THINGS I WOULD HAVE CHANGED:
1)Photographer
I would definitely have flown in one or two of my photography idols to shoot the wedding. The problem is deciding which two. Or three. I can probably narrow it down to fifteen, if I try really hard. One day I should post just about that!
**EDIT** I've had it pointed out to me that this sounds a bit like I'm being mean about my photographer, and I honestly didn't mean it that way. This is what I wrote in the comments.
I was thinking more in terms of money; there are some hugely expensive people in America that I would die to have shoot my wedding because they are GODS to me (in photography). But I had a look at some of their prices, and with the exchange rate...well, let's put it this way. If I wanted to hire a certain popular, fab US photographer (I won't name names here), their cheapest package would cost me more than MY ENTIRE WEDDING did. Without even flying two of them in and providing accommodation. Just the package. The cheapest package! But their photos would be so worth it if I had that kind of money! That was kind of what I meant. I didn't mean any offence to my photographer. But if I had the money to get someone who I consider to be the best photographer in the world, then I would get the best photographer in the world!
2) Videographer
I would have got one. My Dad's friend's footage made me realise how inadequate he was.
3) Wedding coordinator
I would definitely have got one. None of this family setting up on the morning, rushing around to fetch bouquets stuff. It wasn't that bad, but an organiser would have taken the pressure off just a tad.
4) Photo booth
I sooooo would have had one! It just seemed like an unnecessary expense at the time. But they're so frikkin cool.
5) Florist
I would have hired a real one who could give me exactly what I wanted, and not gone with my friend's sister to save money. That way my bouquet might have been the right colour.
6) DJ
I would have got a better one...he was ok, but not great. He played some iffy song choices.
7) Date
I would have had it on a Saturday. Far too many people left earlier because they were tired or had to work on Saturday. Considering I've worked Saturdays for years, I know what that's like. Still, I wish they'd stayed longer.
8) Cake!
I would have hired the most expensive cake-maker in town just to be sure to escape from the wreck that was my cake. The toppers, however, I adore and I would put them on every cake I ever eat in the future, if that wasn't...weird.
THINGS I WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED:
1) My shoes and accessories. Loved them!
2)The programs, table names, favours & other DIY stuff - I loved doing all this stuff and I love how it turned out!
3) The chapel decor. I was stressing that I'd left it too bare, but in the end the carpet of petals was simple and perfect!
4) Venue. Well, obviously, if I had endless money, I would have flown everyone out for a destination wedding somewhere beautiful and tropical. However, since that sort of thing just isn't practical and conducive to having everyone you want attend, I would probably have kept it where it was. The Moon & Sixpence was a good venue. However, I have since found two I liked more...but at the time, I liked it best, so I think I'd have stuck with it.
5) Dress. I might have tried on a Jenny Packham Papillon to satisfy my Packham envy, but I have a sneaking suspicion it mightn't have looked that good in me. In which case I would probably have stuck with my own dress, which I love.
6) Hair & Make-up. I loved what Megan and Mel did! I have never felt so lovely.
7) Bridesmaids & Groomsman outfits. They looked good!
and, most importantly, and really the one thing that makes none of the above matter anyway:
8) The Groom. Because even with all that stuff I would have changed, I doubt if my smile could have got any bigger than this:
Because it was perfect in its own way, without everything being, well, perfect.
PS - Happy 5 month anniversary to The Ruby Slippers' TODAY!
Love this post because it faces the reality -- no wedding is perfect. We all have the "shoulda woulda couldas" but in the end, we all ended up married. And, while we might have made some bad choices, we also made some good ones. ;-) Love that photo of you too, by the way. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteAw - happy five month anniversary! This was a good post. It got me to thinking about what is really important as far as the weddding goes!
ReplyDeleteI could ditto your entire post, especially, especially, ESPECIALLY the co-ordinator. Things turned out, but the stress of trying to get everything done and on time (that didn't happen!) and all... If there was one expense that would have been worth it, that's the one!
ReplyDeleteQuick question -- Isn't your photographer having you shoot second on some weddings? Does she mind you saying you'd have gone with someone else?
ReplyDeleteOh, man. Britt, I hope not. I didn't mean to possibly hurt anyone's feelings like that, but now that I reread it, I see how it might come across. I was thinking more in terms of money...there are some hugely expensive people in America that I would die to have shoot my wedding because they are GODS to me (in photography). But I had a look at some of their prices, and with the exchange rate...let's put it this way. If I wanted to hire a certain popular, fab US photographer (I won't name names here), their cheapest package would cost me more than MY ENTIRE WEDDING did. Without even flying two of them in and providing accommodation. Just the package. But their photos would be so worth it if I had that kind of money! That was kind of what I meant. I didn't mean any offence to my photographer. But if I had the money to get someone who I consider to be the best photographer in the world, then I would get the best photographer in the world!
ReplyDelete