- I’m a wedding planner and I’ve seen some popular Pinterest-inspired trends go wrong.
- Floating candles in the hallway and champagne glasses for a toast can make a mess.
- Long, dramatic veils can easily get caught on carpets or furniture.
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As a wedding planner who has worked on all facets of the industry for years, I can tell you that some popular trends are not always as perfect as they seem.
Read on for 10 popular ideas that are more complicated than they look and what you need to know before trying them out.
It’s easy to knock over floating candles in the hallway
Only a handful of my clients have offered floating candles – candles placed in a glass of water – in their aisle, but I learned my lesson nonetheless.
Many couples are drawn to the soft and romantic atmosphere of candlelight, but if you want to try this trend at your ceremony, I highly recommend having a broom and towel on hand.
Guests often knock over one of the candles shortly before the procession, leaving glass and water everywhere.
I would suggest decorating the ceremony room with something more forgiving, like flowers, and saving the candles for the reception.
Serving champagne at the ceremony can break the glass
Guests can knock over the champagne flutes if they are standing.
Juan Nel / Shuttershock
Serving guests champagne on arrival may feel like a nifty choice, but it’s also the perfect way to end up with tons of broken glass and maybe even a few cuts.
Typically, guests put their glasses on the floor during the ceremony when they have finished their drink. Then, in the excitement of the recession, when everyone stands, claps and cheers, they forget about the cups at their feet.
As soon as the ceremony is over and the guests shuffle out, champagne flutes will be knocked over left and right and your rows of chairs will quickly turn into a maze of shards.
Neon signs can be a thorn in the side if not properly planned
Custom neon signs at weddings have become very popular because they are chic, create the perfect photo backdrop and can then be reused in your home. However, there are a few things that you need to plan ahead.
Make sure your neon sign is close to an electrical outlet wherever you plan to hang it. However, I always recommend that couples pack an extra extension cord for safety. If it’s a focal point of your reception, you should also think about ways to hide or disguise the cables, especially for photos.
You also need to think about how to hang it. The best material is usually fishing wire as it mixes very easily and can hold a good weight.
Finally, you should order a sign with a remote control to adjust the brightness as the neon color can sometimes be too much and it will blow out on photos.
Photo booths can ruin your big exit if they don’t close early enough
Photo boxes are becoming increasingly popular.
CL media / Shuttershock
With the advent of social media and personalized hashtags, photo booths have definitely grown in popularity at wedding receptions, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to get guests off the line in preparation for the big exit.
I recommend starting the photo box during cocktail hour, keeping it open during the entire reception and dismantling 30 minutes before the exit by the operator.
Wood laser cutouts are easy to break
I see this trend all over Pinterest and Etsy. Wood laser cutouts are often used for things like table numbers, signs, and place cards.
Although they are a fun alternative to paper, wood cutouts are extremely fragile.
Fortunately, it’s almost always a clean break and easy repair – just make sure you have some super glue on hand.
You should invest in an outer envelope for invitation papers
Envelope inserts can add a personal touch to wedding invitations.
MDS FOTO / Shuttershock
Envelope inserts are a great way to add fun colors, patterns, or even a sketch of the venue to your invitations, but I would highly recommend adding an outer envelope as well.
If you go the extra mile to have the envelope liner in your invitation suite, you’ll want guests to see it, but without a second envelope, most liners will be torn or missed.
Long veils can easily get caught on furniture or carpets
Make sure you measure the width of your veil compared to that of the aisle.
alexander_dyachenko / Shuttershock
Veils are a great addition to any wedding look, and I’ve seen an increase in intricate designs recently with sequins, appliqués (ornamental fabric covers), and pearls, and other materials.
Before deciding on the veil of your dreams, however, you should consider your gait.
You first need to consider the width of your veil compared to that of the aisle and whether you can rearrange the seating to make room if necessary.
Additionally, if you’re getting married in a carpeted venue, consider how your veil moves – pearls or sequins can easily get caught on the material. I’ve seen one too many brides walk to the altar only to get the accessory caught on a bench or on the floor and ripped off.
There’s usually nothing more than hairspray and a couple of well-placed bobby pins to hold up a veil so it doesn’t take much to move it around.
Some attendees may not understand how to sign alternate guest books
More and more customers have opted for more personal or interactive guest books such as Jenga blocks, puzzle pieces, wine corks and wooden signs.
While alternate guest books are fun, sometimes guests, especially older ones, don’t know what to sign.
An easy way to get this clear is to have your wedding party sign earlier in the day while they get ready, which will serve as a clear example for the other guests.
Magnetic lapel pins can be dangerous for people with pacemakers
Ask your participants if they have a pacemaker.
Michaela Warthen / Shuttershock
If you’ve ever seen ABC’s “The Bachelorette” and wondered how she pinned men’s rose boutonnieres so quickly, it’s because of magnets.
Magnetic lapel pins make “pinning” a lot easier, but you need to ask if anyone who wears them will
Pacemaker
before you place your order.
The magnets in the boutonniere could interfere with your pacemaker and cause an impromptu hospital visit.
Private final dances require some additional coordination to get guests out on time
I love that private final dances have become a trend – when the couple hangs up at the front desk for one final dance to soak it all up while their guests line up outside for the big finish.
If you are planning a private final dance at your wedding, you need to allow enough time in your schedule for the guests to clear the room, usually around 10 minutes.
There are always a handful of participants who, among other things, like to linger, put their shoes back on or go to the toilet.
To speed up the process, you can flicker or turn on all the lights in the reception (just make sure to turn them off again for the dance).
You can also have the band or DJ constantly announce that the attendees are going to the door and have your wedding planner or party distribute the selected starting item. As soon as the guests have the sparkler or the petals in hand, they are more likely to stand up.