Oh I wish we didn’t – wedding day regrets
If you are in the middle of your wedding planning, then keep reading because we dug deep into wedding blogs and social media pages to see what brides regret doing and not doing on their wedding day. Some of the tips may surprise you.
Oh I wish we did not think that a wedding theme is unnecessary
Not picking a wedding theme is like going on a road trip without a map. Your wedding theme is the blueprint for your wedding colours, decor, activities, designs, food – basically everything about your wedding. Have a look at your venue, decide on your favourite colour palette, and take it from there. A Tuscan wedding venue may not do too well with a neon-green garden theme and a Baroque theme could be slightly out of place in a super sleek modern venue. Whenever you have a decision to make, take a minute to check if the choice aligns with your wedding theme. If not, don’t go there.
Oh I wish we did not waste money on guest favours and gifts
There definitely has been a steady decline in guest favours over the past years. What use to be a traditional must-have has been curbed by the economy, and when budget cuts are made, this is often the first thing to go. We recall the days when the go-to wedding favour was an engraved champagne glass! The price of an engraved glass now easily equals the price of a starter or dessert! And will it ever be used again?
Being based at a wedding venue, we see the aftermath of the wedding parties and this often includes loads of wedding favours being left behind or forgotten at the venue. What a sad waste of money and although well intended, it would make more sense to add this expense to the food budget.
Oh I wish we didn’t print wedding Invitations
Does anyone still do printed wedding invitations? The brides who have done so regretted spending way too much money and effort on wedding invitations. Unless you are actually hand delivering the invite, you also have the added courier cost, or stress of the invitation not arriving at its destination.
A simple self-made wedding invitation on Canva, Whatsapped to the guest, or emailed if you want to be a bit more formal, also does the trick with little effort and no cost. At the time of writing this blog, Canva had 11 056 free templates to choose from. It’s a very easy drop-and-drag template and can be custom-made according to your wedding theme.
Oh I wish I didn’t wear stilettos
Let’s face it. Those beautiful diamond-studded, satin-wrapped high-heel wedding shoes are really only good for indoor wedding photos. It is a disaster for outdoor photos – lawns, gravel, and general pathways destroy white wedding heels within minutes.
Also, keep in mind that you will be in your wedding shoes all day and night long. Will your feet survive this? Will you survive it? No bride looks pretty while dancing with blisters on her feet. The pain and discomfort are just not worth it and brides recommend going for something more practical for the wedding day. It also makes sense to wear your wedding shoes beforehand and allow your feet to shape the shoes a little. (This goes for the groom too!). For the best of both worlds, we recommend a photogenic pair of bridal shoes and one that does the hard labour on the night.
I wish I didn’t break the bank with jewellery and accessories
When prompted, Instagram brides regretted spending so much on excessive jewellery (and this includes tiaras and hairpieces), and instead recommend something understated that you can wear again. While it is really tempting to ‘treat’ yourself to expensive jewellery for the day it can add up quickly. But having a pair of pearl earrings that you can wear to work for years to come will make you smile every time you put this on.
I wish we did not skimp on food and drinks
Delicious (and enough) food is the key to a wonderful wedding. The guests may not remember the colour of the linen napkins imported from France, but they will certainly remember if the buffet food at the wedding came to an end before the line of wedding guests. Buffet food at a wedding suggests that there will be a little extra if anyone wants seconds, so do keep this in mind and bulk up with accompaniments like a medley of vegetables, flavoured rice and sumptuous baked potatoes.
Plated wedding dinners are better for portion control but do discuss the size of the portions with your chef beforehand. A 200-gram fillet qualifies as a lady’s steak but most men would frown upon this as a serving size.
Put a little more of your budget aside for canapes and drinks on arrival, a soup served with an artisan bread starter for growling tummies, and desserts to wrap up the perfect wedding feast.
On the subject of eating – as a bridal couple you will be consumed by greetings, speeches, first dances and other formalities. Take time to eat. Sit down and take a few minutes to enjoy the togetherness and your first meal as Mr and Mrs. It’s a long day and your body needs the fuel to keep you on the dance floor till the early hours.
And finally: I wish I did…
There are so many things to do on the wedding day – before and during the ceremony and party. Many brides expressed regret for not making more time to be with their partners. One-on-one time is so important on the first day of your forever together. If at all possible, have a special breakfast together before the craziness kicks in. Sneak away with a glass of champagne and hide somewhere quiet for a few minutes while the family photos are taken. And do pop outside for fresh air when the party is mid-madness.
And my personal favourite – choose a venue with a large bathtub so you can soak in the tub after the wedding as a couple and relive all the amazing moments. It’s the perfect ending to a perfect day. Tried, tested and highly recommended!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHRISTA BADENHORST
