“With everything going on and many guests to greet, my husband and I really didn’t have much time to eat. I wish someone would have packed some dinner to go for when the wedding was over. We both got to the hotel that night and were starving.”
—Laura Jobson, married Sept. 3, 2011, at Empire Mine State Historic Park, Grass Valley

“Weddings are expensive, [so] the best thing you can do is to determine what your personal priorities are and spend your budget accordingly. For me, I didn’t want to spend a lot on fancy food, but I wanted my pictures to be stunning since that was what I was going to keep for years to come.”
—Amy Shuman, married March 26, 2011, at St. James Church, Davis

“I would be sure to take a ‘sneak peak’ at the reception room before everyone is in there. When we walked in, we were so excited and overwhelmed with our friends and family that I’m not sure I even noticed the beautifully decorated tables or how the room was lit up. The night flew by, so it would have been nice to take a moment just to take it all in.”
—Ashleigh Pane, married June 17, 2011, at The Citizen Hotel, Sacramento

“Spend more money on a photographer! I love my pictures, but I feel like they could have been stepped up a notch. Pictures are the only thing you have left when the day is done, so I wish we would have spent just a little more on them.”
—Tiffany Grebitus, married Oct. 1, 2011, at Vina Castellano Winery, Auburn

“Make it meaningful. Colors, flowers, dresses—they all go in and out of style. But if you select details that mean something to you and your fiancé, you will not regret them.”
—Andrea Orlando-Skewis, married Sept. 24, 2011, at The Firehouse Restaurant, Old Sacramento

“I made sure to stop every five or 10 minutes during our wedding [to] take everything in for a moment. I remember my day perfectly, and I am so grateful for that. Be happy: You’re getting married! Smile big and enjoy it!”
—Jillian Lewis, married Nov. 4, 2011, at The Citizen Hotel, Sacramento