6 Planning Mistakes to Avoid!
We get it, planning a wedding can be incredibly overwhelming especially at the beginning of the process. Just newly engaged, where in the world do I start? To be 100% honest with you, if you’re planning a wedding, mistakes will happen. This is because we are human, and you’ve never done it before which means when you look back you might have done things a little differently. This doesn’t mean you won’t have the wedding of your dreams!
As wedding planners, we have the privilege of working with thousands of brides and we take each wedding as serious as we would take our own. We go through the day to day process with them, aiding in decision making and reeling them back in when things seem to be too much. We have seen it time and time again, so learn from us and brides of the past!
With a little foresight and forewarning, you can whittle those mistakes down to simple ones that won’t cause major wedding catastrophes. So, what do you NOT want to do? Let’s look at the major faux pas, the big wedding planning mistakes you don’t want to make!
Don’t Book Your Venue Before Creating Your Guest List
Venues fill up fast, so booking yours is usually one of the first priorities when planning a wedding. But at least one thing needs to be done even before that: Create your guest list.
You don’t have to have it written in stone, but a ballpark idea will keep you from booking one that is too big or, heaven forbid, too small.
Many venues will have a guest minimum and definitely a guest maximum. So, by creating a list that gives you a rough estimate of your expected count, you will be able to steer in the right direction for which venues to pursue. Nothing is set in stone, it’s just to give you an idea. As the planning process proceeds, and you fall in love with a venue, you can always change your temporary list to decrease or increase your count!
But one of the most common problems is couples get so excited and jump into the process without having an idea of headcount, then they fall in love with a venue that doesn’t accommodate them.
Don’t Rush to Choose Your Bridal Party
You may have known who you wanted in your bridal party since you were six, but there’s no reason to, and many reasons not to, rush into choosing your bridesmaids.
You aren’t obligated to anyone, and not all of your friends have to be in your wedding party. Only choose people, whether it’s two twelve, who you want to stand up with you when you say I do.
Depending on how quickly you anticipate getting married, will determine how quickly you need to choose a bridal party. Regardless, it should never be a decision that is made at the beginning of the process.
Don’t Invite Guests to the Shower That You Aren’t Inviting to the Wedding
Shower guests are honoring and celebrating you, and it’s tacky to not invite them to the wedding. The only exception to this rule is a workplace shower. If your coworkers throw you a shower, thank them graciously, but don’t feel obligated to invite them all.
Put Yourself First
This one saddens me. So many times, bride and grooms get lost in the details and lost in making everyone else happy, whether it’s in-laws, bridal party, or friends, and they don’t enjoy the planning process.
This is something you will never get to do again (hopefully!). While some consider it “work,” remind yourself that this is a once in a lifetime experience to SHARE with your significant other. It is a special time to work together and bring BOTH of your dreams to life.
At the end of the day, when you feel overwhelmed or stressed, or even defeated, remind yourselves of the reason for planning this wedding is. Remind yourself that this is supposed to be a celebration of your love, not a burden to your day to day lives.
Don’t Over-decorate
While you may be tempted to adorn your tables with odds and ends reminiscent of your backgrounds, travels, and interests, remember that tasteful, well-placed, simple arrangements impress without cluttering or overwhelming your guests’ view.
Same goes for all your other décor. Allow for the beautiful scenery to speak for itself without distracting from it.
Remember the purpose of décor is to enhance the existing attributes of the venue and bring personal details to your space.
Don’t skip out on a Wedding Planner!
There are so many benefits to having a wedding planner, but their ultimate responsibility is to take the stress away from you and do the diligent behind the scenes work.
They are professionals, and often times the venue you choose will have them, which is ideal because they are profoundly familiar with your venue in particular! If the option is there, I can’t tell you enough how thankful you will be.
Not only does it save you time, but it saves you stress to have someone guiding you every step of the way making sure everything is accounted for. Nothing will be left unattended for when you have a wedding planner so it is worth the investment to help you sleep at night!
All the rest of the details are up to you. But if you follow these absolutes, it will save you from big wedding mishaps!
