What do brides regret on their wedding day? What do couples wish they did differently? If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding, what would it be?

In this blog post, I’ll share the most important things to avoid on your wedding day so you can avoid regrets later on.

Since launching Emmaline Bride in 2009, I’ve had the privilege of working with many couples virtually and in person; and it is fascinating to see how different weddings come to life.

It’s interesting, too, when couples reveal the things they wish they didn’t do on their wedding day.

In this blog post, I am sharing the top wedding mistakes to avoid so you can plan ahead and perhaps avoid these headaches yourself. You can’t always predict what will happen at your wedding, but you can keep the most important things in mind and avoid letting others’ wishes get in the way of your own.

Here are the top seven things to not do on your wedding day, if you can avoid them.

Here are the top things couples regret from their wedding day so you can avoid it at yours.

1. Don’t let someone else plan their wedding (and call it yours).

Each married person had the opportunity to plan their wedding the way they wanted:.

Don’t let someone’s regret work its way — and wreak havoc — on your wedding vision.

► If your mom wishes her wedding day was different, that’s understandable. But now is not the time to recreate hers and use yours as it. :)

► If your cousin thinks they know better than you, that’s nice… but it’s your day and not hers.

► If your family thinks you should go big, but your budget is basic, stick to what you want. Don’t go in debt trying to please everybody.

The bottom line is, your wedding day is first and foremost about you and your partner.

You can include anyone’s ideas that you like, just as you can quickly toss out any ideas that don’t reflect your unique vision and style.

You can’t please everyone

No one will like 100% of the things you choose and that’s totally ok. In fact, it should be celebrated: it is the different color palettes, themes, venues, menus, and more that make weddings wholly unique. If they were all the same, how boring would that be?!

There’s a great quote I read recently that said something along the lines of, “If it makes you happy, do it: you don’t need to explain why to anyone else.”

Make your wedding 100% about you as a couple. That’s it.

2. Don’t waste time complaining.

Things will come up that totally suck, are a complete disappointment, or are a huge letdown to you while you plan your wedding.

But don’t let even a dash of it dampen your spirits.

Stress Happens: Learn to Accept It

Wedding planning should be fun! Don’t waste an ounce of happiness on the complications that come up.

• Can it be tiresome at times? Sure!

• Does it have its share of stresses? Absolutely!

But does it also have hundreds of mini harmonies and wins? 100%.

Maybe you are having trouble picking out a dream wedding gown in-person, only to realize it was online all along. :)

Perhaps invitation wording is a pain in the you-know-what, but then you find this article and it walks you through it.

Or maybe you don’t like wedding favors and realize — hey! We’re not giving out wedding favors! Done. See? It’s as easy as that.

Couples who choose to focus on the marriage and not just the wedding day figure out a way to roll with the punches and devise solutions.

You need to look at any problem that arises as a mere inconvenience — one annoying thing that you’ll totally tackle and most likely even come out with a better outcome in the end.

3. Don’t invite so many guests you don’t know.

This is one major gripe I hear from couples all the time. They wish they did not invite so many people to their wedding they didn’t even know.

Sometimes, it’s unavoidable, in the instance of someone else footing the bill or keeping the peace in the family. But couples complain about this because many times, the guest list number keeps climbing and they wonder, will we ever see these people again? How did the food bill get so large? Who are these people?!

Luckily, I didn’t have this problem at my wedding but I see it happen all the time. If you’re worried about it, discuss the matter with your parents or in-laws and figure out a way you can make it work for everyone.

Will you know each guest 100%? Probably not, and that’s OK. But the major complaint comes from couples who tied the knot and had to invite in excess of 50+ guests they’ve never met, nor will ever see, again.

4. Don’t worry so much.

Ah, wedding day worry. Avoid it! It’s easier said than done, am I right?

Will everything go as planned? Hopefully. I hope that every single thing on your list of wedding day must-haves goes off without a hitch.

Focus on the Good

But in almost every single wedding scenario, one thing will be out of place / not go as planned / totally unpredictable.

Here’s some good news: usually the things that go awry go completely unnoticed by your guests. And if you hire a really terrific wedding planner, the couple will never know it happened. ;)

Don’t let it bother you and don’t become a control freak. It’ll only make the entire event more stressful for everybody.

Go put on your bride sweatshirt and handle it: you’ve got this! Isn’t this cuuuute? It’s by Up2ournecksinfabric. Every bride needs one!

5. Don’t miss solo time with your new spouse.

You may be surprised how many couples put this as what not to do at your wedding: “forgetting to spend time with my new spouse”.

Spend Time Together

It’s funny because it can happen: you spend too much time eating, socializing, dancing, and then realize you didn’t get some time alone with your partner.

The wedding day goes by in a flash and, honestly, you need to make an effort to take time out of the day to be alone together and savor the moment. You’ll be glad you did.

6. Don’t wear shoes that hurt.

One thing brides regret at their wedding? Wearing heels that hurt!

Picking out proper wedding day footwear that is comfortable — and stylish, obviously — is one of the most important things to do for your own happiness.

One thing you should never do at your wedding is wear shoes that hurt or pinch your feet, the backs of your heels, or your soles.

Circle it, highlight it, and promise yourself you don’t do it. :)

You’ll be on your feet all day, so wear the most comfortable wedding shoes you can. PRO TIP: Read these wedding shoe mistakes to avoid so you can plan ahead.

Invest in Comfortable Wedding Shoes

[ Read: 50 Most Comfortable Wedding Shoes ]

And bring a spare pair to keep in your car, your bridal tote bag, or in the wedding suite. These are my go-to for dancing.

You don’t want to sit out at your own reception and skip dancing / mingling / enjoying the day because your feet hurt.

Note: These heels by PinkyPromiseAccessories are said to be very comfortable, per shoppers.

7. Don’t get lost in the details.

Don’t be so obsessed with the trends and aesthetics that you lose focus on what is important: marrying the love of your life.

Moreover, don’t be so concerned with how everything looks in photos that you forget what guests are there to do: celebrate with you!

Looks Aren’t Everything

Spend your budget on the things that matter most: good food, good music, and a large dance floor where guests can laugh and dance the night away will mean 1000x more than something you found on Pinterest that you just had to have.

Plus, it is the moments shared with your new spouse and loved ones that will make the most elaborate memories in your mind.

Now, go drink some water, exercise a bit, and don’t get hung up on the small stuff. You’ve totally got this.

Happy Planning!

P.S. If you are newlyweds and have something to add to the list, please write it in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

xo
Emma