A professional bridesmaid who has been to over 200 weddings has shared the biggest mistakes that brides make on their big day… and some result in couples wasting thousands of dollars.
Jen Glantz, 37, from Brooklyn, New York, offers ‘professional support for brides on one of the most stressful days of their lives’ through her successful business, Bridesmaid for Hire.
Brides across the globe pay her to join their bridal party and help out with wedding preparations, all while pretending she’s a close friend or family member.
‘A hired bridesmaid is like your undercover support system. I’ll hold your dress while you pee, run interference with family drama, calm down a stressed maid of honor, and make sure the day runs smoothly,’ she shared during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.
‘I’m the person you can text at 2am when you’re spiraling about table placements.’
After over a decade of working as a professional bridesmaid and attending over 200 weddings, Jen has learned a lot of tips and tricks to planning the perfect big day.
But she’s also witnessed a lot of mistakes that brides make that put a dampen on their big day.
Thankfully, she broke them down with the Daily Mail in the hopes that it will prevent others from making them too.
Not taking care of yourself
Jen Glantz, 37, from Brooklyn, New York, works as a professional bridesmaid and she is paid thousands of dollars to attend weddings
She offers ‘professional support for brides on one of the most stressful days of their lives’ through her successful business, Bridesmaid for Hire
Amidst the stress and nerves, as well as the busy schedule, it’s easy to forget to take proper care of yourself during your wedding.
But according to Jen, this can be a grave mistake.
She stressed the importance of ensuring you eat and drink enough water during your wedding day.
‘Brides pass out all the time – yes, really. Please hydrate and eat throughout the morning, especially snacks,’ she stressed.
Trying to achieve perfection
Another common mistake that Jen has seen people make when it comes to their wedding is ‘focusing too much’ on trying to achieve ‘perfection’ – and getting disappointed when things don’t go exactly as planned.
‘Something will go wrong. It always does,’ she said. ‘If you let it derail you, you’ll miss the joy.
‘Let it go and deal with it after the wedding if you need to ask vendors for refunds.
She’s witnessed a lot of mistakes that brides make that put a dampen on their big day, and she broke them down in the hopes that it will prevent others from making them too
Amidst the stress and nerves, as well as the busy schedule, it’s easy to forget to take proper care of yourself during your wedding. But according to Jen, this can be a grave mistake
In addition, Jen advised against participating in viral wedding trends or becoming ‘obsessed’ with your social media content.
‘I’ve been to so many weddings that feel like copy-paste versions of each other, where the couple spends a fortune to recreate trends they don’t even care about,’ she added.
‘It makes me cringe when weddings feel more like a production for Instagram than an actual reflection of the couple’s relationship.’
Overspending on ‘wow’ moments
The next big mistake that Jen listed is a costly one – ‘overspending on ‘wow’ moments’ like ‘sparkler send-offs, photo booths, and fancy bathroom baskets.’
‘It all adds up. Pick two to three things you want to have the wow factor and save money on the rest,’ she suggested.
The expert admitted that she’s witnessed tons of brides waste money on things guests didn’t even appreciate, like ‘over-the-top favors’ – ‘half the time they get left behind,’ Jen said – and ‘extra décor that no one notices,’ like ‘chair bows,’ for example.
‘People notice three things – food, bar, music. That’s truly it,’ she dished.
She pointed out that the wedding industry ‘thrives on upselling’ stuff like custom napkins, elaborate favors, and neon signs you’ll never use again.
‘Spend as little money as you can, [because] the truth [is], people don’t remember those things,’ she continued.
‘Spend money where it matters to you (maybe food or music) and skip the rest.’
Ordering way too much food
When it comes to the food, Jen advised against offering too many ‘different cuisines’ or splurging on ‘food trucks or dessert bars’ because from her experience, most of the food ‘gets tossed’ and ‘goes uneaten.’
‘You don’t need to overwhelm guests with an extra $30,000 worth of options,’ she insisted.
She said she’s found that buffets are better options than plated dinners, pointing out that while plated meals ‘look fancy,’ they ‘limit choice and often slow things down.’
‘Buffets (or food stations) let people eat what they actually want and go back for seconds. Plus, they cost less and create a more relaxed vibe,’ she dished.
Not delegating the duties
The next big mistake that Jen listed is a costly one – ‘overspending on ‘wow’ moments’ like ‘sparkler send-offs, photo booths, and fancy bathroom baskets’ (stock image)
Another common mistake that Jen has seen people make when it comes to their wedding is ‘focusing too much’ on trying to achieve ‘perfection’
In addition, Jen advised against participating in viral wedding trends or becoming ‘obsessed’ with your social media content
Another mistake that Jen has seen brides make is taking on too much and not delegating the duties correctly.
She reminded people that the maid of honor and bridesmaids are there to help – so don’t try to do everything yourself.
‘Brides try to be CEO and maid of honor at the same time. It never works,’ she said.
‘Lean on others or at least your wedding vendors. They are experts and will carry this wedding to the finish line.’
Inviting too many guests
According to Jen, most couples invite way too many people to their weddings and should actually cut their guest list in half.
She said you should only invite people who are actually ‘part of your everyday life’ and don’t give in to ‘obligation invites.’
‘The average wedding has 100+ people, but many of those guests aren’t part of your everyday life,’ she said.
‘I’ve seen brides spend hours worrying about “obligation invites.” Cut the list, save money, and spend your day with people who actually matter to you. Your photos, memories, and budget will thank you.’
Jen concluded, ‘The couples who thrive are the ones who treat the wedding as one fun day, not the defining moment of their relationship.’
