- A wedding photographer who makes viral TikTok videos revealed things likely to cause wedding chaos.
- Shayla Herrington told Insider children, being a perfectionist, and vendors can be key contributors.
- She said: "I've seen vendors literally almost get into fights at weddings."
An Arkansas photographer who makes viral TikTok videos offering her insights into the wedding industry says there are a few key causes of wedding chaos that couples should be aware of.
Shayla Herrington, 22, makes videos sharing wedding stories from her line of work and giving advice to her audience of over 285,000 followers on TikTok.
Having a lot of children at a wedding can cause disruption, Herrington says
The photographer said that while of course not all children cause issues at weddings, they can be a lot more unpredictable than older guests. Her examples included "kids who don't want to put on their dress, or they are running around, and moms are trying to keep a handle on them while also getting ready."
She added that this can cause problems if the parents are bridesmaids or key guests in the wedding party because their attention and responsibilities will be divided.
"It doesn't happen all the time, but I've seen it definitely happen at some weddings," Herrington added. She said that this is something to be aware of even though it's difficult to avoid.
Being a perfectionist or taking on too much personal responsibility adds to problems
Another thing Herrington says can add stress to a couple's big day is worrying that your wedding has to be "so, so, so perfect." She said these perfectionists will often get bogged down by "where the decor is going to go and who's going to do this or that task."
Herrington said an easy way to avoid any chaos caused by overplanning is to outsource the finer details to a professional if possible: "Anyone who really doesn't have a wedding planner will typically have to worry about things themselves."
Hiring the wrong people can lead to tension between different vendors
The final tip Herrington has for couples is to be aware of who they select as service providers for their event. She warned that she has seen vendors argue and almost fight each other at a wedding.
"Pick your wedding planner wisely, and based on your wedding planner, try to find vendors you know they're going to get along with because they're all over the whole event," she said.
Herrington added that it's best practice to speak to vendors before hiring them to find out how they work alongside others, or how they work in conjunction with a wedding planner, to get a better sense of their professionalism.
"I've seen so many videographers get mad at photographers because they get in their way and they're disrespectful or don't give them time to take videos because they think photography's more important," she said.
Herrington previously shared the biggest mistakes couples make when planning a wedding which can also lead to issues. These include not having a wedding coordinator, not factoring in time to spend with your partner, and inviting too many guests.