13 Nov What they don’t tell you about weddings

Posted at 18:41h in wedding advice, Wedding Entertainment, wedding planning by CloseUpChris

Real-life advice from Brides & Grooms

I’ve seen a few weddings in my time and have encountered a full array of emotional incidents along the way.

I’ve seen brides fussing over little, grooms worse for wear, stressed Father of the bride with pre-speech nerves and the odd nana passed out due to her dance floor antics. Of course, this is all standard wedding fare and to be expected on the big day.

However, what I’m talking about today are the things they don’t tell you about your wedding day, the little secrets if you will, that no one warns you about but many experiences.

In this blog, I’ve interviewed my previous clients and asked them to compile a list of things they didn’t expect at their wedding…

Emotional Roller-Coaster

While your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, it can also be an emotional rollercoaster. The nerves will start to set in when you wake up surrounded by your wedding party. As you walk down the aisle, you’ll be met with the loving gazes of all your friends and family. And, of course, there’s the added pressure of making sure you don’t trip in front of everyone. Once you’ve finally made it through the ceremony, it’s time to celebrate at the reception. But beware – this is where the real emotions come out. You’ll probably cry at least once during your first dance, and don’t be surprised if you get a little choked up during your speeches.

Just remember to have a tissue or two on hand!

Holly explains:

“No one warned me quite how emotional the day would be. Maybe naive but I prepared for a long day, to feel knackered, to go with the flow etc. BUT it was certainly a more emotionally intense day than I foresaw”

You’ll overspend

When it comes to weddings, the sky is the limit – and your budget may as well be too.

Whether you’re shelling out for an extravagant venue, a designer dress or an over-the-top cake, weddings are notorious for being expensive. And that’s not even taking into account all of the smaller costs:

Bride Charnie explains:

“Spend your money on what your guest will remember. Have they had enough food and drink and is the entertainment good? They don’t remember the little DIY personalised bits that took you ages to do but they will remember the vibe & energy of the day

special moments with the bride and groom

Bride Emma says

“The additional costs of smaller (but to me, essential) items such as wedding invitations, flowers, wedding favours, taxis, thank-you cards and magicians 🙂 certainly, add up”

what they don't tell you about your wedding

You’ll be exhausted

Wedding days are notoriously long and exhausting – but don’t despair, there are ways to prepare for the lack of sleep you’ll inevitably experience. First, make sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before your big day. And on the day of the wedding be sure to have some pick-me-ups available (Red Bull/double shot latte).

And do you think you’re sleeping on the night of the wedding…

Anna says:

“I was absolutely buzzing when it came to bedtime – I couldn’t sleep!”

Becky says

“The additional costs of smaller (but to me, essential) items such as invitations, flowers, favours, taxis, thank-you cards and magicians 🙂 certainly, add up”

You’ll end up drunk

With the morning prosecco/champagne to the numerous quaffs required as the toasts are made, they’ll be more alcohol running through your system than you may be used to.

So if you’re not a big drinker, be prepared to be tipsy at best (or legless at worst). And if you are a big drinker, well…you might just want to pace yourself.

Olivia explains:

“Everyone kept buying me drinks – it got a little messy!”

Zero Appetite

A wedding day is a whirlwind of excitement, emotion, and activity. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed, you’re constantly on the move, greeting guests, taking photos, and dancing the night away. It’s no wonder that many couples find that they have little appetite on their wedding day…

Alice says

“On the day I had zero appetitive due to the excitement and adrenaline of the day, so make the most of your tasting sessions(s) for food on the run-up to the wedding!”

Lucy says

“I actually didn’t get chance to eat in the evening as I was “working the room”

Tricky Photos

Wedding photos are beautiful, but they can also be a huge pain to have taken. Not only do you have to spend hours posing for pictures, but you also have to worry about looking your best. And if you’re not used to being in front of the camera, it can be downright awkward. If you’re feeling stressed about having your wedding photos taken, just remember that the best photographers will be able to put you at ease straight away.

So chat with your photographer beforehand and let them know your concerns. With any luck, they’ll be able to put your mind at ease and help you enjoy your wedding day.

Lucy explains

“You will get face ache whilst constantly smiling for pictures and your photographer will probably catch a nip slip while taking pictures of you getting ready…”

Rachel says:

“Waterproof makeup was my top tip I received – I cried a lot!”

Over in a flash!

It’s true what they say, your wedding day will be over in a flash. And in the midst of all the chaos, there’s a good chance you’ll miss some of the special memories you’ve been looking forward to making. That’s where a wedding videographer comes in.

A good videographer will help you capture all the moments you may miss, from the first time you see each other to the last dance of the night. They’ll also be able to capture all the little details that you might not have even realised were important. So if you’re looking for a way to hold on to your wedding day forever, consider hiring a videographer. It may just be one of the best decisions you ever make.

Olivia:

“I didn’t hear the music as I walked down the aisle as I was so nervous and excited (whilst trying not to trip over).”

Becky says:

“Take everything in, the best time is the speeches, you have time to look around to see everyone enjoying themselves.

Charnie explains:

“The day went soooo fast. I had 130 people and I didn’t get round to speaking to everyone individually but don’t stress or worry. Where ever you are, your guests will be! If you are on the dance floor, they will be on the dance floor. If you are outside, that’s where they will be. The guests match your energy and follow your lead”

You will barely see your other half!

On your wedding day, be prepared to hardly see your other half – if you allow it! The celebration will inevitably revolve around you and your new spouse, but don’t forget that there will be a lot of other people there who are eager to congratulate you. Your guests will want to talk to you, take photos with you, and perhaps even dance with you. As the evening wears on, you may find yourself getting pulled in different directions.

Charnie says:

“Try and stay together the whole night. You will have people pulling you for conversations and photos but re-group or give the task to one of the wedding party to send your groom back to the dance floor!”

Lucy says:

“Try and get some alone time just you and your hubby/wife to take it in”

Something will go wrong!

It’s pretty much guaranteed that something will go wrong on your wedding day. Whether your makeup artist gets stuck in traffic, it rains during your outdoor ceremony, or your cake topples over when you try to cut it, expect a minor disaster or two! However, there’s no need to stress out too much – after all, it’s all part of the fun of getting married! Just make sure no fingers are lost during the cake cutting, and you’ll be sure to have a wedding day you’ll never forget!

Lucy says:

“Things do go wrong but you kind of don’t care on the day. Oh, and a bib is essential for a wedding breakfast – learn from my mistake!”

Amanda says:

“You can plan for years and months but something will go wrong – you won’t notice till after either because you will be so wrapped up in the moment”

There’s going to be a lull!

While wedding guests are often excited to celebrate the big day, there is usually a lull at some point during the festivities. This can be due to various factors, including the heat of the day, too much champagne or simply there being nothing to do.

Whatever the cause, wedding entertainment can help to save the day. By providing guests with something to enjoy, wedding entertainment can help to break the ice and get everyone back on their feet. From live music to fun photo booths, there are a variety of options available to keep guests entertained. With a little bit of planning, wedding entertainment can help to make sure that everyone has a good time.

Amanda explains:

“Entertainment is key but most people overlook it! Yes, it’s all about the fact you are getting married but let’s face it – people love entertainment and that’s what they’ll remember”

wedding magician entertaining happy couple

Not everyone will dance

One of the most important things to remember when planning your wedding reception is that not everyone will dance. In fact, keeping a packed dance floor is a tall order. So, what do you do if you find yourself in this situation?

Consider electing a few of your bridal party members to actively gee-up those static guests. Alternatively, hire a professional ceilidh instructor or similar to orchestrate your guests into a group dance. When guests can follow along, they’re much more likely to enjoy themselves and let loose on the dance floor.

Paul explains:

“We knew our group of friends weren’t the type to stay on the dance floor so we provided a little extra entertainment in the late evening. We think it was a good choice”

They can’t hear you!

For anyone planning a wedding, it’s important to consider the acoustics of the ceremony location. After all, you want all of your guests to be able to hear the vows as you exchange them.

Otherwise, they’ll just be chatting amongst themselves and missing out on this magical moment. One way to ensure that everyone can hear is to use a microphone. This way, even those guests at the back won’t miss a word. Just be sure to test the sound system in advance so that there are no unwelcome surprises on the big day.

Sam says:

“Two weeks before our big day, I attended a friend’s wedding. During the ceremony, we could barely hear the readings or vows being exchanged. As a result, we borrowed some mics for our wedding that gently picked up the words of our celebrant. It made a big difference”

The Wedding dress

A symbol of purity and new beginnings. However, what most brides don’t realise is that their wedding dress can cause some serious problems when it comes to using the restroom. Since the dress is usually quite form-fitting, it can be difficult to pull up and down without assistance. As a result, many brides find themselves being joined in the restroom by their Maid of Honor or their event planner! Be prepared for a few accompanied trips to the ladies’ room.

Bride Lucy says:

“It was nigh on impossible to go by myself!”

Amanda says:

“When you pick your dress, make sure you can sit down in it and do practical things. It may look amazing but you need to be comfy too!”

Trying not to please too many

Trying to please too many people on your wedding day is quite frankly exhausting. From getting the guest list just right, to making sure so-and-so doesn’t come within a 10-metre radius of you know who – it’s enough to make your head spin! But at the end of the day, none of that will matter. The best thing you can do on your wedding day is to focus on yourself and your spouse. After all, this is YOUR special day. So soak up every moment and enjoy it – because before you know it, it’ll be over!

Real-life Bride Amanda says

“Don’t listen to everyone else! It’s your day. So many people try and give you advice but do what makes you happy!”

Real-life Bride Susan says:

“Our wedding planner helped tidy up some of the tricky decisions we faced. All the things we were getting stressed about were in fact quite small. In the big scheme of things, they didn’t really matter!”

The Morning rush

It’s not uncommon to think you’ve got it all under control during the bridal preps, feet up, cigar on and then BAM, all of a sudden you’re dashing around, frantically searching for spare hairpins, hairspray and the flower girl!

Real-life Bride Charnie says:

“The morning of getting ready with the girls was so much fun and went really smoothly (my friends were super organised) but then all of a sudden there was a last-minute rush and of course, we ended up being late!”

Real-life Bride Becky says:

“Allow enough time to get dressed, it takes longer than you think to put the dress, shoes, jewellery etc. on! You don’t want to be rushing”

Wedding Blues

For some, the idea of wedding blues is a myth. They had the time of their lives on their big day and they’re not about to let anything ruin the happy memories. But for others, the post-wedding blues are all too real. After months (or even years) of planning, the big day has come and gone, leaving you feeling deflated and a little lost.

Extending your own wedding by a few days is a great idea to beat the blues: