Table Assignments Make Sense

Figuring out seating arrangements can be a headache, which is why Candice Criscione decided to not do them at all. However, it’s something she realized didn’t work out as well as she hoped it would.

"I wanted our wedding to feel relaxed, so I didn’t make table assignments for our guests. I’d seen the 'free-seating' trend in wedding magazines and thought it fit the laid-back feel of our wedding," says Criscione. "Unfortunately, it didn’t work out how I’d planned. There were some hurt feelings - family members who wanted to be closer to our table and guests who ended up at tables without their companions."

Rehearsal Is a Must

The night before the wedding, some couples decide to have a rehearsal and others don’t. Karen Aronian decided to have a rehearsal dinner and realized that wasn’t the same as having an actual ceremony rehearsal, which is something they really needed to do.

"Make sure you do a run through of the locations so that your performers know who they walk with, where to stand and how to leave," says Aronian. "Also who will speak, where will they sit, and run through a clear overview of how the event will proceed."

Find the Venue Before the Dress

After getting engaged, you might want to rush to check off all the items on your wedding to-do list. Madeline Blackstone wishes she prioritized that list and picked her venue before the dress.

"I know that most brides, like myself, think that it will be easy to secure a venue on the exact date that they have picked out for the wedding, but this is not necessarily true," says Blackstone. "That's why it's important to lock down that perfect wedding venue before finding the dress."

Pick Your Bridesmaids Wisely

Deciding who you want in your bridal party can be stressful. For Rachel Silver, a major regret is that she kept her bridesmaid list short.

"I wish I had more bridesmaids," says Silver. "This usually surprises people. At the time, I was very concerned about not imposing on my friends or asking them to spend more time and money than they already were on me and my wedding. But, when it came down to it, I remember on the day of my wedding I felt like I wanted to do something to thank my friends and include them more deeply in our wedding."

Hire People to Help Clean Up

One vendor you might not realize you need is a cleanup crew. Kim Brown wishes she had that for her 2021 wedding.

"I had a small wedding and the main event took place on a boat. I had more fun than I expected. However, if I could do it again, I would have hired a crew to help with the teardown," says Brown. "My wedding party and I were responsible for cleaning up after the party was done. Though there wasn't too much decor, it still sucked having to ask my party to carry all of the stuff back to our hotel."

Take More Photos

Asher Fogle Paul recommends making sure you prioritize capturing the moment and taking plenty of photos.

"My biggest wedding do-over was that I didn't take enough pictures between ceremony and reception," says Fogle Paul. "This one seems like a no-brainer, but I was very worried about people not waiting too long at cocktail hour."

Hire a Good Photographer and Videographer

When deciding on how to divy up the money in your wedding budget, Sarah Sain says she regrets not spending money on something that really matters.

"I wish we could spend the money and book a better photographer or multiple photographers as a team," says Sain. "We hired a friend who was just starting out his business and all of our pictures were just OK. I kick myself knowing I won't get that day back, or even have photos with some of our family members who have since passed on."

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