Weddings are a big day and I know firsthand how stressful they can be. This is why I put together a list of 10 things that went wrong with my wedding and tips for wedding planning. These are all things I wish I knew beforehand, so I hope this advice helps you to have a more stress-free experience. From factors to consider when choosing a wedding date to dealing with uninvited guests, I lay out all my tips for bride-to-bes. Already married or even attended my wedding? Enjoy this (maybe too) candid look of things that happened behind the scenes of my big day.
1. That Time of the Month
Let’s start off with something that is strictly for the girls (sorry boys). I always advise recently engaged friends who come to me for advice: if you have a regular period, pick a day in the month that doesn’t overlap with PMS or your period. Wedding planning is stressful enough. Adding your favourite time of the month and a white dress to the mix? Yikes! However, don’t fret if your period is irregular or if the date has already been booked, you’ll be running on so much adrenaline on the day of that it likely won’t bother you!
2. It (Almost) Rained
Up until the actual morning of the wedding, the forecast for the day stated rain, rain, and more rain. Though I was having an indoor wedding, this was still a stressor since we wanted pictures outdoors. Praise the Lord that there wasn’t a drop of rain on my wedding day. But if the idea of rain scares you, opt for an indoor wedding. Or consider a season with less rain (like, not spring).
3. A Holiday Weekend
I didn’t choose a long weekend because I knew there would be a greater chance that invited guests might be out of town and unable to celebrate with us. However, I didn’t take into account that my wedding shared a weekend with Mother’s Day. And I did not anticipate exponentially more expensive florals! Keep these implications in mind when considering a wedding date that shares a weekend with a holiday. Also, if it will bother you that you might be celebrating someone else alongside your future anniversaries, don’t choose a wedding date close to a family member’s birthday!
4. Bridesmaid Dress Broke Last Minute
2 days before my wedding, my bridal party decided to try on their dresses together. I had requested each bridesmaid tie the dress differently so we hoped to see how they looked in person. While the idea was wise, the timing was not, especially for last minute issues. However, it was difficult to find an earlier time since one bridesmaid was flying in from the States, while another was preparing for a big test. We made do on the day of the rehearsal, where one of the zippers got stuck and broke. We called so many seamstresses and none were able to fix the dress in a day. Thankfully, my mother-in-law has a skilled friend who, by God’s grace, happened to have the perfect coloured zipper (greyish blue). Moral of the story? Account for early trials and worst case scenarios in your wedding planning so there’s plenty of time to get things fixed.
5. Bad Wax Job
This one is a little embarrassing and still haunts me to this day. Like many, I wanted perfect hairless armpits for the wedding day so I carefully scheduled my waxing appointment close enough to the wedding day for a smooth finish but far enough for any irritation to subside. However, when I arrived at my appointment, I realized my waxing lady had messed up her scheduling and was actually out of the country. I should’ve double, triple checked my waxing appointment booking, and researched a back up just in case. Desperate, I went on Google and Yelp, looking for a place with good reviews that could accommodate me. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong salon, because their terrible wax job left my armpits red and sensitive even a week later on my wedding day. We ended up having to add some powder to them so they wouldn’t stand out.
6. Heels Weren’t Broken In
Don’t @ me for this one. I know what you’re thinking, “what an amateur mistake.” Let me explain. My beautiful heels were a generous gift, which at the time were only available online from Nordstrom. When it finally arrived from the States, we realized it was the wrong size. So, we had to reorder, which thanks to shipping times, arrived 2 days before the wedding. Though I wore the heck out of it (or as much as a stressed bride-to-be could), my feet were still dying during the 1-hour ceremony. I remember contemplating how everyone would react if I just slipped them off while the officiant was speaking. Thankfully, I persevered and slipped into a pair of comfortable Birks immediately after. Make sure to break in your heels or even opt for a shorter heel for your wedding day. Comfort is key and you want it to be an enjoyable day, not torture!
7. Wedding Dress Alteration Error
I made a minor alteration a week before my wedding, adding in a bustle for easier movement and so my wedding dress doesn’t sweep the floors after the ceremony. Because the update was a tiny, external change and I had a long to do list, I didn’t push to try on the dress when I picked it up from the shop. Instead, when I tried on the dress the night before the big day, I found, to my horror, that they had accidentally sewn my dress shut when adding the bustle. Though this was a quick fix, aka I just cut the bustle off, it was still an annoying experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. That being said, always try on and ensure your alterations are made correctly with the seamstress before taking your dress home.
8. My First Dance Was Long…Like Really Long
Like many people who got married in 2018, my first dance song was “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. I loved the song, but it’s almost 4.5 minutes long. That’s a really long time to be dancing if you have nothing choreographed. I’m actually pretty sure we didn’t “dance” to the whole song, but I do distinctly remember it feeling like we were dancing forever. At one point the song seemed to be fading out…only to continue. I’m not sure if our DJs were trolling us, but regardless make sure your DJ is aware of the start and end time of the songs for your dances so people aren’t watching you awkwardly sway for 4+ minutes.
9. Nonpassionate Wedding Photographer
My amazing photographer friend offered to do our wedding photos and I jumped at the chance to not spend so much shooting with a stranger. However, one thing I knew was though my friend was a talented photographer, he wasn’t as passionate about wedding photography. This was evident in the posed wedding photos, despite him capturing the ceremony beautifully. Since weddings weren’t his expertise, he didn’t scout the venue first and wasn’t as directive of common wedding poses. When considering a wedding photographer, don’t compromise and choose someone who loves shooting weddings and has experience posing the wedding party and family.
10. Last Minute Drop Outs & Uninvited Guests
Last minute dropouts are bound to happen with a wedding of 400 people, but uninvited guests? Yup, we had those too. One guest decided to bring their uninvited child. Another distant relative invited a family member that I’ve never met before. While unavoidable, one decision I was grateful to have made was asking two incredible friends to be our day-of wedding coordinators. Having quite a few weddings under their belt, they tackled all the issues and headaches so I was worry-free. I entrusted all decision making to them and they kept the wedding on schedule from start to finish! If you don’t have a wedding planner, definitely at least hire a day-of coordinator. And if you need a recommendation, let me know!
After reading what I learned through the wedding planning process, you may be thinking that I had a terrible wedding day. While wedding planning was a stressful process for me, I loved our big day and will always remember it fondly. I hope this was helpful to all of you brides-to-be. Don’t hesitate if you have any questions. Wishing you all a happy wedding planning!
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Stone & Fern is a travel and lifestyle blog started by friends who have a passion for exploring cities, capturing moments, and trying new food. Interested in how Janice got engaged? Read the story here.