(Closed) Looking Back, What Could You Have Done Without on Your Wedding Day?

• Eradicatereality
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: March 2014

Thanks for all the great tips!

• megan52088
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: October 2013

I’m commenting so that I can come back to it colser to me wedding date!

• hollyberry4
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: October 2013

So far I can say I’m glad we skipped the expensive invitations and are going with vistaprint. As long as they give guests the info they need I’m happy!

I’m glad people are saying some of the DIYs probably aren’t worth it. I was considering DIYing elaborate table numbers that I thought were cute, but now I think I will go for something simple. I vet no one will notice!

I’m glad I’m splurging on good photography/videography and a good DJ! I think those will be the most important things.

Also I was thinking of doing “Berger cookies” (local Baltimore cookies) wrapped as favors, but after reading the comments I think I may just put a bunch out with a sign explaining the

And baggies so people can take one home if they want or eat them at the reception. Sounds a lot easier, and if people don’t take them we won’t have a million individually wrapped cookies to collect but a platter of them that I can take to the afterparty. 🙂

• SweetJester
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: September 2013

Commenting so I can follow – great thread!

• littlebeanpole
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: July 2013

Great thread!

I’m also skipping programs – mine is a short registry office ceremony so I don’t think programs will be needed. The only person speaking apart from the celebrant (and us of course) is a Bridesmaid or Best Man who will be doing a short reading.

I am doing a lolly buffet as favours – although people might just eat their share at the reception! I’ve seen heaps of different favours at weddings I’ve attended but I don’t ever remember using any of them.

• EternalRomance74
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: July 2014

commenting to follow

• ellisrobertson
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: October 2012

Honestly, I could have done without any of it. That sounds super cynical, but it really isn’t! While our wedding was very, very us — casual, simple, fun — it was still, well, a wedding. Which actually isn’t us. I didn’t enjoy dress shopping and I honestly didn’t care much about the dress in the first place, so it was a fair amount of money spent on something I didn’t have an overwhelming desire to have. Our original plan was dinner with my brother (our officiant), my mom and my husband’s friend, where at some point in the meal, we’d all sign the paperwork and leave married. That would have been very us! But one night, in a fit of utter adoration for the man, I told him that I wanted to have people with us. So we did. I don’t actually regret any of it, but I do have twinges where I’d love to be able to say we did something totally casual and simple and no-fuss like getting married in a restaurant. 

• dkacerek
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: September 2012

actually, we took care of not having unnecessary nonsense during the planning stage. it was more important to have the people in our life share our day, then wasting money on things no one woukd really notice or care about.  Also we eliminated silly rituals that waste time; toasts, big entrances, speeches, bouquet and garter toss, cake cutting, so that we and our guests had a good time together. Six months later, I am still hearing it was the best wedding people had attended in a long time.

• justvonne
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: September 2013

I am seeing a lot of people saying they did without welcome bags. I am now considering it.  I am thinking maybe I will do just a Welcome Letter instead.  Thanking then for coming and list local restuarants, shopping, and contact numbers. 

• jmlw7
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: October 2013

commenting to refer back to. what a great thread!

• mrspinkiepie
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: May 2013

following 

• MrsMaskatoBe
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: March 2013

Flip flops for dancing.

• mrshollinger
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: City, State

We are not doing programs.. we’ll probably do a chalkboard with wedding party names etc.

I still want to do a bathroom basket… but I don’t think I’m going to do Out of Town bags anymore.

Still going to do flip flops… altho I’m only going to buy like 15 pair now…. people can fight over em.

Will probably only do a tiny cake.

Commenting to keep following!

• redband
• 8 years ago

• Wedding: May 2012

No real regrets but what probably would not have mattered all that much:

1. The band ($2200 for a 3-piece band which played 3 x 45 minute sets). Ultimately not really worth it due to it being a small wedding (40 people).

2. Toasting with real champagne instead of sparkling wine/cava/prosecco. Honestly, unless you hang out with a fancy crowd, most of your guests will call sparkling wine/cava/prosecco/bubbly white wine champagne anyway. It’ll save lots.

3. Paying to give guests a choice (not all venues charge this). You have to submit the choices 2 weeks before the wedding. In our case, we had to pay $28 p.p. just for giving guests a CHOICE between fish/chicken/beef. Some of my European guests don’t like fish and some of my Asian guests can’t eat beef due to religious reasons. I should have just picked chicken (incidently also the cheapest) and left it at that, but at that time thought I was being ‘cheap’.

4. Photo props (so busy that we didn’t get them)

5. The whole wedding. Honestly, should’ve just gotten married in Seychelles or something, just the 2 of us.

6. To a certain extend, not have spent so much on your guests the days before the wedding (destination/semi destination wedding so was obligated to meet guests days before the wedding and when we met for dinner/drinks, we generally paid as we felt bad as they had to travel so far). It’s not like we got brownie points for that so we really should’ve just spent it on ourselves.

I am happy I splurged on:

1. Flying in my make up artist. She was great.

2. My dress. It wasn’t my dream dress and it wasn’t 100% great BUT I will admit that it looked a lot nicer than a China knockoff (lace dress so can tell from the quality of lace).

3. Flowers to a certain extend. I am happy with what we had but I do wish I had spent more on it.

4. The venue. It was fantastic. Loved it.This was the wow factor

I wish I had:

1. Paid for a better photographer. Gorgeous wedding with mediocre/bad pictures= mediocre/bad wedding. Too late.

2. Hired a videographer

3. Ordered more canapes. Perhaps 2 more per person.

4. Got the husband a tailor-made Italian suit.