Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Hi. For those of you that already had your weddings, what was your biggest mistake? I know this sounds harsh, but if you could pass 'one lesson' down to those that are planning, what would it be???

Also, what was the best thing you did (besides marry your guy!!!)?

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Best thing- Hired my day-of wedding planner and made sure I researched my vendors often.

Worst thing- didn't speak to the bakery myself and allowed the Hamlet to do it. The cake looked totally wrong and ugly. I am still upset over it because I could just kick myself for not doing it myself.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

My biggest mistake was buying used cameras off ebay for the tables.They looked great with their new wrappers but were in very bad shape inside and most of the pictures didn't come out. Everything else was great.I wouldn't change anything but that.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest Mistake: Hiring Spitz & Peck after hearing not so great reviews about them to save a few bucks. I didnt save anything and they were aweful.

Best thing: There were a lot of good things - both intentional and accidental so its hard to name just one. I guess overall I feel like sticking to the idea that it was our wedding instead of having a wedding that parents/friends/etc.. would approve of. That goes for everything - big and small! That one choice made sure that we really enjoyed the whole thing and have no real regrets. I hoped our family/friend/etc enjoyed themselves but even if they didnt, we (and I really mean 'we', not just me) had the most amazing day ever - and thats what it was all about for me for the start.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

this is hard, let me think
biggest mistake - I think not talking to bakery myself about cake

and my bra, would have bought a different one, or brought a extra with me, the corset type i had kept popping out of dress.
so when you are going for all your trials try to move around in bra alot to see how the bra moves with dress (and if you want to bring extra one with you in your emergency Bag)


Best thing:
there are lots
one thing though is the time between the ceremony and chuch. some of my inlaws couldnt believe there was so much time in between
church was at 3
cocktail hour at 7pm
But thank goodness we did this, since traffic got in the way. IF not we would have not had enough time for pics.
so leave yourself plenty of time.

also another best thing is BARGAINING
NEVER PAY ORIGINAL PRICE FOR ANYTHING!

I think only one thing I didnt bargain for and I should have,
its just so overwhelming and intimadating so its hard

BEST OF LUCK

Another good thing is I HAD A GREAT TIME AND REALLY ENJOYED MYSELF.
Right after first dance made our way around said hi to everyone, Once that was over I just partied and had FUN!

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I dont have any big mistakes. I would do the same thing over again.
The thing I was most happy besides seeing hubby, are all the vendors I chose. Plus the place I had my reception. I was very PLEASED

Also..Best thing..HAVING A VIDEO

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest Mistake: Not researching and asking enough questions of my photographer. I planned my wedding in 6 months so I felt rushed in hiring someone.
Best Thing: Having table cameras. Thanks goodness!!!!

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I have to agree with Stef about the fact that it she had a good time at her wedding. I also made a huge effort to stay true to my own dreams and not allow others to tell me what to do. One thing, that I still find a bit annoying, is that my stepmom wanted her friends closer than my own friends to our table. For one, the distant difference was almost nothing, but I said that I wanted my friends closer to me, not her friends. And I don't care if someone doesn't like it. Things like that annoyed me, but I didn't give in too often. And in the end it was OUR wedding, not a wedding my parents or their friends chose. So MY dreams did come true.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

We had no mistakes, but if I could do things over I would want hubby taped and photographed like I was.

It was truly a wonderful day. We planned the wedding that we wanted and it showed. Do not let anyone turn it in to their dream.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Thanks ladies - keep it comin'!

I love your advice about keeping the wedding your own...this is something we have vowed to do from the start...we have so far, and it's working out great.

Sonicstef - who is Spitz & Peck - photos???

Tonight we are meeting with the Deacon of a local church. He sounds wonderful over the phone - I am very excited. Any words of advice on this one??? We have already booked the reception (bad, I know), so I really want to come right out and request a specific date, but I need to tip toe around that...

Thanks gals!

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I really think that everyone had planning issues or stresses or day-of issues. It isn't saying 'I made a HUGE mistake' it is more about passing advise along to future brides so maybe they can avoid some of what we went through.
Shamma- don't you wish someone had told you to make sure DH has more photos taken than the photographers usually do? So that isn't a mistake, but it is a good piece of advise to pass along.
I don't think people should read into this as 'I made sooo many mistakes' but rather 'what do I wish I had known'

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I don't have any mistakes really - I would have liked for a few things to turn out differently but the day can never be perfect.

Best thing? Wow - there are LOTS! First was the gorgeous sunny day, but only mother nature is responsible for that. Second would be the fact that we decided to take pics prior to our ceremony. Because of this, all of us were more relaxed and able to enjoy every second of the ceremony, without worrying about racing out to the hall and taking outdoor pics before the sunset. I spent so long trying to orchestrate all of that so I'm glad it all paid off.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

The only vendor I was very unhappy with was my videographer. We paid so much $$$$ and I did not get what I want. He showed up late, took no footage of the reception grounds and ended up being a very standard video.


Other than this...everything was beautiful & ran smoothly the entire night.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Spitz & Peck was my florist. The end product wasnt so bad because I spent so much time explaining, reviewing, drawing photos, finding photos, reexplaining, fighting with them, etc.. to get sort of what I wanted. But for all that work and money, I should have gotten exactly what I wanted, not just close enough. And one of the arrangements they did was way off - I wasnt able to see it until it was too late and everytime I see a photo of it it makes me grrrrrrrrrr

Edited to add: Overall, if there was going to be one vendor that screwed up - Im glad it was my florist. The rest of them did a great job and the flowers are probably the least important thing when it comes to enjoying the day so its all good. Thank god I didnt have any other vendors like that.


One more thing - I can't stress this enough - TAKE THE ADVICE OF NEWLYWEDS over brides to be! I know this sounds selfserving and its hard to understand until you are already married - but brides to be think their vendors are all gods. Dont ask me why but we all had a bit of that. But there is really no way to be sure until AFTER THE WEDDING. I cant tell you how many times I see a bride recommending a certain vendor on the other board that just booked a day ago! Hello? How can you possibly be so sure about this person to recommend him unless he has already provided a service to you.

Ok, thats me off the soapbox.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Video...We didn't do it and I am so very sorry. The day goes fast and without video you miss a lot.

The best thing for us was having photo's done before the ceremony. We made it special moment and were able to really let the emotions flow. This made both of us more comfortable during the ceremony. Plus we were able to enjoy the cocktail hour!

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Stef - that's how I feel about my cake! I get so mad everytime I see a *&%$ picture of it!

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I don't think we did anything I wouldn't do again. Perhaps in retrospect I would have been firmer with the photgrapher to wrap up the group photos b/c we missed the cocktail hour and I would have liked to have seen it!

The best thing we did was not take it too seriously. We were very lax in our planning and had a great time leading up to and the day of.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Michelle, the # of pix that I have of hubby I can count on one hand I guess more photographers focus on its the bride's day. I am not complaining but I have so many of me

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Stef - I just re-read your edit re: taking the advice of newlyweds - it's so true!
I remember when I first came onto this site thinking it was SO awesome, but then wondering how anyone can really know their vendor until the day of the event. Sure will know how they are to work with, returning your calls and such, but you can't get a true understanding of them until after the wedding.

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Oh the cake was not my florist fault so I will not go in to that, but our cake ended up being naked, after all those darn flowers I paid to have put on each layer. The hall did not put them on or the candles or the petals, all they did was put the topper on. I am glad I did not notice until we got our proofs. I was on such a high