Mallika and Steve: Real Wedding Advice

Back in May I had the honor of coordinating Mallika and Steve's wedding. They are and were some of my favorite couples and the coolest people in the world! I have not blogged or posted pictures of the wedding as we are going to submit to some magazines in order to get them published, and sometimes magazines won't publish a wedding if the photos have made the rounds on the Internet. So this adorable picture will have to suffice. I can't WAIT to share the pictures that the talented Suthi Picotte of Picotte Photography took though!

Mallika was kind enough to fill out a post-wedding questionairre for me to share with my blog readers. Enjoy!

Q. WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?
A. Just after the ceremony, Amber led my husband and I into our reception venue for a private moment. It was amazing to get a few minutes with him, to celebrate what we just did, have a moment to calm down, change my shoes, have a bite to eat, etc. Amber and Krista were very attentive and sweet!

Q. WHAT DO YOU FEEL WAS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY?
A. We chose not to do a couple "typical" wedding reception activities (bouquet toss, garter toss, money dance, etc.) because we felt they were unnecessary. Ultimately, the flow of the reception was perfect by just doing the reception activities we felt were necessary.

Q. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE, IF ANYTHING?
A. I would have worked on what to say to the guests before the cake cutting. It was thrown together and I didn't end up saying everything I wanted to. Also, would have communicated with our photographer about someone being there to video, and that he had little to no experience shooting a wedding. And probably wouldn't do the unity candle, but instead some other unity thing, like sand or water.

Q. WHAT WAS UNEXPECTED THAT YOU LOVED?
A. Having done the pictures before the ceremony, I knew that the whole wedding party would be hanging out as guests arrived. But I didn't realize how much fun, and how relaxing this would be. It helped everyone not feel nervous, and just be really excited.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?
A. Dancing with Steve, and with our friends, seeing the reception hall all set up for the first time, cutting and eating the delicious cake, the toasts, and our first dance as husband and wife followed by a short high energy dance set (the reception really came alive early!)

Q. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU HAD SPENT MORE TIME OR MONEY ON?
A. We wish we had spent more time communicating with the videographer and about his presence to the other vendors. We hired a cousin, and because of his lack of experience, I felt like he wasn't aware of where to be and what to do. He got good footage, but was too close to us during the ceremony, and that made me feel nervous.

Q. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU HAD SPENT LESS TIME OR MONEY ON?
A. The invitations. People just throw them out anyways. I wish that we had just picked one and gone with it, rather than hemming and hawing of which to choose.

Q. WERE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED SURPRISES OR ISSUES?
A. Just the unity candle/lighters not working and the groom's mother's long, drawn out speech.

Q. WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER 1 TIP FOR FUTURE ENGAGED COUPLES?
A. Hire a coordinator! It seriously makes all the difference. On our day we were so relaxed, and everything went perfectly! The weddings I've been to that didn't have one were a mess, and stressful and awkward for everyone there.

Q. HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER THE WEDDING?
A. Blissful, happy and satisfied. It was the perfect day.

Thank you, Mallika and Steve for allowing me to be a part of your day! It was gorgeous and touching!