We all want a picture-perfect, fairy tale wedding – but life is unpredictable, and mistakes will always happen along the way.
Some mistakes, however, don’t have to happen if you plan for them accordingly!
Here are 13 wedding mistakes to avoid to ensure your special day goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Sending Out Invites Before Your Venue Is Booked
Some venues require you to provide a headcount before accepting your booking, but all venues have a strict maximum for the number of guests allowed. Don’t get caught up inviting your primary school teachers and your postman before you know if you’ll have space for them.
Make a list of all the people you could ever want to invite, hold onto that list, and then reassess after you’ve got a firm limit from your venue.
The last thing you want is to have to tell someone that they won’t be able to come to the wedding as the venue is overbooked. That’ll make for a seriously awkward conversation.
Check out our article here to learn about some of the quirkiest wedding venues London has to offer.
2. Forgetting a Wedding Videographer
You probably know how important a professional photographer is (and no, your little sister with an iPhone camera doesn’t count), but have you considered a videographer? Videography for your wedding captures the sounds and movements of your wedding in a way still photography can’t.
From the moment you walk down the aisle, to your carefully practiced vows, your first dance – professional videography for your wedding lets you relive the magic like nothing else.
3. Leaving the Basics Off Your Registry
Yes, it’s okay to put the full Le Creuset cookware set you’ve been drooling over on your registry, but don’t forget about the smaller things.
That includes everyday plates and cutlery, a simple towel set, and a cash option – you may find they’re more useful than a dozen decorative flower vases. Plus, including non-luxury items takes stress off any guests who may not be able to afford a gold-plated gravy boat.
4. Overdoing Your Hair & Makeup
You might be tempted to coat your head in a dozen different gels and hair sprays to tame your locks or try out a bright red lip that you’ve never worn before, but don’t get swept up in trying to look like a runway model. Professional hair stylists and makeup artists can help you choose what works best for you.
If you do your own hair and makeup, test things out the week beforehand to make sure your look doesn’t melt off after a few hours and your updo doesn’t fall down. When in doubt, a natural look is always a good choice.
5. Forgetting Your Budget
Unless you’ve got the money to host a multi-million dollar wedding suitable for a royal, you probably have a strict budget in place.
Costs can add up quickly and maybe you find yourself going a bit over, but don’t start your marriage off with unexpected debt!
Set priorities and allocate funds to the most important things first, whatever those may be to you.
6. Picking Out-of-Season Flowers
Some flowers, like roses, can bloom throughout the year, but others are limited by the seasons.
You might be disappointed to find out that your favourite peonies don’t bloom in the winter, so keep that in mind after you set a date. Some florists may be able to get you your out-of-season blooms – at an extra cost.
7. Forgetting the Thank You Notes
This one is huge, especially if your guests had to travel far to attend. It might be easier to get started on thank you notes before the wedding even happens, especially if you intend to handwrite or personalise them.
Don’t be too late in sending them out, either. A good rule of thumb is to mail out notes within three months of the ceremony.
8. Not Appreciating Your Vendors
Just as you thank your guests, you should thank the people who help make the reception happen! Make sure your photographer, videographer, DJ, and any assistants have a meal at the reception if they’re working during it.
Also, check with them beforehand to know if and when they may want to take a break during the party. They’re working hard to make your wedding as fun and memorable as possible, but they’re still human!
9. Not Setting Aside Enough Time to Plan
There are so many details that go into a wedding, even small ones. If you’re planning your own wedding, you should give yourself more time than you think you need to fully plan everything.
The venue and vendors you’re interested in may need to be booked weeks or months in advance – so don’t put off anything for the last minute unless you’re willing to reschedule your wedding date.
10. Not Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Beforehand
Pre-wedding jitters might make it hard for you to fall asleep the night before your big day, so you should make an effort to go to bed early. The last thing you want is dark circles from a lack of sleep.
Don’t stay out too late celebrating with your bridesmaids, don’t have too many drinks, and don’t forget to moisturise before you turn in!
11. Forgetting to Make Backup Plans
There’s always the chance that your beautiful outdoor wedding will be spoiled by unexpected drizzle, or some other last-minute catastrophe will occur.
Don’t let yourself get too stuck on the what-if’s, but make sure you have a contingency plan in place in case you need a sudden change in venue (or at least have a big party tent ready to go).
12. Wearing Heels All Night
It can be hard to tread the fine line between comfort and beauty, but one thing you shouldn’t sacrifice is comfortable footwear after the ceremony.
Don’t try to power through the reception with heels on only to wake up the next morning with more blisters than you know what to do with. Change into flats!
13. Not Being Flexible
Sometimes, things don’t always work out according to plan – maybe the flowers are a little wilted, the cake never shows up, or your new mother-in-law gets a little too tipsy during the reception.
Your wedding is one of the most memorable days of your life, so don’t let yourself get too hung up on the little things. Let yourself enjoy the day. Let yourself cherish each moment, even if it’s not exactly how you dreamed.
Your wedding can be emblematic of the years ahead of you in your new marriage – full of joy, emotion, and yes, even frustrations. Struggles and bumps in the road are inevitable, so you should try to roll with the punches and celebrate all that goes right.
Wrapping it all up…
Planning a wedding can be complicated – so remember to take time to step back and breathe.
Remember to consult friends and family members along the way, but also don’t forget that your wedding is ultimately about celebrating the love between you and your soon-to-be-spouse.
Mistakes will arise that you’d never think to plan for, but you can avoid the most common ones with a little bit of forethought.
So good luck – and congratulations!