Wyatt and Kale's wedding in St Andrews, Newfoundland and Labrador

Through all the drama a couple of people were throwing at us, it was still the happiest day of our lives.

In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the wedding, we were asking ourselves if we made the right choice in having a big ceremony. The stress of it all was immense. We asked ourselves almost every day if we should just cancel everything and just elope. Wedding planning is hard, exhausting, and isolating. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone feels they deserve special honour or an invitation. Ultimately, it's your day. For two people to get married, all you need is a license, an officiant, the couple, and two witnesses. No one else deserves to be there. The moment you try to make others happy in the process, you make yourselves miserable.

This wedding also brought out the worst in three people close to my partner. They were trying to sabotage our relationship and the day, outright. We would not have survived the day without our wedding party. We made sure everyone was aware that there could be drama, fits, stunts, and walk-outs taking place with them. Because they knew, they were able to help us shut down their antics before they even started. My advice to others worried about this possibility is to rely on your wedding party for support. Choose people who will always be there for you. Make sure you don't hold these worries inside; talk to them about it. Holding it inside will only make you more anxious and feel a million times more isolated.

Lastly, I want to make sure you make time for your new marriage.

In the days leading up to the wedding, my partner and I were feeling socially exhausted. We started feeling like we didn't spend enough time together through all the dinners and parties. The night before the wedding, we were both crying. It was a mess of feelings and anxieties coming to the surface. Our cat also wouldn't stop meowing because she missed Wyatt so much. We had to remind ourselves that everything is worse at night and make a plan for the next day. We decided that he would come back from the hotel and stay at my parent's house with me and my bride's people and go back in the morning. This is where we made a pact to honour our quiet 15 minutes after the ceremony and not leave each other's sides afterwards. We were able to comfort each other before separating for the night. In the morning, we both felt better. The quiet 15 minutes was us on our own, away from the guests and wedding party, truly connecting after just getting married. It felt amazing.

Please remember to stay together that day. It's easy to get pulled away by family and friends but remember that your new marriage comes first. You're a package deal now. If someone wants you to come back to their room for a drink, bring your spouse. If you're going outside for a smoke, go outside together and talk. At the reception, we just had a sweetheart table so we could give each other more of our attention. We were able to recharge our social batteries more before the dance party. Do what you think will help you deal with all the attention and interactions.

Thank you for reading about our wedding. It was truly the happiest day of our lives. We hope yours is too.

-The Balaneski's