You want your wedding to be that epic, perfect day of romance you’ve always imagined. But what can go wrong on your wedding day? Well, there are unfortunately quite a lot of common wedding day mishaps – all of which I want to make sure you avoid! 

From leaving things to the last minute to accidentally inviting that one cousin who you just know will cause problems, it helps so much to know about a few of the most common wedding-planning mistakes couples make.

Here are 10 biggies to watch out for, and how you can deal with them. 

1. Going over budget  

Splurging on more elaborate flowers, fireworks or free-flowing champagne all night? While that all sounds tempting, one of the most common wedding day mistakes is going over your budget. 

Your wedding is the start of your future together, so make smart choices. While it’s not always easy, your finances will thank you! It helps to decide in advance what your priorities are and concentrate on those when planning.

After the big day, only your photos and memories are left – so it’s worth focusing on what matters most. 

2. Running late

What should you avoid on your wedding day? Running late! One of the most common culprits for this is hair and makeup, which can often take longer than you’ve planned. Inevitably, a late start in the morning throws off your timings for the rest of the day, which cuts into your time for bridal portraits.

Since your photographer is an investment, avoid running late by making a run sheet (more on this below!) and leaving a buffer of time between each of the day’s activities. 

3. Forgetting to make a run sheet! 

How do you ruin a wedding? A big danger factor is neglecting a run sheet! One of the biggest wedding planning problems is not having a timeline for your day, outlining all of the timeframes and stages for you, your wedding party, and your vendors and suppliers.

I know this sounds a bit over-the-top, but a run sheet is seriously a game-changer. Without it, important elements of the day may need to be cut short or things may end up being forgotten. I’ll be glad to help you figure out the logistics so you can relax and focus on your best day ever! 

4. Not choosing your guest list wisely 

I know this is a touchy subject, but take great care and choose your guest list wisely. Your wedding is a special day all about celebrating your love, so you only want to invite friends and family who have your best interests at heart.

And if there’s a relative or colleague who isn’t making the list? It’s hard, but it’s always best that they hear it from you rather than someone else. You can always explain to them that your budget means you need to limit who you invite.

5. Not including traditions that are meaningful to you 

Again, your wedding is a celebration of your love as a couple – not anyone else’s! For this reason, you should personalise it however you like. 

This might mean including certain traditions that are important to you, but it might also mean doing things differently than your parents or grandparents did. Your wedding day will be so much more meaningful if you do it your own way. 

While most brides wear white, for example, it’s not for everyone! So decide which wedding traditions are right for you and which you might forego.

6. Becoming overwhelmed 

I often see couples becoming super stressed because they’re overwhelmed with wedding planning. I know how full-on weddings can be, so my advice is to go easy on yourself and surround yourself with people who can help.

One of the biggest DIY wedding mistakes is trying to carry all of the weight on your shoulders. Instead, choose your dream team of wedding planners/family/friends wisely, lean on their expertise, and let them help you! Deep breaths – you got this.

7. Forgetting to tell your guests about going unplugged

This is a personal choice, of course, but one of the major things brides forget on their wedding day is to tell guests about their mobile phone policy. Many couples don’t want to walk down the aisle to a sea of phone screens capturing the moment.

It’s your wedding, so you’re allowed to ask your guests to refrain from filming or posting on social media – your images are something you have control over. Plus, limiting phone use encourages guests to be more present in the moment. 

8. Not eating

Wedding days often involve a bit (or a lot!) of drinking, especially in our gorgeous South West Australia, where we have a plethora of amazing wineries and breweries.

In all the excitement of the day, it’s easy to get caught up in everything and forget to eat. Not to sound like your mum, but you should make time to have some food, drink plenty of water, and pace yourself! Serving a breakfast spread while you and the bridal party are getting ready can help with this. 

9. Booking your vendors too late

A big wedding error is booking your vendors and venue too late. One huge impact of the pandemic is that events and weddings have been postponed and rescheduled, with 2022 looking to be a massive year for the wedding industry!

Popular wedding venues can get booked out one to two years in advance, as can well-regarded suppliers. If your heart is set on a certain location or dream team, lock them in ASAP. 

10. D-floor playlists and outfit choices

What are the do’s and don’ts at a wedding? Again, this is a personal thing and may sound silly, but keep in mind that you don’t need to please everyone on the dance floor! Who in your party loves to boogie? Pick a few surefire songs that you know will get them tapping, once your extraverted mates are cutting a rug, everyone else will join in!

The first dance is an incredibly special moment on your day. Some couples like to keep it simple with a romantic and slow cheek-to-cheek, while others love the idea of going all out and learning a customised swing routine! All options are great but just remember, if you’re a couple from the latter category (particularly the brides!), just remember that delicate wedding dresses can only withstand so much. So, if you’re planning any super crazy dance moves, just watch out for a wardrobe malfunction! If you know you’re going to dance your heart out on your wedding day, that’s awesome – just choose a wedding dress that can handle it (or even bring along a more flexible outfit change for this portion of the reception – 70s-inspired disco onesie, anyone?).

Now we’ve gone through some common wedding problems (and solutions!), I hope you know more about what to look out for. If you want more wedding planning help, I have great news! In 2022, I’ll be releasing The Ultimate Game-Changing Wedding Planner, a print guide for all of my wonderful couples to help you navigate all things wedding planning. 

In the interim, please drop me a line if you have any questions about the wedding planning process and how it might align with your photography needs. I can’t wait to meet you and hear about your incredible wedding ideas!