Things I Wish I Did Differently on My Wedding Day

On October 24th, 2020 I married the love of my life in one of our favorite places, Zion National Park. We were surrounded by the people we loved most, we laughed, we danced, we DRANK, and we even had a churro truck (10/10 recommend)!

It was truly a fairytale wedding, I wish I could relive that day over and over again. But with most things in life, there were a few things I would have done differently if I could go back in time.

As a wedding photographer, I had experienced a sliver of the chaos that is wedding planning.

There are so many details to consider. Choosing your wedding vendors, your venue, the guest list, the seating chart, the florals, the decor…. The list is seemingly never-ending. It wasn’t ‘til I planned my own wedding, that I truly realized the blood, sweat, and tears that go into planning the perfect wedding day.

Okay, maybe a little dramatic there. But my point is- a lot of stress goes into planning your wedding, and you don’t want to end up having any “coulda, woulda, shoulda” moments after the day is over.

In hopes to help avoid any post-wedding regrets for all the future brides reading this, I created a list of wedding planning tips that are all based on the things that I wish I did differently for my wedding day.

1. Remember the wedding is FOR YOU, not your guests.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in creating the perfect day for all of your friends and family attending your wedding. Of course, you want them to have the best time ever! I did NOT want my guests to remember my wedding as just another boring wedding they attended.

As much as I loved being able to create an awesome experience for all of our loved ones, I do wish I was a little more focused on myself and my husband, rather than everyone else. I spent a lot of the day making sure everyone else was having a great time. Looking back, I planned a lot of the wedding around what I thought would make other people happy, instead of what I really wanted.

2. Invest in quality vendors, and do your research before booking them.

It’s SO overwhelming choosing vendors for your wedding. With so many options, it’s tempting to choose the first one that has availability for your date (wedding boom brides, I know you get me).

TRUST ME ON THIS, It is 100% worth it to invest more money into vendors that you know will deliver exactly what you want. Don’t skip out on the research part. Ask to see work from previous weddings, read testimonials + reviews, and make sure they’re someone that you will enjoy spending a lot of time with on your wedding day. ESPECIALLY when it comes to your photographer. With all of the stress + planning that goes into your wedding, you’ll want QUALITY images to remember + cherish your day.

3. LET LOOSE. JUMP IN THE DANG POOL.

I get it, you spent hours on your wedding glam and probably spent an arm and a leg on your wedding dress. The last thing you want is to do is mess it all up.

On the night of my wedding, a bunch of my guests decided to have an impromptu pool party and jumped in the pool fully clothed. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, but my husband and I sadly didn’t join them. If I could go back to that night, I would have told myself “come on Valen, live a little!!!” and JUMPED MY BUTT IN THE DANG POOL.

The takeaway: Don’t be afraid to let loose and get a little messy on your wedding day. You’ll have plenty of photos to remember that perfect hair and makeup, and your dress can always get dry cleaned. I promise you that the silly memories of jumping in the pool fully clothed, dancing in the rain, or throwing cake in each other’s faces are SO worth it.

I hope this list helps you in your wedding planning process. If you’re still searching for the perfect photographer to capture your day and help you navigate the craziness of wedding planning- hit the button below to get in touch!

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