What would you change... if you could

[SueMartin]

The one thing I regret is not getting professional photographs done.. even tho we had a very casual wedding, and relied on friends to take photos, unfortunenately they weren't as good as they thought they were...and I missed out on a lot of photos I'll never have the chance to repeat.:sniff:

[Kristy]

I would not have asked my BMs right away and sat and thought about it first.

[Emily]

I wish I had better pictures

[Melly]

Only one?

I guess I really wish that I hadn't put so much stress into it so that looking back the whole process didn't overshadow what I ended up accomplishing.

[Angela]

I wish we hadn't accepted my aunt's offer to do our flowers...I'm sure they'll be fine, but I just don't think they'll be exactly what I want (except for the colors). They'll be exactly what SHE wants.

[Jaime]

I regret my maid of honor and her gown that she hacked half off to ruin my pictures. I will admit that I can't wait until she gets married though :giggle:

[Slugsmama]

I would not have asked my BMs right away and sat and thought about it first.

I'm not married yet , but I second this one , I'm trying to figure out someway of getting around it , but so far theres no light at the end of the tunnel

[nikkiana]

I think I wouldn't have been so picky on the gender of my attendants so I could have had one or two more....

[Lacie]

The biggest thing is that I would have gone with my gut and had a different officiant do the ceremony. I didn't like the pastor who married us and I spent the whole ceremony peeking over his book and reading the script I wrote to make sure he didn't screw up. :mecry: I would give anything to have those moments back so I could concentrate on the man I love rather than the dumbass pastor. :(

[Aubrey]

I would have liked to have written our own vows and have those read instead of the traditional ceremony we had.

[Carrie429]

I would not have asked my BMs right away and sat and thought about it first.

This is also the big one for me. I should have put more thought into things and not given into asking out of "obligation".

[Winter_Bride]

I have a few. Seeing Carrie's video clips made me long for a videographer, which we decided we didn't need. I also would have made my sister a BM - she's 7 years my jr, and was involved in other ways that day, but we've grown closer since and I'll always regret that.

She says I can make it up to her by letting her babysit a whole big bunch when we eventually have kids. (Free babysitting from a girl with a ton of experience and common sense? hmmm... do I have to think about that one??)

[Aurora_K]

1) I would have video recorded the ceremony. It's amazing what you miss as the bride since you're the last one in and the first one out.

2) I would have hired a different photographer. We used a family member. He IS a professional wedding photographer, but he's VERY traditional. I wish I would have spent more and gotten the photojournalistic photos I really wanted.

3) I would have spent less money on the little details. So many things could have been cut and no one would have noticed, but I just HAD to have them. Now I wish I had the money to buy a house.

[Poloke]

We'd be getting married this year, on the beach in OCean city, md with only the closest family members present instead of the big shindig next year.

[HelenAngel]

1. I would have been a total stickler about etiquette. I would've read Emily Post's guides backwards and forwards before I did any planning whatsoever.
2. I would have had a smaller wedding party.
3. I would have seen if we could have flown my friend Chris down to be our photographer.

[MrsBrown810]

I had no way of knowing until it was too late, but looking back, I would have gone with a different DJ. He PROMISED he'd have our first dance song (Dave Matthews Version of IN MY LIFE) which we could have gotten for him if he would have let us know he didn't have it. He didn't tell me that he didn't have it until we got into the reception on our wedding day. We had the Beatles version instead. He also flirted with my one bridesmaid all night, didn't play ANYTHING we asked him to play along with just being obnoxious. He seemed really good when we talked to him and hired him, but it was all a farce. We've been married almost 4 years and I STILL get annoyed about it.

[MrsRea]

Different photographer~ better pictures

Different DJ~ he messed up several songs!

[SueMartin]

I would have had a professional photographer.. our friends who took pictures werent as good as they thought they were.. I really regret that
:(

[mrs.g]

I wish we would have just done what WE wanted to do instead ME of trying to please everyone else's schedules and budgets.

Instead of getting married in the Dominican Republic on the beach, we ended up eloping at some officiant's house; we didn't do any of the wedding 'traditions'; I didn't even have a white dress to wear; no cake, no dancing; we just got married. Which in the end that's the whole purpose, right? Then how come I STILL want a wedding! :lol:

[Cindy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristy
I would not have asked my BMs right away and sat and thought about it first.

Originally posted by Carrie
This is also the big one for me. I should have put more thought into things and not given into asking out of "obligation".


I felt this way as well, and I acted on instinct and didn't ask one of the girls because I was in her wedding. Boy, am I glad I thought about it. She's been Z E R O help, we used to be best friends, but when her wedding was over, *POOF* she has nothing to do with one of my other friends and myself. Says she's "busy"...duh! Aren't we all??

[christinas2006]

I wish we would have just done what WE wanted to do instead ME of trying to please everyone else's schedules and budgets.

I agree. Near the end of the planning we stoped trying to please everyone. Everyone tended to get upset with me. I also wish I would have put money in the budget for a videographer. However, my uncle recorded it. He is putting it on a DVD for us with music. So it wont be perfect but, atleast we will have a copy of it and some of the reception.

[Rosebud]

Everyone tended to get upset with me.

This is what I don't get....We are the hostess of a party when you break it down to absolute value. Why would people get upset at (and ask unrealistic things of ...in my case...) the host/ess of a party at which they were a guest? :headscratch:

[rowanmayfairs]

1: Saved a bit more money to keep my photographer at least 1 more hour.

2. Done a mock exit so we could of done the bubbles that I spent several days decorating.

3. Found some way to play "Gold Bless the Broken Road" as my entrance song but James kept insisting that if we did a cd someone would mess it up, so we spent $50.00 to hire a lady to play the piana for 30 minutes.

4. Would of made sure I had a 911 kit cause my zipper broke

I don't regret anything but those are the things I would change/fix :)

[Jaci]

well, I wish I would have taken the video camera away from my grandpa and given it to someone else. I don't know why no one took that from him, he doesn't exactly have the best reputation for taking video. Bleh.

I would have waited on moving the ceremony site, I definitely think I jumped the gun on that one.

[Kirsten]

I would have given my DJ more direction and limited the time when "the kids" could make requests (like, the DJ could play requests after 10 p.m).

I would have gotten a different pair of shoes or brought a second pair with me. My feet seriously hurt after the wedding.

I would have arranged more time to make programs. I had a great idea but never did have the time to implement it.

[*Stacie*]

I would have selected my bridal party A LOT differently!

I would have had nicer/fancier invitations!

[soulmates]

I'm not married yet but if I could do it all over again I'd change everything.
No big wedding....just the two of us, some close family on a beach and we'd already be married. It would have been december 16,2006.

[sweetiez]

Would have choosen wedding party better *Sigh*

[AnnMarie0624]

I would have looked at more photographers instead of choosing the first one I really liked, and I would have told my mother to "back off" sooner.

[katieandalex]

I would of had an outdoor wedding on the golf course we had our reception at instead of spending $100 on a ceremony site that we were at for 15 minutes.

And I would of never asked my friend to be my personal attendant, she didn't do anything to help me and now she doesn't even talk to me.

[MrsAbi]

I would've hired a different minister. Like one who could get my middle name right.

[*TanyaJeanne*]

I would have had a videographer.

[Trinia]

I would have picked a closer date!

[Rosebud]

I think I'm with you there, Trin.

[Ally]

i would have eloped!

[nikkiscott]

There is really only one thing that I wish I could change, and that is actually getting dj. We got these two kids who where kids of friends that were coming to the wedding anyways. But with all the cds and the burnt songs on them, they only played what they wanted to here....and not what everyone wanted to hear. I also would of sat here and typed up lists for all the burnt cds, so they could see what on each disc.

I also do wish I would of thought about my numbers more. I have so mant bubbles and bells left over. I have no idea what to do with them. I may just throw them away.

[PurpleFlower]

I would have said screw it and had my dance floor in the middle of the room for sure instead of being worried about having enough seating for everyone!! Because in the end it would have worked out .... that many people didn't show up anyway!

I also would have taken the time to email the whole folder of pictures I wanted to my photog before the wedding so he knew what I wanted... because I forgot all the ones I wanted as well as some he had no idea what I did want when I explained it!

[Poloke]

What I would have changed:

I would have hired a videographer- there is so much that you miss as the bride! It would sure be nice to have the event on tape.

I would have skipped the meet & greet after dinner b/c we did have a receiving line and everyone at dinner was at the ceremony.

Would have put my foot down about last minute changes certain ppl took upon themselves to do.

Would have made sure ppl did not get in the way of the photographer doing her job.

[PrairieDawn]

My only regret is not hiring a day of coordinator. There was a lot of pressure put onto me to host the reception instead of enjoying it. Perhaps I could have delegated more responsibilities to some of my local friends... but no one really asked. I wrongly assumed the caterer would have done more than just drop off the food and take it away later.

I also would have hired a nanny, pet sitter and maid to keep everything running at home.

...Pam

[*Ashley*]

I wouldn't have made as many favors, LOL.

[jillian]

I would have made a list of pictures we wanted for the photographer. We didn't think of what we wanted until the day of and it was too late to get them.

[shedayz]

I am so sad for those of you who did not get wedding pictures you liked :( As a wedding photographer there is a clause in my contract that states "bride and groom will submit shot list 21 days prior to event and meet with photographer to discuss" so couples can not only show me, but tell me what they want. And HONESTLY, if a customer is unhappy with shots I will refund their money and offer to rent a tux so bride and groom can at least get portrait shots together (no charge).

I am so sorry you guys!

What would I do different? Well, I am doing it! In November I will get the wedding of my dreams. I am older and in a much better position financially to have it my way. If I could change one thing about my original wedding I would not have treated it so casual. Like "meh, let's just do it and get it over with" lol.

[Mel]

i would have worn a totally different dress.
i thought i had to go "traditional" and even though my dress was mod, it was so not what i wanted. i wanted something tea length with sleeves attached, i wore long and with a bolero. i can still visualize the dress i fell in love with online but was too scared to buy without trying on.

[Angela]

Since it's been almost 5 years....

*We would've gotten married at Christmastime and stuck with our color scheme
*I would've gone dress shopping for myself instead of just buying something off of Ebay. I liked my dress a lot, but I didn't love it.
*We would've had someone do our flowers instead of my aunt. I may have asked her to do our centerpieces for us instead of doing the candles we did.

[newlywed8112001]

I would've had the small, intimate wedding I pictured and just sent out wedding announcements to everyone else.

[Bri]

I would have had a better photographer. Ours was doing it as a side job, and our DJ (who is a really close friend of mine) was working with her as bundled packages. While we did get all of the rights to the photos, I just wish we'd had someone better. Our DJ felt SO bad afterwards, and actually had two other complaints about her after our wedding. Needless to say, he's not working with her anymore.

[Deidre98]

I would've written out a list of pictures I wanted but forgot and I would've given my MIL a list of limo companies to choose from rather than finding the company she found, which got lost on the way to the church, on the way to the reception site and on the way back to the hotel. Then they had the audacity to charge her overtime even though it was their fault they got lost and if they hadn't gotten lost, we would've been back at the hotel before our time expired.

[jillian]

Oh gosh D that's awful!!

I also would have changed florists. I really didn't care when I booked. I wish I had.

[Finally tying the knot]

Oh my goodness! You all have given me good tips to pay special attention to! Maybe I will not allow my mother in law to get the flowers. She has already been voicing her opinion on which kinds of flowers I need and the colors of the flowers! My Maid of Honor is doing my invitations as well. She is looking for cheap wedding invitations (http://www.mygatsby.com/wedding-invitations.html), so hopefully that goes well.