When it comes to weddings, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the unforgettable. After capturing countless beautiful celebrations, I’ve learned a few things that can help make your special day even more spectacular. Here are five things to steer clear of if you’re aiming for a joyful, relaxed, and extraordinary wedding.
Speeches Between Courses – One trend that deserves a rethink is having speeches between courses. It can create chaos and disrupt the flow of your day. The meal itself is an event, and it’s during the natural lulls between courses that your guests come together bond, and enjoy the atmosphere. This is also the perfect time for a quick bathroom break. Filling this gap with speeches can rob your guests of the opportunity to socially connect, which is a significant part of sharing a meal. Consider scheduling speeches after dinner to ensure everyone can enjoy their meal without interruptions.
Formal Photo Overload – While formal photos are an essential part of your wedding, remember it’s about quality, not quantity. Taking an excessive number of formal group photos can be time-consuming. Each group shot can take between 5-10 minutes to set up and capture, and having a long list can bore your guests and even exhaust you. Steer clear of the long list and opt for 6-8 essential groups of loved ones, saving the rest for informal snapshots later in the day.
Social Media Boundaries – We’ve all heard of unplugged ceremonies, where you ask your guests to put their phones down and be present in the moment. While it’s wonderful to look back at photos of smiling faces instead of screens, it’s also essential to think about how you want your wedding shared on social media. Setting boundaries in advance can help you avoid waking up the morning after your wedding to find it all over the internet. Discuss whether you want the first photos from your special day to be shared by others or posted by you. Think about whether you’d prefer your photographer to capture candid moments rather than staged social media content.
Timely Planning – A well-planned timeline is vital for a successful and stress-free wedding day. Many couples leave the timing until the last minute, and it can result in some parts of the day feeling rushed, while others have too much downtime. Talk to your suppliers and determine the time they need for different parts of your wedding. Find out how much time hair and makeup require, or how long your photographer needs for reception photos. Check with your venue about room turnaround times in the evening and the band’s setup duration. If you’re planning sunset photos or beach shots, research the sunset and tide times. These are non-negotiable factors that can’t be changed, so plan your schedule accordingly. By gathering this information in advance, you can create a realistic and stress-free timeline that suits everyone involved.
Plus-One Predicaments – You’ve made it clear on your invites whether your wedding is child-free or if the invite is for the person named only. But get ready for those requests to bend the rules! Whether it’s an inability to find a babysitter, a partner breastfeeding, or a guest who claims they don’t know anyone, be prepared for these appeals. Discuss and decide as a united front how you’ll respond to such requests in advance.
By steering clear of these wedding pitfalls, you’ll ensure that your big day is filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments. Your journey to “I do” will be as beautiful as the love story that brought you there.
