Congratulations! You've found the one and you're engaged. Now you have to plan the big event of course! That's right, it's time to plan your wedding.
But if you're a bride-to-be, you may also be finding yourself asking "what are some things I should not do?" We've all heard the song "I'm too blessed to be stressed" and it's true: you're getting married...you can handle wedding planning! But there are a few things not to forget while you're working through your checklist.
We've put together a list of 4 wedding regrets most couples say they had after their wedding day was over. Listen to other couples' mistakes so you can look back on your wedding day with fondness and not regret!
1. Not letting yourself get excited about the wedding.
You probably too often heard: "I wish I had taken more time to think about what the wedding meant for me, for us and for our family," or "I was so focused on the wedding itself that I didn't let myself get excited about the marriage".
It's important that you're not only focusing on what type of cake you want or how many flowers you can afford but also on how your fiancé feels about all of it.
It is often recommended to spend at least a few months planning ahead before making decisions. Through the whole wedding planning process, when things get a little too much just remember why you’re getting married in the first place!
Many couples forget to make time for themselves amid their busy schedules and don't even have time to be excited about their special day.
2. Letting family members decide things for you.
Wedding regret number two is letting family members decide what you should do. It's so easy to get distracted by other people's ideas and their vision for your wedding. While you certainly want to take into account the opinions of your loved ones, it's important to make sure that you are being heard as well.
Ultimately, it is your wedding day, not theirs! So don't be afraid to be assertive about your own vision and let them know what is important to you.
It can be hard to stand up for yourself when you're already feeling pressure from all sides. But remember that this day is special because it's a reflection of yourselves as a couple, so make sure that this shows through in all aspects of the big day!
3. Not making your wedding vows more personal.
Some people worry about how their wedding will be remembered, and rightly so. After all, your ceremony is one of the few moments in life that will live on forever (or at least until the apocalypse), and you'll likely want to re-live it every now and then.
So why not make those vows really special? If you're feeling uninspired by the standard vows, talk to your officiant about what other options are out there. Whether they come up with a list of traditional alternatives or let you write your own, some research never hurt anyone and can result in personalised promises that truly reflect your bond as a couple. You can also check my post on how to write personal wedding vows.
4. Not hiring a videographer.
Hands down the one thing I hear most is videography. Photos are amazing and an absolute must, but a film of the day helps to live again the emotions of the day so much more. There are just some things photos can't capture and that you will not remember unless it is on film: your voice cracking during your vows, the tears rolling at your father's speech etc... It is a great way to help kids and grandkids see and hear how your day was too!
A full film of just the ceremony is something I personally wish we had, and why I offer it in my wedding videography packages. Nothing too fancy just a full video with professional audio of exactly how it was to show your whole family and generations to come. Honestly, we do not remember what we said in our vows and we wish we could watch that.
Inviting your Uncle Larry to film your wedding with his cell phone may seem like a good idea at first, but he could miss the important moments. I'm talking about the vows (of course), but also the speeches made by parents and friends. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so don't skimp on quality or professionalism by cutting corners here.
Conclusion.
Overall, the most common regret was not fully appreciating the day or event. Don't spend so much time stressing over details that you don't enjoy the moments as they happen.
This is something easy to forget amidst planning. Secondly, allow yourself the freedom to do something unexpected. You never know what memories may be created!
So just keep things in perspective and remember to enjoy yourself while you're planning your wedding. Once the day is over, it's all about living happily ever after!