Couples want their big day to be (extra) special, so they spare no expenses to ensure the celebration is memorable for everyone. As per a study by The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the USA in 2023 was $35,000. And that doesn’t even include the cost of the engagement rings. Well, the cost of getting married has increased significantly over the years. In 2007, the average cost was around $16,000, but by 2017, it had jumped to $28,000. Imagine spending so much money, only to realize the venue was smelly or the dance floor was slippery.

Planning the perfect wedding is never easy; it takes months, if not years. It requires attention to numerous details: venue, guest list, invitations, attire, catering, decoration and so much more. And, even though the bride and groom and their families put collective efforts into ensuring everything is the best, there are chances that things are a complete disaster (even if the disaster is wilted flowers).

But the definition of a successful celebration can differ from person to person. “Instagram and Pinterest give us a vision of what a ‘perfect’ wedding looks like, and anything less to some people is not good enough. But these images are usually filtered, photoshopped or styled by professionals. So, while these platforms can inspire wedding days, it sets a standard in some people’s minds of what it should or shouldn’t look like,” Kate Beavis, who runs a wedding blog called Magpie Wedding, told the BBC.

However, sometimes, it’s a possibility that certain aspects of an event may fall short of expectations. In such instances, it's important to address the issues rather than overlook them.

The biggest chunk of most wedding budgets is spent on the venue. Couples roughly spend about 37% of their overall budget on it. But finding the right place can be quite tricky. Sometimes the price tag of the architectural wonder you love doesn’t match your humble budget. Then there are questions about capacity, amenities, and other fees.

After spending all that time and money to find 'the place', it's only fair that the couple should be informed about any shortcomings. For instance, sometimes the venue might not provide essential amenities like clean restrooms or sufficient parking space. In such cases, guests feel inconvenienced or frustrated. They have a right to let the couple know about their sufferings.

As per USA Today Life, in 2007, only 17% of couples had a theme for their wedding but in 2017, nearly 50% had one. People want their functions to stand out from others and that is why they have more customized events. As the soon-to-be partners have so much on their plates, adding an extra task can be challenging.

For instance, the happy couple decided on "Vintage Romance" as the theme. As a special touch, they add a vintage photo booth with props like feather boas, top hats, and antique frames so that guests can take fun photos. Now imagine, the camera man or woman completely ignores the people at the booth. What a shame, right?

Catering, band, liquor, DJ, lighting, and decor are some other significant aspects of a nuptial ceremony. For instance, the food might not be good due to reasons like stale dishes, poor presentation or inadequate serving staff. Similarly, even with beautiful decorations, there are chances that the center pieces are dirty or flimsy. Or the bride could go into bridezilla mode due to the pressure of perfection.

While it's natural to want your big day to be perfect, striving to make everything flawless can actually add a lot of stress. Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK said, “Sometimes anxiety can affect us so much that we feel genuinely paralyzed when it comes to making decisions. Not only are you planning the biggest party of your life, but you may also have external pressures on top of that. Financial worry, family pressures, conflict and decision-making are all common concerns.”

All this additional pressure of not meeting personal and societal standards can make a person feel easily irritated or moody. The extensive decision-making process along with the immense amount of preparations could cause individuals to lose sleep or feel extra tired. It's important for couples to remember that minor problems are inevitable.

Learning to let go of the need for everything to be perfect will help make the planning process more relaxed and enjoyable. Accept the fact that you will go through a lot of emotions before the big day, including stress as a bride or groom. All you need to do is have a healthy approach to manage those feelings. For instance, if at the last minute, the bridesmaids complain that their shoes are not comfy, you can graciously ask them to wear their own footwear.