We’ve been to a ton of weddings in our time in NY / NJ wedding photography & videography, and we’re all about using that experience to pass on helpful planning tips and advice we’ve picked up along the way.
But today’s post isn’t about passing on wedding planning tips that may help you; it’s about revealing some of the ones you need to steer clear of. Because the process is stressful enough, and following bad advice will only make things worse.
1. Just speak from the heart with your personal vows.
If you and your partner have decided to recite your own personal vows at the altar, then first of all, you should know that it’s a great way to make your ceremony more personal and unique, but that doesn’t mean you should deliver them on the fly.
Yes, speaking from the heart will yield more genuine, sincere statements, but remember, you won’t be alone in a room with your spouse-to-be. Unless you’re having a really intimate ceremony, you’ll likely be standing in front of a lot of people.
Trust us, if the nerves don’t get to you, then the emotion of the moment probably will, which is why you’re far better off spending some time writing your vows beforehand.
If you memorize them or just bring some notes up with you, that’s one thing, but the last thing you want is to get all choked up or nervous up there and have nothing previously created or thought through to lean on.
2. Take the DIY approach to everything.
Yes, planning on doing certain things yourself can be a great way to cut back costs and make things a little more personal, but make no mistake, taking the DIY route with everything can quickly go from an economically savvy move to a full-time job.
Doing things like sprinkling some homemade decor elements into your reception space or taking the DIY approach to your invitations, save-the-dates, and/or wedding programs are always good ideas, but there are certain areas better left to the pros.
For instance, taking the DIY route with your pictures or video via an amateur photographer friend will have serious effects on the resulting images, and we’re not just saying that because we’re NY / NJ wedding photographers & videographers.
And the same goes for leaning on friends for any serious tasks. For more on that, check out this post, FYI: DIY Weddings Can Be Beautiful…Or Downright Ugly.
3. Don’t think about your Plan B too much.
Look, no newlywed-to-be wants to spend much time thinking about all the ways their big day could go wrong. Whether it’s superstition or just a matter of staying positive, no one wants to let that kind of thinking take over.
But the thing is that there are a ton of moving parts to any wedding celebration, and things can easily go wrong or get knocked off track. That’s why coming up with a Plan B is always a necessity.
And it’s not enough to simply have a plan in place just in case. Trust us, you’ll feel a whole lot better if you know exactly what needs to be done if the weather doesn’t cooperate, someone runs late, etc.
No, you don’t want to jinx anything, but the point is that you need to be fully prepared for the worst. Don’t leave it on the back-burner.
Filter out the bad so you can get to the good.
The bottom line is that learning about the wedding planning tips and advice you shouldn’t pay any attention to is just as valuable as learning about the stuff worth listening to. And while there’s plenty more bad advice, these particular tips should be avoided, at all costs.
About Us: Live Picture Studios is composed of a team of experienced NY / NJ wedding photographers, videographers, and editors who’ve been making memories magical in the NY, NJ, PA, and CT area for years with dazzling wedding photos and videos. Check out our photo gallery and video gallery for some examples.
