“I spent so much time having other people influence my decisions, whether it was family members, friends, or just bridal message boards and blogs, that I didn’t plan the wedding of my dreams. The day felt like a discombobulated Pinterest board of what everyone else wanted. Note to others: Don’t listen to what other people say or want for your wedding. Trust your gut and go with what you will enjoy.”

“I ended up with five coffee makers and enough bed sheets to not have to laundry for an entire year. I wish I had registered for stuff that was fun and not just household items. I lived with my husband before we were married, so we already had dishes and pots. I wish we had done a honeymoon fund or even a new house fund. It was poor planning on our part and we spent so much time after the wedding returning items to Macy’s.”

“The food, music, and booze are what will make your wedding memorable. I spent hours and way too much money on the tiny details of my centerpieces. When I speak to anyone about my wedding, they mention how awesome the food was and how much fun they had dancing. Put on some crowd-pleasing music and serve beer and wine and you’ll have an incredible time.”

“Relax! Everything is going to work out how it is going to work out. There is only so much you can do and once the day happens, make sure you are in the moment and enjoying every minute of it. I did get a little caught up and upset at times with things that went wrong, but I forced myself to re-focus on the good and all the amazing people that came out to support us.”

“I wish I didn’t totally forget the whole “important” part of ceremony. From hugging my parents to walking back down the aisle, I completely don’t remember any of the ceremony!”

“Hiring a friend that does it on the side was the worst decision ever. I should of left it to the professionals to take care of.”

“I wish I knew the importance of the planner beforehand. I would have bought the biggest package that my budget allowed for.”

“I wish I knew how fast the day went. I barely remember who was there and felt like most of the time we were away from our guests taking pictures. I wish I would have done things ahead of time or delegated better so that I could spend more time with friends and family that I hadn’t seen in a while.”

“I wish I knew that favors didn’t matter because I was left with so many after the wedding!”

“I had 12 bridesmaids. I knew that number was outrageous but there were people I felt like I had to ask. I wish I didn’t ask half of them because in the end, it was just more drama and stress on me to have them there. When selecting bridesmaids, only pick the girls you really want to stand by your side. Don’t pick people because you’ll think you will feel bad if you don’t.”

“I went into wedding planning thinking I wouldn’t overspend. By the end of the wedding, three of my credit cards were maxed out and I spent way more than I ever wanted to. I’d recommend setting a budget early on and not waiting till the last minute to find out how much you’ve spent so far.”

“I waited until just a few months before to book vendors and had a lot of trouble finding inexpensive and available ones. Don’t wait for the last minute like I did to plan your wedding and make decisions. Plan early and you’ll be less stressed out three months before your wedding.”

“There’s something peaceful about the idea of getting married at the courthouse and going out to your favorite restaurant with as many friends and family members can fit at a round table for 10. Going back in time, that’s what I would so. I’d save thousands and thousands of dollars and not have to take on the anxiety and stress of the 330 guests I had at my wedding.”