A bridal magazine editor and wedding expert has revealed a list of things she would never do at her own wedding and that no one else should either. Kat Williams, 38 and from Berkshire in the UK, took to TikTok to share her tips for having a memorable day couples will want to look back on for years to come. Here are the things Williams believes you should never do on your big day.
@rocknrollbride 5 things I would never do at my own wedding. do you agree with my choices? #weddingtiktok #weddingmagazine #wedding #alternativebride #weddingplanning #thingsidneverdo #rocknrollbride
- Have a friend or family member take your wedding photos As Williams explains, while it’s understandable for couples to want to save money by not paying a photographer for their wedding day, it’s worth budgeting for a professional. “I have heard so many horror stories in the 14 years I have been doing this of people who want to save money or has an uncle who has a great camera,” she said. “It very rarely ever works out. I have heard so many stories of people hating their photos and then there is nothing they can do about it.”
- Let people get their phones out during the ceremony Pretty much everyone is glued to their phone these days and it’s natural to want to capture your friend/family member’s big day on video. However, letting wedding guests take their phones out will not look great on professional photos or videos. Instead, she suggests having an announcement made that no phones are allowed during the ceremony.
- Have the ceremony too late in the day According to Williams, between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. is the perfect time for a wedding. Pushing it any later will not only be bad lighting for photos, particularly if you’re getting married in the winter, but it’ll also mean less time partying with your guests. And isn’t that what your celebration is all about?
- Buy a wedding dress that doesn’t fit/you need to slim into It’s super common for brides in particular to find their dream dress and order a size down with the plan of losing loads of weight to fit into it properly. Williams thinks that’s a terrible way to go. Not only does it perpetuate toxic ideas about thinness, but it’s also ridiculous. Buy a dress that fits and if you happen to lose weight, get it taken in. If not, you’re still going to look amazing.
- Order too much food You might assume that your guests will want to graze all day and night, but Williams warns against ordering too much food that’s expensive and will likely go to waste.
- Not involve your partner in the planning Admittedly, Williams understands that most straight men probably aren’t all that into the nitty gritty of wedding planning, but given that it’s their wedding day too, you should ask your groom if there are things he might like to be included in the ceremony/the day as well. It’s not all about you.
- Stress too much about what other people think At the end of the day, your wedding day is about you. Who cares if your colleague would have done things differently or if your mother-in-law’s second cousin doesn’t like your dress? They’re not getting married, you are. And as Williams pointed out, if they’re that judgmental, they shouldn’t even get an invite.
- Be too safe with your outfit choice Williams herself admitted that she got married in a very traditional white gown, and while she loved her wedding day, she wishes she would have done something to bring in more of her personal style. “It is much more accepted these days to do non-traditional things for your wedding,” she said. Wear what you want and incorporate as many non-traditional elements on your big day as you’d like!
- Have too many bridesmaids As Williams puts it, “More bridesmaids means more drama. Not only that, but it’s more expensive as well. “You have more people to keep happy with their dresses and involve them with the hen parties. The more bridesmaids you have the more expensive it gets — less is more,” she insisted.
- Not have a videographer Williams’ final tip is not to forget video. Having a professional photographer is great, but having actual video of the ceremony and some of the great times at the reception will give you something to look back on for decades to come.
@rocknrollbride part two of things I’d never do if I was getting married again #alternativebride #weddingplanning #thingsidneverdo #wedding #weddingtiktok #rocknrollbride