From last-minute dress dramas to unexpectedly emotional moments, these brides share the lessons they wish they’d known before walking down the aisle.
No one understands the highs and heart-flutters of wedding planning quite like a bride who’s lived through it. And while Pinterest boards, bridal planners and dream-day checklists all have their place, there’s something far more valuable about advice from women who’ve recently said “I do”.
Looking back at some of the best advice shared by our brides in 2025, this feature gives you the kind of wisdom you won’t find in a any planning app. From last-minute dress dramas to the joy of stealing five quiet minutes together, their reflections are honest, stylish and surprisingly moving.
Whether you’re months from your big day or newly engaged and still in the blush of the proposal, these are the real wedding truths our brides would pass on to their best friend, sister or future daughter – and now, they’re passing them on to you.
Megha
“Choose your battles and decide early on what really matters. And above all, enjoy it. A wedding is about celebrating your love, your way. Let it reflect you as a couple – unapologetically and beautifully.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Laura
“Do an entrance song to your reception – We made our reception entrance to Don’t Stop Me Now Queen — it completely lifted the energy and set the tone, one of my favourite, high energy moments. We got so carried away into the dancing, it almost looked choreographed but it was the first time we properly danced to the song together (other than in the car!) it was so so much fun! Absolute must.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Charlotte
“Decide early on what you want to spend the majority of your budget on – for us the priority was getting the venue right. From there, you can cut corners and for us that meant less flowers.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Cara
“An engagement shoot can make all the difference. It helps you get comfortable with your photographer and makes the actual wedding day feel more natural and relaxed.“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Nishaa
“Even if you’re super-crafty, taking on too many DIYS and customising every single element of your can add a lot of extra stress to the wedding planning process. Start by picking your top three projects that are most meaningful to you as a couple, and consider sourcing a supplier, finding a wedding planner, or adding extra little projects later in the planning process if time allows.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Chrissy
“My main advice is on the day is to not sweat the little things. Nothing is perfect, and the only thing that matters is that you’re enjoying your wedding. If your guests see you having a great time, they will naturally follow suit!“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Patricia
“Make sure you make decisions that are right for you as a couple, social media is great for inspiration but can be a little overwhelming!“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Yasmine
“Do allow for “time-out” to be alone as a couple after the Ceremony, and to be “in the moment” before you’ll get busy greeting and chatting to all your guests during the reception, as well as having to deal with the photographers and videographer.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Gina
“Don’t feel like you have to invite every single person you know. Although we loved having a very large wedding party (we had over 200 guests), I think we would have had just as fun a celebration even if we’d had half the number of people attending.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Jess & Rheanne
“If you can, have your family and bridal party stay with you the day before and after the wedding, it relieves a lot of the pressure, then is fun to do a de-brief the following day.”
Discover more from their wedding here.
Haya
“Don’t be afraid to do unconventional or non-traditional things, even if no one gets it at first – We exchanged our more vulnerable, private vows the morning of the wedding, just the two of us, then shared shorter, less raw, versions during the ceremony in front of our guests. Spent the night before (and morning of) together, then jumped into a pool fully clothed. Chose a millefoglie cake assembled live instead of a classic tiered one. Did a mashup of a slow song and an upbeat one for our first dance. And even coming from Arab and Indian families, just choosing to have a small destination wedding in the first place was enough to raise eyebrows. But every decision, especially the scrutinized ones, made the day feel more like us.“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Valeria
“Trust in the unexpected. Three days before our wedding, thunderstorms were forecasted. Determined to shift fate, we followed an old Italian legend and delivered sixty eggs to the nuns at a monastery. Miraculously, the skies cleared, and just as our first dance began, the gentlest raindrops fell -cinematic perfection before the heavens opened and we danced in the rain, atop the tables, with thunder and lightning illuminating the sky.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Suzie
“Do something at your wedding that’s personal to you – ours was having my husband Ryan perform a DJ set. It combined our skills and tastes, and it was a great way to stand out. Don’t feel pressured to do everything everyone else does – skip the signage if it’s unnecessary. And most importantly, allow yourself plenty of time to get ready. I allotted 30-minute blocks for unexpected delays, which helped me stay relaxed and enjoy the day.“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Holly
“Stick to your guns — everyone will have opinions, but yours are the only ones that matter.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Henna
“Make sure to spend as much time as possible with your partner during the events, as the moments pass quickly.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Fran
“Wedding dress shopping is fun with friends, but the best decisions are made solo.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Emily
“You only do this once (hopefully) so make it exactly how you want it.“
Discover more from her wedding here.
Rosana
“Do not allow anything to take away from you enjoying your wedding weekend. It could help to designate a bridesmaid or groomsman to be the point of contact for any emergencies rather than deal with issues yourself on the day.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Natasha
“Work with suppliers you connect with – those relationships made the lead-up and the day itself more enjoyable.”
Discover more from her wedding here.
Annie
“Think of yourself as the guest of honour at your wedding, not the host. That was key to revelling in the planning process and completely relaxing and enjoying the day itself for me. Everyone’s there to celebrate you. As soon as you reframe things, you rid yourself of a whole lot of pressure and stress. “
Discover more from her wedding here.
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