The Biggest Wedding Regrets and How to Avoid Them

Let’s face it – things happen. Life happens and some of these things are out of your control. And life doesn’t take a break, even for your wedding day. There are always going to be bumps along the wedding planning road, and even on your big day. But, there are ways you can recover and avoid these regrets entirely. Ensuring that you’ve planned every detail and double checked your timeline of events will help you avoid any major bumps, but there are still some hiccups that may happen. So, we’re talking about the biggest wedding regrets and what you can do to avoid them. 

Don’t Forget what is Truly Important 

We’ve all seen or heard of that show - Brideszilla. Sometimes, brides – even grooms can get a little out of control. Sometimes venting can turn into complaining and just may spiral out of control. Your wedding party is there to support you and you must remember that they are some of the most important people to you and your fiance. It is okay to vent, but don’t let your wedding party or loved ones become your wedding complaint box and work to remember what is truly important. Ask yourself your “why” and remember at the end of your wedding day, all that matters is that you are married and can embark on this new journey together as one. 

Don’t Forget about the Vendors 

Your vendors are at the heart of your wedding. They are the individuals that make your wedding day run smoothly. Yes, we may know some cool people that have talents, but at the end of the day they are not wedding professionals (unless they seriously work in the industry..) No matter what your budget is, you can find wedding vendors that can fit your needs and budget. You may have to get creative or rethink your experience, but they are the ones that drive your wedding day. 

Keep it Simple 

It is ONE day. There are only 24 hours in one day and you want to ensure that things aren’t getting complicated or planned out to the minute. Yes, you’ll want a general timeline for the day complete with all the details, but you don’t want to overcomplicate things. Be realistic about what you can achieve during the wedding day, don’t make huge expectations for yourself or your wedding party. 

It’s Okay to set Boundaries

Boundaries are hard, let alone setting boundaries with family. But, at the end of the day, this is the union between two people and two people alone. You need to set boundaries for advice and opinions throughout the wedding planning process. You don’t have to have all of your wedding parties and future mothers-in-law rate your wedding dresses from one to ten. You make the rules. You decide who attends vendor meetings with you; you decide you get to go to your cake or caterer tasting; you get to pick your wedding dress. If you’d prefer to do it alone, or just with your finances, then do it! Set the boundaries that work for you and keep your mind sound. 

Remember your Wedding License

We cannot stress this enough – you are not legally married until you sign and send your wedding license off. We’ve heard so many stories and witnessed couples who have forgotten to go to the courthouse in time or even forgot to mail their wedding license to the courthouse. Set out to get your wedding license a few days before, it’s best to call your local courthouse to learn about the timeline to visit. Sign your marriage license after your ceremony and be sure it gets mailed! Your officiant said they will mail it? Be sure to follow up the next week and ensure that it was sent. However, you chose to send it off – make sure it hits the post. One of the biggest regrets we’ve heard is learning that a couple found out they were not legally married for YEARS because the certificate never made it to the courthouse.  

Say Yes to Compromise

Compromise is a pillar of a healthy and happy marriage. This also includes compromise during the wedding planning process. There are two individuals involved in a marriage, therefore there are two individuals that should be at the forefront of planning. Be sure to include your partner in any and all decisions and compromise to make the day an affair that reflects both of you. There are so many ways to incorporate each others’ tastes and we can even help elevate your fiance’s favorite football team. But, your wedding day is a celebration of your love and union, so compromise, be kind to each other and work as a team to plan your wedding day. 

Don’t Book without a Budget

Repeat after me – I will not book a vendor or plan any details without setting a budget first. The BIGGEST mistake we’ve seen clients make is saying no to the budget or forgetting to make a budget all together. Your budget drives your wedding planning. Without it, not decisions should be made. Your budget needs to be set first as your begin the process. No decision should be made without consulting your budget and ensuring that you are able to make payments happen and select all of the other details. Your budget is your best friend and we don’t want to see any of our clients in debt, or stretched too thin, due to their lack of budgeting. 

We could go on for days about various regrets and how to avoid them - but we’d need a podcast for that. Although it may sound scary, regrets and unexpected things do occur. Not often, but they happen and we never want to see our couples experience these regrets throughout the planning process. As you begin planning, start with your budget first, set healthy and manageable boundaries with your loved ones, keep things simple and don’t overcomplicate the planning process, be real about your expectations and don’t forget to RELAX. 

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

2024 Wedding Trends

The new year is an exciting time. It’s a time for new resolutions, new adventures and a time to recreate and explore new opportunities. In the wedding industry, the new year means there is a shift in wedding design. Yes, some of our favorite trends will stay and there’s always the staples in wedding design, but the new year brings forth fresh ideas for our new couples. Now, we’re not mind readers, nor can we see into the future, but we have been in this business for 18+ years. We’ve done our homework and compiled some of our favorite trends that we HOPE to see in 2024. So, grab a coffee or pop some bubbly and let’s explore some wedding trends for the new year!

#01: Candid Moments

Now, this trend has been on the swift move for the last couple of years, but we predict it will continue to grow this year. More couples and photographers are moving towards realistic photography and capturing the moments throughout the day, rather than the traditional posed wedding pictures. Realistic shots capture emotion and the moment. It gives a raw image effect, and we are here for it! Along with candid moments, we predict there will be a rise in bringing back disposable cameras and polaroids. There are apps where couples can utilize their phone as a disposable camera and the happy couple can view all of their guests' photos.

#02: Focus on Florals

Florals have been on the rise this past year and we predict that they are not going anywhere. In 2024, florals will be taking center stage. We predict that floral arrangements will be bold and dramatic. They will adorn the ceremony space and drape the reception area. But, just because florals will be on the rise, doesn’t mean that we will see larger-than-life floral arrangements in 2024. Florals will be simple and dramatic, but create a high impact on the overall wedding design. If you’d like to follow this trend, but you have a tight budget, think about repurposing your florals from the ceremony space to the reception area. Think and create away to utilize your florals to the max.

#03: Classic Wedding Dress Design

Okay, we’re revisiting the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s for this one. Our research shows that our brides will be channeling their inner Victoria Beckham with a classic structure and drop waistline. This style has a classic silhouette that brings forward a structured vintage vibe. We can’t help but think of the scene from Lindsey Lohan’s “The Parent Trap” where she’s helping her wedding dress designer mom at the studio. We envision that brides will choose fuller skirts, with corset drop waist tops. Structure and elegance will adorn the aisle in 2024 and we’re so excited to see all the fashion.

#04: Pops of Pattern

We’ve seen this trend start to emerge in the past year and we predict that it will make a rise in 2024. We expect to see patterns pop up in our weddings. Patterns can be a scary word at times. But, when we say patterns, we don’t mean large, obnoxious polka dots – we mean elegant patterns such as florals or twall. We predict that we will see patterns throughout the wedding day, from tablecloths to patterns tied into the wedding party’s attire. Patterns can bring a classic and sophisticated aire to your wedding day.

#05: Bold Color Palettes

We’ve had a few years of the natural and boho color palettes, but we predict that this year will bring bold colors. Even Pantone is predicting the bold color trend with Peach Fuzz, Bright Horizon Blue, Vibrant Sun Orange, and Fresh Bistro Green being their top contenders for this 2024 year. Bold colors are eye-catching and will create a playful design. We predict that there will be strong statements made throughout the wedding planning process and bold colors will be seen throughout wedding invites, wedding party attire, floral arrangements, and the reception. Now, when we say bold we’re not saying that every color of the rainbow will be present. Bold colors can be incorporated in a sophisticated way. Choosing a monochrome palette with pops of bold, bright colors will do the trick!

Now, we could sit here and write all of our future predictions for the new year, but we just wanted to highlight our top five predicted trends. We can’t wait to see more candids captured between our couples, a focus on high-impact florals, bold color choices, classic wedding dress silhouettes, and pops of patterns throughout the event. We also love that these trends can be done at a minimalist or maximalist approach (whatever suits your fancy). Be sure to check out our social media accounts @elegantaffairswa to see how our couples incorporate these trends!

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Let’s Talk Wedding Costs and Budgeting

How did you tackle creating a budget for your wedding day? There are many different ways to approach budgeting and creating a financial plan for your wedding day. But, the bottom line in creating a budget is knowing where to start and with what to start with. As you plan your wedding, finances can create an added stress between you, your partner, and your family. As wedding coordinators and planners, we want to decrease that stress and one of the ways we do so is by sitting down with our clients and creating a manageable budget that is safe for our couples.

So, let’s talk about what line items to include in your overall wedding budget and how to stay within your budget! 

The first step to discuss is to figure out where your wedding budget will come from and how you will fund your wedding. In the past, it was a historical tradition that the bride’s family would fund the wedding budget. But, in modern times, many couples choose to ask both families or strictly use their own finances to create their budget. We think that it is important to remember that yes – your wedding day can be your Pinterest dream wedding, but you need to be realistic in what you can achieve. We never want to see our couples disappointed in what their wedding budget can offer, because there are ways to create your dream wedding on a budget. Sit down with your partner and discuss what you can financially afford. What do you have in savings now and what are you able to contribute each month to the wedding fund? Do you feel comfortable talking to your parents to discuss if there is a want to contribute to the wedding budget? These are the foundational questions when starting to build your wedding budget. Do not create a budget, without crunching the numbers of what you can actually afford. We never want to see our couples in a hard spot, or with added stress due to money. We also, never want to see their families’ financial status compromised due to supporting a dream money. So be realistic about setting the “number” for your wedding and whatever you decide, stick to it. Don’t plan the “what ifs” and think about what you can accomplish. 

Once you have your set number, there are some main pillars that will create your budget. We highly recommend hiring a wedding planner as the first portion of your budget, to help you navigate sticking to your budget. First, your wedding budget will determine the amount of people that can attend your wedding. We love our family and friends, but when it comes down to it, each person attending your wedding day is going to be an added cost on your wallet. Sit down with your partner and either choose a set number of guests and collaborate on who to invite, or pre-write your wedding guest list and tailor your guest amount from there. We highly suggest you set your budget and final number first, before even talking about wedding guests. You don’t want to do the opposite, because you may end up piling up debt due to your wedding day. 

Now, the bulk of your wedding budget will go towards the following: your venue, catering, photography, and if needed rentals. When locating and finding a venue, it is important to read the fine lines on what your venue includes. Does it just include the physical space? Will you need to bring rentals in, like tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception? This can be the largest part of your budget, so determining and finding a venue that fits your needs and budget is crucial. Once you’ve located your venue, before signing, be sure to ask if there are rules on preferred vendors. Many wedding venues will work with preferred vendors or a preferred vendor for catering. Catering can often be a budget breaker, so before signing the contract for the venue, reach out and/or research the preferred vendors for catering and determine what their prices are like. You definitely don’t want to book a venue that requires you to use a caterer outside of your budget. Once you’ve booked your venue and your caterer, go ahead and book your photographer. These items will be the largest part of your budget. When you create your budget, set most of your money to fund these areas. 

The smaller areas of your budget will be spread out throughout the year and not require substantial money upfront. You’ll want to create lines in your budget for decor, attire, transportation, and paper products. Decor can be broken down into a vendor for florists, centerpieces, reception, and ceremony area. Don’t be afraid to create and find decor that can be repurposed throughout the wedding sites. There are a lot of affordable options for creating and finding decor in all budgets. Don’t box yourself in and don’t take on too many DIY projects. Because, sometimes those DIY projects that we think will be a money and a time saver, actually end up costing more. 

As you plan your wedding budget, start at the foundation. Create your number with your partner and/or families and stick to it. If you need to adjust your budget throughout, do so, but do not spend above your means. You don’t want your wedding to be a financial burden for yourself, your partner, or your families. After setting lines for the major portions of wedding planning (venue, catering, rentals, and photography) , discuss what other factors are important and how much money you want to set aside for each. This can include florals, wedding attire, transportation, and your DJ. But, through all the planning, know that if you are stuck in the process anyway, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Wedding planners and coordinators can be a part of your wedding planning budget and we highly recommend hiring either a full-time planner or a wedding day coordinator to ease the stress and ensure that your event goes perfectly. At Elegant Affairs, we do offer a free consultation and we’d love to meet with you to discuss how we can help and if our services fit into your budget. So, if you’re newly engaged, reach out to us today! We’d love to help you plan your special day and budget away! Congratulations to all of our new couples – we can’t wait to see what 2024 has to offer you!

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.