Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Original post by rosebud

Apr 23, 2003 03:15 PM

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!!!)?

janatlantica Posted: Apr 30, 2003 05:38 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Not eating, staying in ahotel for the wedding night ( a waste, we fell asleep and were starving-room service was already closed ) and also allowing my dj to convince me to let a 'highly requested song by my guests' to be the last song of the evening. Other than that, None!

sweetnessconfused Posted: Apr 30, 2003 09:31 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Scoop who was the Video guy???

julybride444 Posted: May 01, 2003 01:26 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

bump-love this thread...I'm taking notes

DebMaher Posted: Oct 12, 2004 10:12 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

BUMPing for the 05er/06ers/and the 04ers who remian -- GREAT thread!

janwinterbridejoy Posted: Oct 13, 2004 08:28 AM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

i would have to say biggest mistake was not giving my dj a smaller list with the actual must plays on ot. i gave him this huge list and i think it overwhelmed him and he didnt play most of what was on it. i would also have requested even if i had to pay extra a sample of what my bouquet and the bms bouquets would look like. regardless of how much someone claims to know what you want no one really does except you.

Anniegrl Posted: Oct 13, 2004 10:24 AM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest mistake - not looking into photographers more carefully. I'm happy with my pictures, but I'm not thrilled. They're not exactly what I wanted, and the pictures were the most important thing to me. As an out of state bride, I didn't have the time to go from photographer to photographer, but I should've selected more than 3 to go see since this was very important to me.

There were other things that I wish had come out better, like my programs and menus. I did them myself, and they were nice, but I look at other brides work and I'm so jealous! I don't have the software to do those things, and even if I did, I just didn't have the time. Oh well.......

Best thing - my invitations. Even though I spent WAY more than I wanted to, I absolutely loved my invitations. They were letterpress, and custom-made. Gorgeous!

xjulietx Posted: Oct 13, 2004 11:24 AM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest regret: accepting that my shoes were comfortable after only wearing them for 10 minutes. I wish I had bought gel inserts for the shoes. They fit, but like most fancy shoes, had little cushioning. My feet were burning in them by the end of the night

MrsTC Posted: Oct 13, 2004 01:16 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

my biggest mistake was that i did not do a hair trial prior to the day of the wedding. i figured it would be fine. i loved my hairstyle and she did a great job, but looking back i wished i had worn my veil on top of my head vs. pinned to the back.

MrsSchultz Posted: Oct 14, 2004 10:45 AM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest Mistake: Not eating the morning of my wedding, not sure if I was sick that morning, or if it was nerves, all I know is, that I didn't eat till almost 9pm that night, and then started dancing, and I was probably dehydrated and I got sick and missed 45 min of my reception throwing up in a garbage can of the bridal suite.

Best part of the night: Dancing the last dance with my new husband, everyone surrounded us on the dance floor and let us have our last dance alone, to The Way You Look Tonight by Tony Bennet.....I still get choked up thinking about it.....

paulandles912 Posted: Oct 14, 2004 12:49 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Mistake #1-- not taking time to search for a wedding dress. I was one of those suckers for 'well its a sample sale and its only available today for 10% off'.... I didn't have the fun on trying on many different styles and designers. (But, I loved my dress in the end anyway) I just think brides-to-be should have fun with the whole process.

Mistake #2 -- no video. Truly regret this decision. If not to hear the ceremony music again, it just would be such a nice keepsake.

Oh well!

Best decision -- having our reception where my parents had theirs. They were touched by it, and a lot of our guests were their guests and enjoyed reminiscing.

blissbride Posted: Oct 20, 2004 02:17 PM

If I knew then...

Wow! I've been married a little over a yera and I still checkin on the message boards from time to time.
I know everyone wants everything to be just perfect for their wedding day, but I when I look back, I have learned some valueable lessons to pass on to all of you brides to be.

1- Don't skimp out on paying for a good videographer or photographer and do your homewwork on these vendors. I loved both of my vendors, but I found met another photographer (after the fact)that I would have been happy to have spent the extra cash on. I think she's listed on the Knot (Karen Cunningham).

2- Make sure your dress is comfortable and your bustle is well attached. I loved my dress, but my bustle broke in the middle of cocktail hour and I had to hold my gown the entire time.

3- You can skimp on invitations, flowers, and escort cards. These little extras do help set the tone of your day, but you don't need to go crazy with it. It all winds upo in the trash anyway. Sometimes, (especially in this case) simplicity speaks volumes.

4- Get a good make-up artist. Even though I really liked my make-up artist, I wish I had used the one my hairdresser suggested.

5- When you go for your hair trial, try to schedule an appointment to try on your gown, so you can see the whole picture.

6- Send out your thank yous ASAP. It took us forever and it was really embarassing :(

7- Register at more than one place. I know it's a pain, but a very good idea. I wish I had known Gracious Home had a rigistry, I would have registered there.

Lastly, breathe, smile, and try to enjoy your day. It goes so fast. YOu want to savor every moment.

Good luck and best wishes to you all.

ckgmwedding Posted: Oct 20, 2004 07:43 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Thank you all so much for your insights. Since someone mentioned I thought I would ask here. Did anyone have Kameleon Orchestras for their wedding? I haven't heard anything bad about them, nothing but good, yet the band leader makes me a little nervous. He can be overbearing.

AJARD Posted: Oct 20, 2004 11:12 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I would like to add

Worst thing- Picking a photography studio that has 7 photographers and not knowing what work shown was exactly from the person they would send me! BIG MISTAKE! Looking back I would only hire a photographer that you see thier own work

Best thing- listened to a recent past bride and stopped in a place in Sayville called Francines Cosmetic to find my head piece. I had searched and searched and couldnt find the perfect head piece. Then I met a recent bride that told me to go there. I live in western nassau north shore, this place is in eastern suffolk south shore, but WELL worth it. her pieces go particularly well with Maggie Sottero dresses since she buys alot of austrian crystal pieces, different from bridal shops and I only paid 118 for my tiara. I thought I was crazy for driving out there on this recommendation.

Karen H Posted: Oct 20, 2004 11:23 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Best thing I did was follow my cousins advice. She told me that as I came to the top of the aisle I should stop for a moment and smile and look around the church, at my husband to be standing in front, the guests and just take in the scene and set it in my memory. Everything that day goes so fast and you're likely to be nervous or emotional. I'm so glad I did what she said because I have a very clear memory of that moment.

RobNette Posted: Oct 21, 2004 03:18 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

honestly...so far I have been completely happy with things!!!

I guess the 'imperfect' things have been:

Table Cameras: I would have made a little sign to show HOW TO USE THEM and that they are TO BE LEFT BEHIND. We are still missing 3 of them. who steals wedding pictures!!!
Also...I had them developed onto disk at Target...Kodak even..and there are LINES accross all of the picture files, yet the prints are ok. I'm going to bring them back to have them re-done..they cost WAY too much to have them screwed up!

I'd say...just be REALLY explisit with everything..what you want, when you want it...and GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!!!

They don't say that everywhere for nothing!

SandraLynn Posted: Oct 22, 2004 11:40 AM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I have no regrets, but...

i never touched up my makeup and I wish I had--i had cried a lot...

I didn't get to say hello to everyone and that is still bothering me a lot! We did not have a receiving line and to get to everyone was not easy.

My DH was socializing w/out me --we kept on getting pulled apart and never paired up again and that really bothered me..

I didn't get to 'see' the cocktail hour or taste all the food b/c people just kept on coming up and talking..ugrrr

otherwise, it was perfect and beautiful!

nferrandi Posted: Oct 26, 2004 04:38 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

I don't know if it's a 'mistake' but there are definitley people we should have taken pictures with but didn't. In the rush of the day, things tend to slip your mind.
I also would have touched up my lipgloss more often.
I also regret not meeting with the specific photographers I would have on my wedding day. I sent the company my must-take list, but i wish I had met with them in person and gone over everything and made it VERY clear what I was looking for.

Xelindrya Posted: Oct 26, 2004 04:53 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Biggest Mistake: Not being a complete B!tch to the florist. Should have.. then MAYBE I'd have ended up with the flowers I dreamed of and planned my whole wedding on, instead of the crap I got!

tourist Posted: Oct 26, 2004 05:22 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Not too much of a regret, but we didn't get a picture with dh's grandparents. The photographer did those early since we went to the grounds of the hall right after the ceremony, but FH's family went to his aunt's house. a little miscommunication, and then later it was just too crazy.

We go ta group family shot though.

I think my best decision was NOT having a Sweetheart table.

We sat w/ my brother,the bp & their dates at a 10 persontable. It was good, because when we sat to eat,we could visit with them & kill 2 birds with one stone. I think if we didn't we either wouldn't have eaten, or we wouldn't have been able to visit with all our guests as much
I also got to see close up how they were enjoying the food, etc.

Spitzergirl Posted: Oct 26, 2004 09:25 PM

Re: Poll: Biggest Mistake???

Posted by Xelindrya

Biggest Mistake: Not being a complete B!tch to the florist. Should have.. then MAYBE I'd have ended up with the flowers I dreamed of and planned my whole wedding on, instead of the crap I got!

Xelendrya

Was your florist Bellrose floral park florist? I cried, when I saw my bo-K. It was the ugliest thing in the world. I never told her what a horrible job she did with my bo-k. It haunts me everytime, I see my wedding video. It was literally Sh1t on a stick.