Wedding Advice: What Are couple’s biggest regrets?
So planning a wedding is TOUGH work, particularly if one partner is doing more of the heavy lifting… I absolutely adore my clients who interrogate what they truly want on their wedding day and I am here to give wedding advice or tips on any of the wedmin. So I thought I’d ask my insta community what people’s biggest regrets were when it came to their wedding day. The responses were WILD and there were definitely some common themes running throughout. So here’s a guide on biggest regrets of 2024.
1. Wedding Advice #1: have a videographer
One of the biggest regrets to come back to us was not having a videographer for their wedding. I hear this all the time! Having a videographer captures the parts of the day photos miss. They capture the sound of a tearful speech, or the roar of laughter at something funny happening during the ceremony. They capture the tiny moments you’d miss if you just had photo so I completely get why this was a major regret. Our video style is candid and FUN. They make for a perfect excuse to have a film premiere and a cosy night in watching all the vids. Read this blog we wrote confirming why adding video to your package makes total sense.
2. Not pushing or asking for the photos they wanted
My style is candid and documentary-style. I don’t direct and I don’t pose (unless you want me to!), so some couples feel like they can’t ask for certain photos. When you find your wedding photographer don't be afraid to ask for photos you want: we are here for you and will do our best to create your dream gallery. I always recommend to limit the amount of photos you want specifically as it takes away from enjoying the day, but if you want a photo with a particular someone or doing a particular thing then ask! When you book with us we will send you a pre-wedding questionnaire to fill out, which includes an A List and B List of photos you want.
3. Choosing the wrong person to be in a wedding party
This one is hard. It feeds into all my people-pleasing anxieties. I received several comments from people saying they had chosen someone to be a bridesmaid or a role in their wedding party, only for that person to add heaps of stress and negative energy. Have you chosen someone to be part of your wedding party who you’ve got mixed feelings about? Then follow your gut and have that difficult conversation to remove them, or limit your time with them at least. Your wedding party are the people who you spend the most time with throughout the day so make sure you surround yourself with love and positive vibes!
4. Not having a celebrant led ceremony
Have you ever sat through a wedding ceremony and wanted it to be over so the fun can begin? Well if you have then it’s most likely you wouldn’t have been in a celebrant led ceremony. Celebrants aim to capture the love in a way that is unique to the couple: they tell a story of how they met, the reasons why they fell in love, they come up with alternative rituals such as hand fasting or tieing the knot. Many of my clients reach out for celebrants more often than not, and those who don’t often regret not going down this route. Read this blog I wrote on nontraditional wedding ideas and the magic of celebrants.
5. Not being able to relax
Wedding days can be stressful and anxiety inducing - I get it. You have spent months if not years planning this day. Your guests have travelled from far and wide to be with you, and the responsibility can be intense. One of the biggest regrets I see from my couples is that they have been so fixated on the running of the day that they’ve forgotten to enjoy themselves, which is wild because the day is all about you! When planning your day, remember to do what’s right for you. If you don’t want to wear a white dress? Don’t! If you need to create a space so you can chill for an hour? Do it! I’ve written a blog on how to deal with wedding anxiety: remember to be kind to yourself and be present so you can enjoy the day you have planned to have.
6. Having our wedding dictated by other people’s needs & not ours
This is perhaps the most common regret I see in weddings: having your wedding day based on the needs of your guests and not your own. I see so many weddings (normally the traditional kind) where couples realise they have spent thousands of pounds & hours planning a day based on what their guests want and not them. Perhaps it’s feeling like you’ve got to invite some cousins you hardly see, having a first dance when you HATE dancing, spending hundreds on a cake that you won’t eat, dressing in something you don’t feel comfortable in… the list goes on. Remember to really interrogate what’s important to you and plan a day that you will enjoy. Here is a guide on how to get started.