My [almost] Bridal Regret

I am a wedding planner and I came so close to experiencing bridal regret...the same bridal regret I tell every single one of my brides to avoid. The bridal regret that time and time again brides comes to me and tell me they wish they had avoided. Not once have I heard a bride say, "I wish I hadn't."

Pearly Kate Photography

Pearly Kate Photography

You can probably guess what I am talking about, because it's always on the "10 Bridal Mistakes You Don't Want to Make" and "The Biggest Wedding Regrets You Can Avoid."

I'm talking about wedding videography.

About a month before our wedding, everything was in place. We had chatted on and off about hiring a videographer and decided that it just wasn't necessary. I mean, we were only going to watch it once, maybe twice after the wedding, right? So how much of a waste would that be?

How silly of me to let that thought even cross my mind when I had told hundreds of my own brides to avoid that single, common mistake. But I guess that's just one thought that comes with being a bride?

Most of you are thinking, "Okay, okay. I'll hire a videographer IF I have money left over in my budget." Sorry to break it to you, but the majority of weddings go far over budget so you can throw that idea right out the window. You would never hear a bride say, "I am going to serve dinner only if I have budget leftover" or "I'll hire a photographer if I have a couple extra thousand dollars to spare," would you?

You wouldn't.

And just like any other vendor that is considered a necessity, videography should be to. And it should be accounted for within your budget from the beginning so you, too, don't have to join the millions of brides who somehow fall into that thought pattern.

Why is it that videography gets saved for last -- saved for the remainder of the budget? I don't have an answer for you there but I can tell you that I am so glad we hired one. No, we haven't watched the video every day since we tied the knot three years ago. We've probably watched it 10 times or so, to be completely honest.

Pearly Kate Photography

Pearly Kate Photography

But I'll tell you...every single one of those 10 times has brought tears to my eyes, as I remember one of the best days of my life. I've even been in fights with my husband and watched the video, only to be brought to tears one again. There is just something about live video that makes my heart flutter and continues to evoke the beauty of love each and every time I watch. And as I sit here with my almost 2 month old baby girl in my lap, I cannot wait for her to one day share in the beautiful memories of that day. Without that video, it just wouldn't be the same.

"Video captures the moment in a way that photography cannot. And you and your guests will appreciate being able to watch a beautiful recap bringing back to life the magic of the day." (The Bride List vendor Hey Mister DJ)

From a bride to a bride, count videography in as a necessity from the beginning. I promise, you'll thank me you did.

5 of the Biggest Wedding Day Regrets

Almost every bride is going have regrets once the wedding day is over. And I don't mean, "I am so upset with the decisions I made that I didn't even love my wedding" regrets, but little regrets that could have been avoided. And so, without further ado, here are the top five wedding regrets I have seen and experienced in my six years of being a wedding coordinator.

1. Videography

It's plain and simple. Most couples don't hire a videographer so they can save some money or because they only think they'll watch their wedding video maybe once a year, at most. But let me tell you, even if you watch it just once in your lifetime, it is SO worth it! I promise!

2. Outside Influences

There are so many outside influences while planning your wedding- your friends have their dream wedding in mind as they help you plan and your parents want to make this day extravagant and perfect even though their idea of perfection is far from yours. And I know it is hard, but avoid the temptation to just give in. Choose the dress that you love, not the one that your friends think you look the best in. Choose the venue that is exactly what you've dreamed of and dance to the songs that make you happy. Don't worry so much about being judged or making sure your wedding is the wedding of the year. Have fun and create the wedding that YOU have always dreamed of.

3.  Let it all soak in!

About a million and one already married couples are going to tell you how fast your wedding day will go. Believe me, I was sick of people telling me that by the time my wedding day came. But once it's over, you'll truly realize what they were talking about - it's really not something you can understand before it's over. It may seem like a lot of hours, but your wedding day will go by in a flash! So take 10 minutes to just sit alone with your new husband and soak it all in. Just sit for a minute and look out onto the dance floor and see how amazing it is that this celebration is for you, and soak in every single minute, every single second of your wedding day because it'll come and go far quicker than you expect.

4. Hiring Friends

Never ever EVER hire a friend (or friend of a friend) to help with your wedding day. NEVER. If he or she is a true wedding professional, then that's great. But they are far better suited sitting as a guest and enjoying your wedding day.

However, in most cases, they are photographer but not a WEDDING photographer. They are makeup artists but not WEDDING makeup artists. And that is a big no-no for your wedding day. It all comes down to this: Your wedding day will come and go and you only get one chance to make it as you've always dreamed. You may want to save a some money but in the long run, it is not worth the hassle. Those precious moments such as your first kiss can be missed by a photographer in a split second, and a cake baked at home cannot last long in warm weather. No matter the case, no matter the expertise or current friendship status, never hire a friend to help with your wedding day. Let them relax, enjoy, and celebrate with you all night long! Because that's where friends should be!

5. The Wedding Planner

I know this one is a bit bias, as I am a wedding coordinator myself, but that is why I saved this one for last. And you can ask any bride out there and they will all agree! Hire a wedding coordinator AT LEAST for the day of the wedding. You don't want to be on the phone with the bakery when your cake isn't delivered on time. In fact, you never want to know about a cake arriving late, because that is where stress comes from! So just trust me on this, and hire someone to coordinate your wedding day. And no, your aunt doesn't count. Hire a professional!