be very worrisome and nerve-wracking, it’s still exhilarating and fun to be a part of such an exciting, life-changing moment in someone’s life.

6. The families

Besides for the holidays, nothing can bring families together like a wedding. And then on top of bringing together the two sides of one family that might not always see eye to eye, it also brings together the bride and groom’s immediate and extended families probably for the first time ever.

5. The speeches

Alright bridesmaids and groomsmen, it’s time to step up and deliver some perfectly entertaining speeches that balance humor, nostalgia, seriousness, and love all at the same time. It’s a difficult feat to achieve but no one knows the bride/groom better than you, so you’ll be fine. Just speak from the heart.

4. The dress

Perhaps I’m biased as a girl, but even the TLC show Four Weddings, has “the dress” as its own category for scoring. I know the groom is handsome and all, but let’s be honest – all the guests really want to see is the beautiful bride in her long white gown!

3. The vows

I personally enjoy when the bride and groom write their own vows, but no matter, the vows during the ceremony are the most important part of the day. The couple promises to love each other forever, tears are shed by everyone, and then the ceremony is officially sealed with the long awaited kiss.

2. The first dance

The first dance is so intimate and beautiful. Sometimes love can’t be fully captured in words, but the universal, transcending power of music and dance makes it possible for the guests to see how truly in love the bride and groom are as they spin around the room for the first time as a married couple.

1. The look on the groom’s face when he sees the bride for the first time

It’s just like Jane from 27 Dresses says, “You know how the bride makes her entrance and everybody turns to look at her? That’s when I look at the groom. Cause his face says it all you know? The pure love there.”