I got married in 2014. At the time of writing this post, that was 11 and a half years ago. Now I was pro unique, personality-based wedding even back then. Unfortunately, the industry wasn’t there yet, so my vendors took what I wanted and married it with what they knew at the time. I don’t regret any of my vendor choices, but here are 6 things I regret from my wedding so you can avoid the same regrets.

1. Hanging Onto Tradition

This might surprise you but I held onto tradition with an iron grip. I grew up dreaming about my wedding, so when the big day came, I didn’t know how to let go of what I imagined. Looking back on it today, I most definitely should have let go.

2. Garter Toss

Holding on to tradition, I insisted on a garter toss. Cringe. It started with tradition and continued with purchasing a custom garter that I really wanted my new husband to see. It never occurred to me that I could show it to him later in our honeymoon suite. If we had a wedding today, you wouldn’t catch me having a garter toss (or removal.)

3. Wedding Party

Before you stop reading because you want all of your closest friends standing up with you, I don’t regret having a wedding party. I regret how we split the wedding party. Holding onto tradition so tightly, my party had to be all women, and my husband’s party had to be all men. Meanwhile, his sister was standing on my side and my brother was over on his side. I feel like this does express the unity of the relationship IF you are close with your almost-in-law. We weren’t. I regret not having my brother on my side and my sister-in-law in my husband’s party.

4. Limited Open Bar

My husband and I married relatively young. Because of that, our tastes, and our young friends tastes in alcohol was… sweet. Because of this, we didn’t feel the need to have a full open bar with liquor. Instead we had a beer & wine open bar with one signature cocktail. Before I say I regret it, a beer & wine bar is a great choice for anyone who is on a budget or whose family doesn’t drink much. With that said, if we got married again today, we would have a full open bar, because that’s who we are now.

5. Not Doing a First Look

The classic debate, to have a first look or to not a have a first look. The couples I’ve worked with over the years have been about 50/50 on it. I also hear the same answer A LOT. The bride wants to have a first look but the groom wants to wait for the aisle for tradition’s sake. I chose to wait for the aisle. This is my biggest regret from my wedding day. When you have a first look, you have every ounce of the emotion, surprise, and love that you would experience at the aisle. And you have an added of bonus of being able to hold, kiss, and talk to your person. If you want to have a first look but still leave something for the aisle, save your veil for your walk down the aisle.

There are elements of my wedding I wish I had changed right then and there. There are some I look back and say if I had my wedding today, I would do them differently. It’s normal to wish something would have gone differently. If you’d like to save yourself a whole list of regrets, hire Unveiled as your wedding planner. We make sure you’re wedding is everything you dreamed of. Come back to hear part 2 of more wedding regrets.