It’s our 100th episode and we’re talking about wedding regrets. In fact, we got such a great response to the question ‘Do you have any wedding regrets?‘ that we’re sharing a bunch of the most common ones!
First up: this episode isn’t here to scare you. Instead, you’ll learn what other couples regret, and exactly how to plan so you don’t have regrets of your own.
Episode breakdown
Melissa: I have to say myself and my husband both agree on this one we regret inviting certain people to our wedding
Stephanie: Getting too drunk! And being hungover on the day 2
Niamh: I wish we had booked a wedding nanny!
Timekeeping
Kayleigh: I regretted spending too much time with one particular person who hogged me for ages at the end of the night. I wish I’d wrapped up the conversation and spent time with the people I’d have rather given my time to!
Sarah: Not hiring someone to keep everyone on schedule. U highly recommend hiring someone to yell at people
Ciara: I’m normally a stickler for punctuality, and I really regret not being more on top of our time keeping. Or not assigning anyone to keep reminding us of the time. The house I got ready in had no clocks, I didn’t wear a watch, didn’t have my phone on me, and neither did the bridesmaids so we weren’t really aware of the time. It wasn’t until I got into the car & seen the time on the clock did I realize I was already 30mins late, thankfully I was only in the car for less than 5mins but it did result it me walking down the aisle 40mins later than planned, which had a knock on effect on the rest of day, ie photos, dinner, evening guests etc. and obviously my poor guests were left sitting & waiting for 40mins for the ceremony to start. I always advise future brides now to assign someone to keep reminding everyone of the time!!
What to do:
For the morning of the wedding: put someone in charge of timekeeping. This person could be a bridesmaid, sibling or parent, but whoever you choose – it MUST be someone who will keep their eyes on the time, provide hour by hour updates and have an understanding of how the morning should flow.
Listen to episode 43: How to plan your wedding morning timeline
Listen to episode 90: Wedding timing mistakes
Cake
Darlene: We would have planned our cake cutting a bit better, it was a bit rushed at the time and I don’t think many managed to get a photo.
Hannah: Too much cake! We had 2 tiers and it was still so much. It ended up in the freezer, we had some on our 1 year anniversary but the rest was thrown out cause it got frostbite.
What to do:
Get professional input when choosing the amount of cake you order. Also consider the rest of your menu and sweet treat offerings – unless you and your guests are big on sweet treats, you probably won’t need dessert, cake AND a sweets buffet. So keep all of this in mind when choosing quantities!
Listen to episode 44: How to preserve the top tier of your wedding cake
Listen to episode 50: Three things to think about when choosing your wedding cake (which includes a sizing guide)
Content
Kayleigh: I hadn’t thought about what photos I wanted ahead of time. So for example I didn’t get a photo of just me with my kids, and some of my friends that I realise in hindsight I’d have liked!
Mary-Ellen: Photo list, I don’t regret anything and our photographer was great in remembering from our meeting what photos were a must but there’s a couple I know we didn’t get that would have only taken a minute if we had told him.
Lisa: The only thing I regret is not taking more pictures, we got the main group ones done but Iv none with just me and mil or my nieces elderly aunts and uncles.
Nicola: We never got a pic of the 6 of us. There’s one of me and our girls getting ready but not one of just the 6 of us
What to do:
Consider your photos list well ahead of time. Look at real wedding features and make a note of the photos you like, talk to your photographer and ask for their recommendations. Then leave it to the professionals to make sure everything is captured perfectly!
Listen to episode 79: All the wedding photos you’ll ever need – a checklist
Katie: Would have loved a videographer. Our photographer did us a little video of some of the photos he took. But wish we got more on video that we could look back on in years to come.
Melissa: really wish I had someone to take a video of it all as well our photographer was absolutely amazing thou.
What to do:
You heard it here! Hire a wedding videographer.
Elaine: I also wish I had practiced posing more. I am older, so not of the instagram selfie generation. I definitely should have practiced holding my arms out from my body.
Catherine: Messing about with photos we missed all of our drinks reception
What to do:
Give it thought.
Before the day, take time to choose some poses that you make you feel confident and comfortable.
And on the other hand… don’t get so caught up in taking photos that you miss your own wedding.
Ask your photographer for a rough idea of how long portraits will take and then stick to the timing!
Mental health
Niamh: I wish I had asked for more help and had been offered more help the week of and before the wedding from family and friends as it was quite stressful sorting the last minute things. Apart from that we had the most amazing day
Elaine: My wedding was perfect, but I wish I hadn’t overcommitted in the week or 2 coming up to it. I didn’t think I would be stressed and invited friends and family from overseas to stay with us.
I also wish I had reminded myself to be more present. I feel like I was constantly flitting from person to person, and I really don’t recall much from the day.
What to do:
This is such an important topic that I want to dedicate a whole episode to it. Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week and I’m going to walk you through some things you can do to look after your mental health while planning your wedding, what to do if you feel anxious on your wedding day, and how to ask for support. We’ll go through practical tasks you can hand over to other people and ways you can learn to delegate so that you aren’t taking on all the stress and strain!
