If I Could Give Other Brides-to-Be One Piece of Advice…

Hindsight is a beautiful thing. Without the help of an expert, it’s easy to dive headfirst into wedding plans allured by visual inspiration or wedding expectations. Blindly unaware of what to prioritize and what to forgo, where to splurge or save to create that magical day you have in mind – it’s not until the day is over that the choices that really matter, become crystal clear.

We took the time to ask those who’ve done it all before, The Lane brides, for their invaluable tips and advice they learnt planning a wedding. Some passed down from generations passed, others learnt the hard way. Either way, you need to hear this…

“Parlay your own sense of style and stick to what feels authentically you versus what’s expected or ‘bridal’. A wedding should be an expression of your unique style and story together.”
– Tessa & Daniel, Poetic Minimalism in Byron Bay

“I think maintaining perspective can be important in the midst of wedding planning. We had two fires affect our wedding plans and that was challenging to deal with, but it was a reminder to be flexible and adjust, something that’s possibly even more relevant now with the global health crisis upending plans.”
– Tessa & Daniel, Poetic Minimalism in Byron Bay

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“The big day is over before you even realise it. Invest in good photography and video so you can reminisce about all the moments that flew by so fast. Make a shot list for your photographer if you want certain pictures taken to avoid disappointment afterward.”
– Josephine & Tobias, Modern Romance Under the Apulian Sky

“For a destination wedding we really recommend using a wedding planner. Not just someone who books the providers for you, but someone who understands your style and aesthetics. And invest in a good photographer to capture the special moments. Choose the best people for what they already do, and give them creative freedom so they can shine. There is no point hiring someone amazing if you overly instruct them and don’t let them do their thing!”
– Mari & Rowan, A Romantic French Chateau Wedding

“Don’t stress about every detail as neither your guests nor do you really notice on the day if the font on the menu is right or the flowers on the table are white or cream-coloured. The whole journey should be a fun experience and will be a great memory to think back on. It’s a once in a lifetime occasion to get everyone together and celebrate.”
– Camille & Jacob, Bohemian Charm in the South of France

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“DELEGATE – I heard this myself so much before we got married and we still made the mistake of doing too much on our own. It meant that we were late getting ready and not having as much relaxed time as we would have liked, with our bridesmaids and ushers to just stop for ten minutes and take it all in.”
– Danielle & Matthew, Rustic Simplicity in Puglia

“If something goes wrong or not to plan, ask yourself, ‘Will this actually impact how I remember our wedding day?’. If the answer is no, then forget about it and don’t let it stress you.”
– Laura & Toby, Rustic Elegance in the South of France

“Even with a very hardworking amazing wedding planner, it still takes a LOT of time if you want to be as hands on as we were – we loved the process of planning as a couple and enjoyed the team work with everyone involved, it really paid off!”
– Mari & Rowan, A Romantic French Chateau Wedding

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“It really is a big effort and there are more small things to think about than you initially imagine. However, it is really worth it, all the hard decisions, stress and long evenings of planning! It was the best day of our lives and we love thinking back and remembering celebrating with all the people who we love and care for.”
– Camille & Jacob, Bohemian Charm in the South of France

“Be prepared for anything! Especially when planning a destination wedding. Research and choose your vendors wisely. Don’t be afraid to ask for support, your friends and family want to be involved and working as a team is way more fun. Invest in the best photography and videography you can afford – the day flies by so quickly and once it’s all over you will want to relive it over and over again.”
– Sarah & Andrew, A Luxe Warehouse Wedding in Sicily

“Always over staff your wedding.  Better to spend the extra bit so everything runs smoothly.”
– Jasmin & Christopher, Effortless Boheme in the South of France

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“Don’t buy your wedding dress too early. Styles constantly change and new dresses are released each season. The more time you have to stew, the more time you have to have doubts about your dress. And once you buy a dress, unfollow all wedding and dress accounts, subscriptions, and posts. Stop looking at other designers or looking “just for fun.” The last thing you need is to see new dresses that tempt you to question your choice.”
– Sophia & Taylor, Perpetual Summer in Lake Como

“It’s your day, rock your heart out, be creative, bold and authentic. Make it a true reflection of who you both are, don’t let vendors take over the style. Get very involved in the creative process. Have comfortable shoes you can switch into for dancing all night long and remember it’s all in the details!”
– Cesar & Adriana, A Destination Wedding in Guatemala 

“Make sure you get an incredible celebrant. Saying our vows was the most important and our favourite part of the whole day. Having an amazing celebrant made it so easy and spending time on the ceremony content was so much more meaningful than stressing about the colour of the napkins!”
– Kezia & Brad, A Sydney Waterfront Wedding

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“Don’t be too tough on yourself. Try not to let whatever ‘bridal status quos’ get in your head. Everyone takes a different journey. Go your own way…it’ll be right. Stick to your guns and let the tears happen – happy ones and sad ones, they’re all worth it in the end!”
– Laura & Asher, A Dreamlike Italian Celebration

“If you’re doing all of the planning on your own, be as organized as possible with every single possible detail. I’m normally a bit scatterbrained, but for our wedding, I was the most organized, spreadsheet-oriented person in the world!”
– Michelle & Dan, A Whimsical Garden Celebration in Italy

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.”
– Laura & Toby, Rustic Elegance in the South of France

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“Getting married is such a beautiful vulnerable experience even for those of us that sometimes don’t believe in the institution of it. I think especially for those of us that are more non-traditional, find the things that do mean the most to you and cherish them. For us, it was writing personal vows, gorgeous photography and traveling together.”
– Emannuelle & Anthony, A Clifftop Elopement in Puglia

“Don’t try to control every little detail and just relax and let the people and your planners do what they do best. Take the time to look around and see how happy your guests are.”
– Melissa & Adam, A Dreamlike Destination Wedding

“Some advice that I was given was to pretend the wedding is two weeks before the actual date. That way you can make sure you have everything sorted well in advance and nothing is too last minute.”
– Chloe & Ryan, A Luxe Bohemian Love Story

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“Fight to get what you really want. It is okay to listen to advice from your loved ones, but never forget that you will remember this day for the rest of your life, so no regrets.”
– Giulia & Andrea, Enchanted Romance in an Italian Abbey

“Not to worry about the distance if you have chosen a destination wedding. We planned everything from long distance and it came out beautifully.”
– Ersilia & Lucio, An Elegant Italian Celebration

“Consider your wet weather options! I never imagined that it would rain on my wedding day so hadn’t even asked about the wet weather options. Preparing yourself for them will ensure you have a lot less stress on the day.”
– Chanelle & David, A Serendipitous Hinterland Soiree 

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“For an outdoor wedding a really good sound system made a big difference to the atmosphere.”
– Mari & Rowan, A Romantic French Chateau Wedding

“Celebrate your marriage in a way that truly reflects you and your husband-to-be. You don’t have to please anyone else – the day is all about you both – don’t forget that.”
– Amy & Danny, A Clifftop Wedding in Praiano Amalfi Coast

With thanks to all the The Lane brides for their contribution.
See all The Lane weddings here.