by Johanna Osborne.

“Non, je ne regrette rien … “ Edith Piaf may not have regretted anything in her full and colourful life, and whilst we certainly approve of her mantra, we do think there are some golden moments in life where hindsight truly is a gift. In terms of wedding planning, the experiences of those that came before can be a blessing, as much can be learnt from brides willing to share not only their joy but some of their regrets. Certain things, however small, when carefully considered can make a big difference. So in a quest to get it right it’s worth taking the time to think it through. Having said that, few weddings are completely “flawless” and it’s often the minor hiccups that end up being the funniest tales to tell in years to come.

Some of our dear brides, past and present, were kind enough to share some of their thoughts on the matter with us and we bring you what they had to say below…

“My wedding cake tasted like cardboard. Always ask for a taste-test so you are sure you and your guests will be pleased. People do remember the cake, trust me!”
Lily, Wellington

“I should have had a schedule for the day. We thought we could wing it, but ended up running behind all day and no one knew where they were supposed to be”.
Angela, Upper Hutt

“I wish I’d made more time to mingle with my guests. I was so engrossed in my dress and the photos that the day just zoomed by, and I can’t remember talking to anyone!”
Fiona, Palmerston North

“I never took that moment to breathe and take it all in, which in hindsight is a shame. I think everyone needs 5-10 minutes of just ‘couple time’, where you take a moment to let it all sink in. Like a mini-meditation”.
Bernadette, Silverstream

“I wish I hadn’t gone overboard with my wedding diet. I was more focused on losing weight than anything else and ended up being way too thin and cranky.”
Sofia, Wellington

“Not using a wedding planner and assuming I could do it all myself. I wish I had saved myself a few grey hairs and wrinkles by getting someone to help me organise the biggest day of my life.”
Sarah, Brooklyn

“I asked my friend to do my make up, and whilst she did the best she could, I really wish I had spent the little bit extra and gone movie star glam for my big day”.
Trish, Vogeltown

“If I could do it all again I’d have a bigger wedding. We cut so many people off the list to keep it small, and it ended up hurting a lot of people and caused resentment at a time that should have been about happiness.”
Yvonne, Masterton

“I wish I had got a wedding video. I know one day our kids will want to watch us get married, and it would have been a gift to capture it all not only in photos but on film as well.”
Tammy, Island Bay

“I went for the big poufy princess dress and it was amazing, but I couldn’t move and felt totally restricted. It stopped me mingling with my guests and going to the toilet was a nightmare. Even on your wedding day being comfortable is an advantage.”
Joanna, Te Aro

None of these are deal-breakers but could potentially be food for thought. Don’t beat yourself up if you do end up making some decisions that you later wish you hadn’t. As the famous quote goes “Mistakes are sometimes the best memories!” Happy planning to all our wonderful brides and grooms.