OMs - what are you really glad you included/prepared for on the day?

Think about how your guests will get from church to venue. We didn't have to worry about this as we had everything at one venue - this turned out to be blessing in disguise as the weather was awful. It threw it down with rain the whole day - we had arranged for rooftop photos to be done and in the end this didn't happen.

But having been to weddings previously it was horrendous watching other brides fretting because some people were not around for photos as they were still on route to the venue from the church and time was an issue. Everyone dresses up for a wedding and trying to dodge showers or pouring rain in special outfits is a real pain. Some people head for a wedding not wanting to worry about transport/drinking issues - just things to consider if you worry about your guests.

I also did goody bags for the children which went down a storm, the older ones had cameras with a selection of suggestions/ideas of pictures to take and younger ones had activities/toys to occupy them along with a few snacks and a drink to keep them going. We actually got some pretty good photos out of this but we were not worried if nothing had come from them - but it was fun for the kids and the parents thought they were a brilliant idea.

Swampy

The tip about kids pack is a must. We had 22 eight-years-or-unders at our wedding. We had put in our invites "Your children are welcome at our wedding but if you would like a weekend away or night out without them, you should not feel obliged to bring them. Most did but a few didn't. We emailed everyone who had said they were bringing their child/baby and asked them to confirm dietary requirements or if they would be bringing baby food, asked if they would be able to bring their own high chair or booster seat. We also asked what sort of things kept their child entertained. (For the record, most said colouring stuff but we threw in some inflatable instruments and they were massively popular, especially later on the dance floor).

I'm really glad I had the entire week off before the wedding. I was only able to do this because i negotiated with my lovely bosses to roll over one week of annual of annual leave from last year when we were saving and therefore didn't go on holiday, to this year.

I'm glad I made our own table plan that was fairly easy to edit right up to the last minute. We had people drop out and other people come in their place and it was really easy to do that. It's more likely to happen when you have 140 guests than 70 but it's worth keeping in mind.

I would always pick a band over a DJ every time. People get and dance more and people who don't dance will be entertained more just watching. In between DJ sets we made a playlist on Spotify Premium, so even the in between songs had people up dancing.

Don't forget to cut the cake, we nearly did and were very late doing it. My best friend forgot altogether at hers.

Have want you want and do it all your way. We have had loads of "Best. Wedding. Ever!" style feedback and that statement is often followed up by them telling us it was because we looked so happy and it was all so relaxed and joyful. That wouldn't be the case if we hadn't done what we wanted. I didn't throw the bouquet because it makes me cringe, we didn't have a first dance and I was the M.C. for the speeches - all not traditional but all very us.

Great advice about the children's pack and an easily editable plan is a very good point! Thanks for posting

One week before my wedding we had to get my moh dress altered ,we had it changed from zip to lace up (long story ) which meant on the day we would have 2 lace up dresses to do (myself and moh) ,throw in an 11.50 am wedding and 3 other small bridesmaids to get ready.

The lady at the alteration shop offered a service of dressing brides and bridesmaids ,took her up on the offer and what a godsend she was, could not have done it without her I would recommend if you have one or more lace up dresses on the day.

Also so glad I did kids goody bags as soon as they got them we never heard a peep out of them all day , colouring books ,colour pencils sticker books, games and things to make (girls had foam purses and hair slides to make and boys had foam planes to make ).

I think I'm going to have to do the kids pack thing - just need to know how many of them to do first!

Wish I'd had that. My hairdresser arriving an hour late meant bridesmaid 4 was still be laced up at 2.14pm. Our wedding was at 2pm and the registrar very nearly left.

Len11212

this ^^^^ our hair dresser was 45 mins late also , id planned to have at least 30 mins to myself (have something to eat and drink and calm down) the morning turned to chaos until the dresser arrived she was early I might add and she brought calm with her ,took charge and dressed little ones, then us ,we actually left the house 5 mins early just so glad we had her there on the day.

great idea!! consider it well and truly stolen! *adds thank you sign to list of things to buy* any advice on where to purchase one? thanks!

Oh no i bought one of these from Hobbycraft, decided i would probably forget it on the day and returned it ☹️

Maybe i will have to get one again ....

Glow sticks! These are now definitely on my ever increasing to buy list!

We had these, we asked our caterer to hide them inside everyones napkins. So they fell out as they picked them up. It was a nod to the fact we got married in Ibiza.

I never thought of them before but I think they'd be really fun!

I put glow stick packs in the kids goody bags (checked age on pack first)
they made hats ,glasses and earing ect

great fun at the disco

I am really glad that between the Church and reception, we went else where for couple shots. Although it meant having time away from our guests (they were adequately entertained at the reception venue), we had a precious 20 minutes together where nothing else in the world mattered.

I am also really glad that I trusted my florist. I didn't and still don't know much about flowers. I set my spec as sunflowers awash with whites and pastels in a rustic tie and the results were amazing. I had seen much of her wedding work previous, but knew when I met her that we were on the same wave length.

I am also really glad that we had a father-daughter dance, that was a really special moment.

Oh god, I love a wedding. I loved mine - obv - but I love everyone else's too. All that dolling up, afternoon boozing (such decadence) and happiness all in one place. I would love to have been at every single wedding on this forum.

I am massively glad that I went to meet all my guests at the hotel the night before. We hadn't planned on making it a "Big Night" but after everyone had travelled over four hours to get there, everyone was in dire need of a drink and a chill out, so what was supposed to be a quiet affair became quite raucous. It was awesome - it just felt like the wedding went on for two days rather than the one.

The wedding wasn't until 2:30PM so everyone had time for a hair of the dog to get over their hangovers.