If you talk to any newly married couple, they will happily share their wedding planning advice and what worked for them. You’ll also start to hear about common wedding day regrets! So today we’ll name them and share how you can avoid them too.
Not hiring a videographer
We hear it a lot… and it goes a little like this: “We didn’t have the budget for a wedding videographer, but now that our day is over, we really great not having a video to watch.”
This is first on the list because it comes up so often and there’s nothing you can do about it after your wedding. You can’t go back in time and sadly, there will be no way to re-live some of those moments that only a wedding video can bring back.
Fix it: Take some time to analyse your budget and work out if you can hire a videographer. It’s an expense worth investing in!
Not enough photography coverage
“I wish I had photos of X moment.” This is usually not the fault of the photographer, but can often happen when you’re looking to save money and only have photos taken for the key moments (like the ceremony and parts of the reception).
Fix it: Consider a duo photography package, where you have two photographers. This way, they can literally be in two places at once, capturing all the magic. Even better if you can have them with you from the start of the day all the way through to the end of the formalities.
Inviting guests out of obligation
You might not consider this a regret until a few years down the line when you think about how much money you spent on hosting people you don’t have a relationship with.
Fix it: Put some guidelines in place so you are prioritising inviting guests you love. If there are guests you feel like you have to invite (such as friends of the parents), then limit how many of them are on the list.
Not scheduling more time to get ready
Here’s one you’ll feel in the moment! If you’re rushing around and trying to pull your morning plans together on the fly, you’ll wish you’d given this more thought.
Fix it: Work together with your glam team to calculate how much time you need to get ready on the day, add a buffer, and then work backwards from the ceremony start time.
Related: Planning Your Wedding Morning Timeline
Having to travel to multiple locations
And by this, we mean: waking up at home, driving to a location to get ready, then driving to the ceremony location, then driving to the reception location, and then driving to a different hotel for your first night together.
All that driving will take up precious time on your wedding day and is enough to stress anybody out!
Fix it: Choose a wedding venue that does multiple things, ie ceremony and reception, or reception only but accommodation for the night of the wedding.
Not practicing your first kiss
There’s a fine line between a respectful peck on the lips and full blown French kissing in front of your grandparents.
Fix it: Chat with your partner about just how much of a kiss you feel comfortable with, and then have a little practice!
Outdoor venues without a Plan B
You might not regret this one if the weather is perfect, but if it starts to rain or if the sun is absolutely baking down on you, you’ll wish you’d considered a Plan B!
Fix it: Always have a Plan B. Talk with your wedding venue about possible indoor options if they are needed and consult your wedding coordinator for advice on how to initiate a Plan B seamlessly.
Related: How To Deal With Bad Weather On Your Wedding Day
Not having a wedding coordinator
We wouldn’t blame you for thinking that you can plan your own wedding without professional help. The tricky part comes in when you get to the wedding day and you are the only person who knows how everything is supposed to run!
Fix it: Hire a wedding venue that comes with a wedding coordinator who can assist you on the day. And if you’ve got the budget for it, hire a day-of wedding coordinator to work alongside them.
Wearing uncomfortable shoes
You’ll feel this on the day when your feet hurt and you’re feeling miserable and uncomfortable.
Fix it: Buy shoes that fit you and take time to prepare the shoes for the Big Day (see below).
Related: How To Keep Your Wedding Shoes From Killing Your Feet
Not getting enough sleep the night before
Between wedding jitters, last minute wedding tasks to get done, and a few pre-wedding drinks the night before, it’s no wonder so many couples don’t get much sleep!
Fix it: Plan to complete all wedding planning tasks beforehand, and follow our ‘night before’ checklist so you get a good night’s rest (see below). And if you’re feeling anxious, take a few moments to do a Guided Meditation for Wedding Stress to calm you down.
