Asheville Wedding Photographer | 3 Things I Would Have Done Differently at My Wedding

Bride and groom announced at wedding at Hawkesdene in Andrews near AshevilleBride and groom announced at wedding at Hawkesdene in Andrews near Asheville

Let me start by saying that my wedding was fabulous! I loved all of it- the venue, the location, the guest list, the food, the music, everything! But, hindsight is always clearer, isn’t it?

After being married almost 13 years, and being a wedding photographer for 12 years of that, I have seen a lot of changes in the wedding industry and I have attended a LOT of weddings, both personally and professionally in the Asheville, NC area and across the country. After seeing hundreds of beautiful and fun weddings, there are three things I would have done differently at my wedding if I could do it over again, and I want to share those things with you so you can consider them, too!
 

3 Things I Would Have Done Differently at My Wedding

1. I wish I had a first look with my husband
When I got married I had never heard of a first look. In fact, I didn’t hear about this idea until years after I got married. It’s a fairly new idea, but goodness do I wish it was a thing when I got married! I LOVE first looks. They provide so many beautiful and intimate moments to capture, and as a couple, you get to spend more of your day together. I remember missing my husband all day on my wedding day. I hadn’t seen him since the evening before, and I wanted to share this big day of my life with him, even more than we had planned. Plus, having a first look allows you to take a lot of your wedding photos before your wedding ceremony so that you can spend less time on photos between the ceremony and reception, and maybe even attend your own cocktail hour!

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2. I would attend the cocktail hour
Cocktail hours are relaxed, fun, and a great time to greet guests! If I were able to have a redo on my wedding, I would plan for many more photos before the ceremony, and fewer photos after. This way, my husband and I could attend our own cocktail hour and start in on the fun right away!

Bride and groom with champagne toast at wedding at Hawkesdene in Andrews near AshevilleBride and groom with champagne toast at wedding at Hawkesdene in Andrews near Asheville
 

3. I would hire a band
If I remember correctly, we didn’t even consider hiring a band. We knew we wanted music and went straight to hiring a DJ. Don’t get me wrong, our DJ was incredible! He really knew how to read the room and keep guests on the dance floor, and he followed our ‘do play’ and ‘do not play’ requests perfectly. But, now that I’ve experienced many weddings with live bands, I would 100% choose to hire a band. The energy is amazing, the performers are a fabulous addition to the reception, and having a little spin on songs makes the reception much more unique!

Bride and groom dancing at reception at The Lodge at Flat Rock near AshevilleBride and groom dancing at reception at The Lodge at Flat Rock near Asheville   JMP_7478
 

Each wedding is unique, and each couple deserves a wedding day that suits them best. I encourage my couples to consider all options when choosing vendors to create the perfect day for them, specifically!
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For more Asheville wedding photos, click over to Hawkesdene Wedding Photography | Casey + Ron Wedding Preview and Highland Lake Inn Fall Wedding Photography | Jessy + Matt.

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