5 things I would have done differently at my wedding

 

I got married in 2017 in Tuscany. With the help of Tuscan Wedding, we created an intimate weekend full of events with our closest friends and family. It sounds cliché, but my wedding was the best day of my life, apart from the day we brought our daughter home. Looking back though, there were a few things I would have done differently.

I should have had a smaller bouquet

In 2017, the looks was: the bigger the bouquet, the better. I am 5’2” (on a good day) and the bouquet I had, though it was beautiful, engulfed me. Let this be a lesson to not always go with what’s trending.

I should have fed my bridesmaids

I had the best time hanging around the pool getting ready with my closest girlfriends, it was a day I will never forget. We drank quite a bit or Prosecco and one thing I forgot was to have food on hand before the wedding! This is one one thing I have added to my checklist for all of my clients: making a plan for food, water, and beverages for when they are getting ready.

I should have served a welcome drink

This was one of the items I cut in order to save on costs, but in retrospect it should have been a priority. The day of our wedding, the temperature in the tuscan countryside reached 90. And although I barely noticed (I was on cloud 9), I wish I would have had a refreshing beverage to greet my guests as they arrived.

I wish I had hired a videographer

Part of the reason for getting married in Tuscany was that I wanted it to be an intimate affair. We had 40 of our closest family and friends there. In that vein, at the time I didn’t want too many people in my face, and hired only a photographer. While our photographer was so amazing, and captured the day perfectly, I wish I would have hired a videographer and had a record of things like speeches. Luckily I had a friend record our ceremony and each year my husband and I watch them on our anniversary. If your budget doesn’t allow for a photographer, I highly recommend at least having a friend film your vows.

I wish I had done a first look

Don’t get me wrong, it was insanely romantic to see my husband for the first time and get his reaction to my dress as a I walked down the aisle. BUT I wish we would have done a first look. I felt rushed to get all of our photos done because we wanted to enjoy cocktail hour. Even with doing a 90 minute cocktail hour, we were only able to enjoy the last 15 minutes before dinner.







 
Laura Gardner