We spend most weekends at weddings, and we've noticed the same handful of things going wrong. Not disasters, mostly. Just the little problems that make a day feel more stressful than it should. Here are the wedding day mistakes we see most often, and how to dodge them.
Leaving the legal paperwork too late
In England and Wales, you both need to give notice of marriage at your local register office at least 29 days before the wedding. That bit people usually know. What catches them out is that register offices can be busy, so the appointment you need might not be available next week. Book it as soon as you're in the window. A notice lasts 12 months, so you've got plenty of room.
Our wedding planning checklist has a section on this.
A huge gap with nothing in it
The longest wait of the day is usually the drinks reception, while you're off having photos. Then there's often another lull in the early evening, between the speeches and the first dance. Guests stand about, check their phones and go quiet.
You don't need to fill every minute, but those two gaps really benefit from something. A close-up magician during the drinks (we run Magician For Hire, so we're biased), and something that pulls the room together as the evening guests arrive.
Too many photos
Group shots take ages. Every combination of family adds a few minutes, and if you've got a list of 25 groups, that's most of the drinks reception gone. Keep the formal list short, give it to an usher who knows who everyone is, and let the photographer catch the rest naturally.
Your guests will thank you. So will your feet.
Not telling suppliers what's going on
Every supplier should have the same running order, the venue address, parking details and the name and number of someone on the day who isn't you. It's amazing how often a band turns up to the front door of a venue when they should be at the service entrance, or a magician doesn't know the meal has moved forward by half an hour.
Make a one page plan. Send it to everyone a few weeks before. Done.
No plan for rain
This is England. A summer date doesn't mean sunshine. If any part of your day is outdoors, know exactly where it moves to if it rains, and have a look at that space before the day. Golf umbrellas in your wedding colours are a nice touch too. See our rainy day wedding plan for more.
Forgetting the kids
If you're inviting children, the speeches and the photos are going to be hard work for them. That's not their fault. Activity packs on the tables help, and a children's entertainer in a side room for an hour or two can turn a fidgety afternoon into the best day they've had all year. Party Magicians is one of ours, and we've written more in wedding ideas for kids.
Speeches that go on and on
One long speech is fine. Three long speeches is a problem, especially if the evening guests are already waiting outside. Have a gentle word with your speakers about keeping it to a few minutes each. It's kinder to them too, because nerves don't improve with length.
Moving the speeches before the meal is a popular fix. The speakers relax and enjoy their food, and nobody's watching the clock.
Skipping food in the morning
Every wedding there's someone in the bridal party who hasn't eaten since the night before. Then they have two glasses of fizz in the drinks reception. Get a proper breakfast in, and ask someone to bring snacks to wherever you're getting ready.
Trying to manage everything yourselves
On the day, you shouldn't be answering supplier calls or moving chairs. Give one calm, organised person the job of being the contact. Your venue coordinator will help, but they're looking after the whole venue, not just you.
And don't spend the whole day worrying about the timings. Things slip. The photos will run over, someone will lose a buttonhole. It won't matter. Have a look at our sample wedding timeline to see where the slack usually goes.