Articles Wedding Tips Wedding Do-Over Wishes: What Some Brides Would Have Changed
Wedding Do-Over Wishes: What Some Brides Would Have Changed
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Even brides with storybook weddings can point to a few things they wish they could have changed, and for some, this list is much longer. When brides are asked what they would have done differently on their wedding day, their responses are surprisingly similar. Here are a few of the reoccurring themes of brides’ do-over wish lists:
Photography: Not a single bride complained of having too many photographs. In fact, almost all of them regretted not having enough pictures, or of having pictures of poor quality. Lesson learned? Choose your photographer wisely, and don’t skimp. If you have to, trim your budget in other areas to ensure that you have sufficient funds for a talented, reputable photographer.Size of Guest List: Think bigger is better? Guess again. Not one bride lamented over not having a larger bash. For brides that did have large weddings, almost all of them wished they’d pared down their guest lists in favor of a more intimate ceremony and reception.
Budget: While most brides felt they did a great job staying on budget, many felt remorse over not spending commensurate with their areas of importance. Ranking high on the “good use of money list” was the ceremony/reception venue, photographs, and videography, while designer wedding gowns, top-shelf alcohol, custom linens, and lavish cocktail hours were sources of expensive regret.
Help from Family & Friends: If your husband’s cousin volunteers to deejay or your aunt wants to bake the wedding cake, should you take them up on their offer? The answer here was unanimous: Unless you have friends and family who are “in the business”, it’s best to politely decline and choose a professional instead.
Tradition: Surprisingly, most brides longed for a break in tradition, expressing regret over not thinking “outside the aisle”. While a church ceremony was high on the list for some brides, others muddled through them simply to avoid disappointing family. Bottom line: while traditions are important, so is expressing your individuality. To eliminate regrets, try to strike a balance between the two.
Alcohol: One bride admitted to walking down the aisle a princess, and then morphing into Courtney Love at the reception, getting so intoxicated that she had to be put to bed before the cake was cut. While it’s important to have fun and enjoy yourself, you also want to be able to remember the details of your special day. Be mindful of your actions and go easy on the bubbly.
Hopefully, these wedding do-over wishes will help those in the midst of planning their special day. And, to end on a happy note, I’m pleased to report that none of the brides wished for a do-over of their choice of groom.
