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Throughout life and especially when making major decisions, we’ve all been told to just go with our gut and to let our intuition guide us. Sound advice, right? Well, turns out, planning a wedding is the perfect time to put that intuition to the test. Here are the gut instincts you definitely don’t want to ignore when it comes to your big day, unless you want to get burned, that is.
“This is too good to be true.”
If your gut instinct tells you your venue or a vendor is too good to be true, then unfortunately it probably is, warns wedding planner Francesca DiSalvo-Follmer of Pure Luxe Bride in Charleston, SC. “A vendor that gives you ‘a really good deal’ likely isn’t doing well or is a newbie that is just trying to build their portfolio.” If something feels off, trust your gut and keep looking.
“I hate my engagement photos.”
Sadly, one of the most overlooked red flags, according to Regina Osgood, owner of Meant2Be Events, is in regards to wedding photography. “Too often, as a planner, a bride hires us a few steps into the process and we get the question, ‘We hate our engagement photos, but we already put so much money down. What should we do?’
While your engagement session is a good time to get out those in front of the camera jitters, if you didn’t feel comfortable with your photographer’s direction during the shoot, it could be that’s the issue in your resulting film, she notes. In this situation, go with your gut. “Ditch the deposit and save yourself the heartache of missing out on a once in a lifetime moment being captured at it’s best with a photographer that’s a better fit.” We concur!
“I don’t trust my….”
If you think your hair and makeup trial was just “okay”, no matter how many tweaks you make, you likely won’t love it on your wedding day either, cautions DiSalvo-Follmer. “Book another stylist for a trial before committing to anyone.” This goes for anything you’re not happy with or anyone you don’t fully trust, be it your caterer or cake designer after a tasting or even your wedding planner.
See More: How to Plan a Pinterest-Worthy Wedding for Less Than $15K
“This just feels right.”
Whether it’s actually marrying your fiancé or picking the perfect venue, when it comes to the wedding, if something feels right (or, on the other hand, if it doesn’t feel quite right) you should trust your instinct first and foremost. You’ll save time and avoid the annoyance of over analyzing every little thing.
“I really should invite…”
There’s some people you’re going to have to cut from the guest list no matter what and you won’t feel much guilt about it, whereas there are always a few others you’ll go back and forth and stress out about inviting. Our best advice? Listen to your gut instinct. If you think you’ll ultimately regret not having someone at the wedding, just invite them. And if there’s someone your gut says definitely don’t invite, then don’t be afraid to make that decision either.