As you know by now, Charlie and I just got married in September of 2023. Our wedding was at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa (where I'm from and we met!). While we absolutely LOVED our day, there are a few things we regret or we wish we would have done differently. I should say, these aren't things that haunt us every day or that we're constantly thinking about. We're actually being really nitpicky with this list, but I still think it's valuable to share! I hope you learn something from it.
Getting too Caught up in the Schedule
This one's more on me than it is Charlie. I'm a very schedule-oriented person and I really hate feeling like I'm running behind or being late. You will inevitably start to run behind on your wedding day, and it's okay! The day revolves around you and nothing can truly happen without you, so who cares if you're 15 minutes late? I tell this to couples all the time but forgot it myself on our wedding day. I just wish I would've remembered being behind isn't a big deal and to just sit back, relax and fully enjoy.
Not Giving Someone my Phone
Yes, we had professional photographers and videographers, but there is still something valuable in having photos and videos of your big day on your phone. I totally forgot to give my phone to someone so they could take pictures and videos of us throughout the day! We actually brought our old school, hand held camcorder and gave that to our friends, and they were super great about shooting fun footage on there. However, I just wish I would have given someone my phone too.
Changing Into a Reception Dress
I'm actually not 100% sure this is a regret. I'm so happy I had a second dress to change into. I had a full ballgown dress and it was HEAVY and hot. My back was really hurting by the time I changed into my reception dress. However, I am sad I didn't get more photos with friends and family members in my wedding dress before I changed. I changed around 9:30 (about an hour and a half into dancing), so some people were able to snag pictures with me, but not everyone. Again, I'm not certain this is a regret, I just think it's something to think about if you're considering a reception dress.
Not Visiting with More People & Getting to Tables During Dinner
These two things go hand in hand...I wish we would have talked to more people, and one way we could have was going around to tables during dinner. We had a sweetheart table and we obviously got our food first, meaning we were done eating pretty quickly. When we were done eating, I wish we would have spent a minute or two at each table. We had friends do this at their wedding (which was after ours) and I immediately knew that would have been such a great solution for us. I think this is a challenge for every couple on their wedding day, so I'm not too hard on ourselves about this. I'll share a random realization I had that contributed to me not getting to mingle...I never had to the leave the dance floor for a drink because my friends were constantly getting them for me. I never had to walk past tables to get to the bar, which is a natural way to get away and talk to people. It was a good problem to have I guess!
Forgetting to Explore our Venue
Having our wedding at the River Museum was unique and all of the exhibits were open to our guests! They could walk around the exhibits and see the fish and other creatures. Charlie and I were really excited about this and were looking forward to exploring it a bit ourselves. However, we never got to it. Again, a good problem to have as we were having too much fun at our reception that we didn't think to step away.
Again, this is a super nitpicky list. We absolutely loved our wedding day and will only look back with the best memories. I hope sharing this list will get you thinking about what you truly want out of your wedding day. If you are looking for a wedding videographer or content creator, please contact us. Happy planning!
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