9 Mistakes You Should Avoid as a Bride

Yes, even at a wedding—an event that usually takes a whole year to plan—things can go wrong. And they almost certainly will. There are a few things that brides very often get wrong or forget, either on the wedding day itself or during the preparations. Maybe our 9 tips will help you think of absolutely everything.

1. You think too much about others

Many brides feel that they have to prove something to others with their wedding, or that they have to conform to other people’s ideas and wishes. But for heaven’s sake, don’t do that! It starts right at the wedding ceremony. Maybe Grandma Rosi will be sad that you want to skip traditional customs. Maybe Dad Rudi isn’t thrilled that you don’t want a church wedding. Maybe your friends will think it’s ridiculous that you’ve chosen “Tainted Love” as your processional song. But every decision regarding your wedding is 100% up to you, because it’s your day—so don’t worry so much about what others will think of this or that decision.

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2. You're setting the wrong priorities

Were you already a total Pinterest junkie before you even started planning, reading thousands of bridal magazines and following a wedding blogger or two? And now, of course, you want floral arrangements just as extravagant as Bride X’s, the same dress as Bride Y’s, and the same luxury invitations as Bride Z’s? Be careful. If only the best is good enough, you’ll not only drive your future husband crazy but, little by little, yourself as well. First of all, you need to realize that the amazing picture-perfect weddings you see online and in magazines are often just staged weddings put together by vendors to provide inspiration for brides and grooms and to create images for their own advertising. And if that “fairy-tale wedding” at such-and-such palace is actually a real wedding, it likely had a massive budget. So before you drive yourself crazy with disappointment while getting quotes, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself: What really matters to you? And ask your future husband that, too. Chances are, no guest will remember what your flowers looked like. And most people won’t even notice how expensive the silk ribbon and wax seal were on the invitations. Work with your groom to make a list of priorities so you don’t turn into Bridezilla.

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3. You want to save money—at any cost

Do you think the florist is way too expensive and would rather have your little sister do the floral arrangements? Don’t want to spend so much money on invitations and would rather make them yourself? Want to save money by letting Uncle Otto handle the photography? You might want to think twice about that! You’re very likely underestimating everything you want to handle yourself. Most brides wish, in hindsight, that they’d just paid a professional after all. Especially those who still want to decorate the venue themselves on the morning of the wedding. Trust us—on that day, there simply won’t be any mental bandwidth left for something like that! Are you sure the floral arrangements will turn out as great as those from a master florist? And does your little sister even have the necessary know-how? Many things that are second nature to professionals are often completely overlooked by others (in the floral example, for instance, the longevity of the flowers). And what if you don’t like the photos Uncle Otto takes at all? Unfortunately, you can’t redo the wedding… So before you fall into the big, disappointing DIY trap, you should really consider investing more or, if necessary, saving up for another year to have the wedding—and in return, it’ll be absolutely stress-free and perfect!

4. You're underestimating the time it will take

When planning the schedule, most brides make the mistake of grossly underestimating the time required. As a result, in 80% of cases, the schedule listed on the invitation does not match the actual schedule on the wedding day. Couples who have planned a photo shoot after the ceremony, in particular, often make the mistake of assuming it can easily be wrapped up in an hour. The wedding ceremony itself—especially if it’s a non-religious ceremony—could also take longer than planned. Often, people don’t factor in unexpected moments, such as impromptu speeches by family members or friends. Or the ceremony might be delayed by a quarter of an hour because the maid of honor is stuck in traffic. All of this can push the entire wedding schedule back. So be sure to plan a little extra time for everything, so that the schedule isn’t completely thrown off track and, in the worst-case scenario, individual items on the program don’t have to be canceled.

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5. You buy the wrong wedding dress

Of course, it’s rare for a dress to be completely exchanged after it’s been purchased. But when it does happen, it’s usually because the dress was bought before the venue or date was finalized. Maybe you imagine a wedding in a castle, buy a sparkly princess dress, and only then realize that you can’t actually afford the castle wedding after all and will end up having it in the barn next door instead. Then, of course, the sparkly dress no longer fits the theme very well. Similarly, a high-necked dress with long sleeves won’t work as well if a winter wedding was originally planned but, for whatever reason, it’s now going to be a summer wedding (not to mention a short dress with spaghetti straps for a winter wedding).

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6. You think you have to be perfect

Why do you think your husband wants to marry you? Because you’re the perfect woman for him. So why do you think you need to “perfect” yourself or change on your wedding day? Of course, it makes sense to cut out the chocolate and that fatty roast pork 1–2 weeks before the wedding—you don’t exactly want to invite pimples and extra pounds. But no bride should feel like she has to be a perfect supermodel on her wedding day. So skip the crash diets and excessive workouts, and definitely don’t try out any new beauty routines. By the way, here are a few beauty mistakes you should definitely avoid on your wedding day.

7. You think everything has to be perfect

Be aware right now that something is definitely going to go wrong on your wedding day. There are hardly any weddings that go absolutely perfectly and exactly as planned from start to finish. No matter how many scenarios you imagine—there are so many little details you aren’t thinking of right now. But that’s okay! Not everything has to go perfectly. Everyone will forgive you for minor mishaps. And as long as both of you say “I do,” it can’t be that bad.

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8. You don't eat anything

Most brides have absolutely no appetite on their wedding day because they’re so nervous. But it’s especially important on this day that you get enough energy. Start in the morning with a light breakfast before you have your first glass of champagne with your friends while getting ready. Ask your maid of honor to pack some gummy bears, glucose tablets, or a piece of bread for emergencies. Before the ceremony, you should have eaten at least a small snack. And even though you’ll be extremely busy accepting congratulations and chatting with guests during the reception—ask your maid of honor to make sure you get something to eat in case you forget or miss a chance to eat. It would be a shame if you couldn’t enjoy the delicacies you lovingly selected for the wedding yourself!

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9. You have your cell phone with you

Even if you’re totally glued to your phone and would love to livestream your “I do” and post a Story about every moment of the wedding—we wholeheartedly recommend that you don’t. Unplugged weddings (where guests are asked to leave their smartphones away, at least during the ceremony) are all the rage for a reason—but the bride and groom shouldn’t be using their phones on their big day anyway. That’s the only way you can truly enjoy your celebration and take in every moment 100%. After the wedding, you’ll have more than enough time to flood your social media feeds with photos—and besides, it’s much nicer to wait for the professional photos from the photographer.