We got in touch with family and friends to let them know that our larger ceremony would be canceled…We found a local park and invited immediate family along with a few close friends…And, in the end, it was exactly what we had wanted all along.

Veranda H.

There once were all these rules of etiquette that couples followed when planning a wedding with a strict format for the design of the wedding. Today, you can throw that rulebook out the window.

Industry Insider Erica M.

The things that go wrong make your wedding even more memorable...What matters is how you deal with the problems, and that you're marrying the one you love.

Carrie H.

Our relatives who were unfamiliar with international travel neglected to get documentation of their right to exit the U.S. and enter Italy...38 of our 112 guests missed the wedding because they didn't have passports in time.

Terrance J.

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is not having the trial [makeup] run or taking good care of their skin.

Industry Insider Kelly R.

Finding a place to hold the wedding reception was the most difficult part of planning our St. John wedding because the majority of villa owners do not allow any kind of “party” to take place on their property, even a small wedding reception.

Jennifer B.

Lugging decorations and formalwear to your wedding destination is a hassle and could lead to everything getting damaged, and rushing to acquire the items when you arrive is hectic. The location is its own centerpiece.

Patrick S.

Without the ability to meet vendors face-to-face, it was difficult to make decisions or really know the people we were working with...What worked for us was selecting a wedding coordinator who offered a package deal with everything we needed.

Michelle S.

Our photos were technically gorgeous, but our photographer was a novice and therefore had no idea how to stage photos. People milled haphazardly in and out, and...we didn’t realize we were leaving out large chunks of my family.

Sarah M.

If I hadn’t asked about her remains beforehand & made myself very clear, she would have been cremated in a manner that was very upsetting to me, or sent to a medical school without my knowledge. It’s very important to know that you do have a choice.

Carrie H.

Bridal stores [in the U.K] didn't pump me up and make me feel like this was special; instead, I was just buying a dress — the pomp and excitement of the wedding is a very American trait.

Catrina D.

When I told the funeral parlors that there was no insurance and that I would be paying cash out of my own shallow pocket, they came back with substantially lower prices.

Carroll B.

If I could do the same pregnancy over again, the only big thing I would change is going on maternity leave sooner...and not returning to work as soon as I did...The financial world didn't need me then, my child did.

Rosanne L.

If I had to do it over again, I would have relaxed! I also would have bought less stuff. I didn't need all the bells and whistles, including the cloth diapers. They were a big mistake because I had so little experience with babies.

Jennifer T.

I’m not sure I’d carry my dress and hat through two different airports again just to have model-perfect photos. The words are more important... so discuss with your partner the points that are essential to your relationship.

Lisa W.

What I believe matters the most is the choices couples make regarding bridesmaids and groomsmen...The right bridesmaids can make all the difference between a stressful wedding day and a calm one.

Industry Insider Melissa N.