Lessons Learned: Advice from Lindsey Casher

Lindsey Casher married Michael Casher on Sept. 8, 2017, at Dock580.

If you could do anything about your wedding differently, what would you change and why?    

I may have looked around and researched more during planning. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with options, so I kept planning very straightforward and simple without considering too many options. I know my taste and what I like, so I made swift decisions and didn’t shop around much.

What are you happy you spent money on?        

Our photographers [Brett Loves Elle Photography], for sure. I also made sure that there was Champagne available throughout the whole reception. There’s nothing more disappointing than having a Champagne toast and not being able to have another glass!

What do you think you could have done without?          

I kept our wedding very simple. There’s nothing I can think of that I would have done without.

What was your biggest surprise when planning your wedding?               

The never ending questions and wedding talk that seemingly never stop coming.

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning?  

Having been through the planning of many friends and being in a profession where I talk to other women all day [hairstylist], I can’t say there wasn’t much I wasn’t prepared for during planning.

Did you experience any wedding-day snafus?

Yes. A well-meaning family member passed out neon-colored glow sticks for the guests to hold up during our first dance. I rolled with it in the moment; nothing was going to ruin the perfectness of my wedding day. Advice to family and guests: it’s never a good idea to surprise the bride at her wedding. She’s put so much time, effort and money into making it just how she wants it. Something like that can really ruin the feel of the night and the moment.

Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments?   

My husband let me do all of the planning—no complaints here!

Any dress-shopping advice?

I hated everything I picked out myself and finally deferred to the woman helping me. The first dress she brought me, I bought. My advice would be that it’s OK to relinquish control and defer to the expertise of the professionals; they do this every day.

Do you have any general advice for couples currently planning their weddings?             

Remember the end game: The culmination of all of this planning is not just a wedding, it’s the beginning of a marriage. Also, focus on the experience. One year from now, no one is going to remember the floral garland or votive holders that you may be currently obsessing over, but they will remember the time they had, the music, the food, the dancing and the essence of the day. To this day, people still tell me how much fun they had at our wedding, and it makes me happy. That’s what we wanted. I haven’t heard about my very expensive flowers since!

Do you have any general marriage advice, as a newlywed?

Keep having fun! Forgive quickly. Laugh often.