1. We didn’t hire a videographer.

You’ll always have the pictures— the first look, the ceremony, the reception. You can keep a box of momentoes— some dried flowers, the guest book, a few napkins or favors. But what you can’t keep in a sentimental box or find in an album is the sound of your vows, the emotion poured into your selected scripture readings, or the vocalist’s amazing rendition of “All of Me.”

2. Hiring “cheap”

Weddings are expensive. No one will argue that. Choosing vendors strictly on their price point will come back to bite you. Consider your priorities— what’s worth the most to you? Consider what each vendor brings to the table— how much experience does he/she have? What do his/her reviews look like? Take everything into consideration- not just price.

3. Stressing over every little thing

Everyone imagines their wedding day as a fairy tale. When it comes down to it, things will go wrong. They may be big things or little things, but what determines the true direction of your day is the way you handle them. Treating even the little things like the big things and trying to please everyone will make the day stressful and take the focus away from your love. If you’re worried about stressing out, build a couple layers around yourself- a wedding day coordinator or a vendor liaison, a family member designated to take care of issues that arise, etc.- to assure that issues are addressed without alarm.

4. Not building in one-on-one time in the wedding day

From the moment you wake up, you’ll be surrounded by friends, family, and well-wishers. Don’t wait until the end of the day when you’re both super exhausted to enjoy a few moments with your love. Plan a few minutes between the first look and your ceremony, immediately after the ceremony while guests line up for your grand exit, or while traveling from one site to another. It doesn’t have to be much, but it will be worth it.

5. Inviting every acquaintance from preschool to grad school, plus all your parents’ friends, plus all your siblings’ friends and their parents

Your wedding is an intimate, personal declaration of love. You don’t have to invite anyone who hasn’t supported your relationship or played a positive role in your life. Welcoming people into your wedding day that you don’t love and trust will only bring stress, tension, and unnecessary drama.

QC Wed Me is the Quad Cities’ first comprehensive wedding blog and vendor directory. If it’s love and it’s in the QCA, we want to know about it!

Dream it. Plan it. Love it.