Let's be honest, we’d love to make our wedding day a spectacularly affair. We dream of breathtaking styling and fabulous details, but that dream can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here are fifteen tips from a wedding planner to give you a leg up on the whole wedding planning process.
1.Set a budget and stick to it
Be realistic when you sit down with your husband or bride-to-be and discuss what you can afford. Sure, everyone would love to have a royal wedding but is that practical? Start your list with your "must haves." Perhaps flowers are an essential to throwing your garden themed wedding or you'd rather spend a little extra on your guests experience so you rent a photo booth. While there is no right or wrong way to throw a wedding, going beyond budget will hurt you in the end and could cost you much more than you expected.
2. Don't be afraid to show some backbone
Keep in mind that this is your wedding and what you says goes. While you should never act nasty and be a bridezilla it is perfectly ok to say "no, no thanks, and not gonna happen." If you had in mind something different than what someone is presenting to you speak up and say it. Is the deposit down? Don't feel guilty about making sure that vendor gets their job done. It is the wrong color? Say something! You don't want to walk down the aisle of someone else's dream wedding. Remember though to pick your battles. Save your fury for the big important stuff.
3. Ask (politely!) for discounts
Remember when I mentioned stick to your budget? Well now is the time to do it. A lot of vendors are willing to work with you and your budget if you simply just ask. If they come in above budget ask for freebies, ways to save, etc. They're going to be looking for the business and a good review which turns out in your favor.
4. Financial assistance
If parents or grandparents etc. are assisting financially let them play a part for the reception. The Ceremony is a true celebration of the two of you becoming one and should ultimately reflect your wishes.
5. Limit your entourage
Consider bringing only one other person to meetings (cake tasting, dress fittings, etc.) as too many opinions can sway your own and lead to hurt feelings. This should probably be a tip all of it's own but don't ever try to make everyone happy. It's not going to happen and your wedding will turn out entirely different than you had planned. Reminder to put yourselves first.
6. Ask yourself who really cares
When it comes to the small mundane details of the ceremony and reception ask yourself if the guests will even notice? Is this aisle runner something that everyone is going to miss or are you able to forgo? At the end of the day you will be married, don't let yourself get caught up in all the tiny details.
7. Keep the lid on some things
Keep your wedding details a secret. Don't reveal all of your creative design ideas, save some surprises! Do you want your guests to hear about it or experience it?!
8. Be aware of environmental factors
Nothing can ruin a outside wedding faster than a torrential downpour. Remember to do your homework, if you want an outside wedding be sure to research the historical temperatures for that area at the time your wedding is supposed to take place. Be aware of heat advisories, hurricanes, tornados, etc that the area is prone to having during different seasons. Prepare your guests with sunblock, umbrellas, blankets, etc if you choose to have an outside wedding.
9. Remember that is about BOTH of you
Don't forget about your groom! He's getting married too and may have an opinion or two. Most men may not care what color the flowers are, or the style of the bridesmaid dresses but he may have a suggestion for the flavor of cake served or what color his suit will be. Incorporate the groom in the decision making, you may find out he has more opinions that you realized.
10. Ask for help
Wedding planning can be stressful. Don't undertake the tasks single handedly. Maybe pay someone to do that...(wedding planners!!) or ask your girls to help do some DYI projects, that's what bridesmaids are there for. Delegate and divvy up the tasks so they are more manageable.
11. Exclude stressful people
Surround yourself with the right people. Don't spend your day surrounded by those who increase your stress levels and who cannot be happy for you. Keep the people who know how to love and support you during tough times in your inner circle.
12. Put away the cellphone (this goes for family members too!)
Let a trusted member of the bridal party take care of any non-emergency issues. Don't let personal calls trigger unwanted emotions and if you have hired a wedding planner let them do their job. This goes for other vendors too especially the photographer. You have hired a professional to capture all the happy and exciting moments of the day don't waste your time snapping pictures. You'll get the copies soon enough.
13. Put it all down on paper
Living in the technology age we have all information at our fingertips, but wouldn't you know it the moment you need to find the number to your caterer you have no cell service... Don't get stuck in the dark when technology decides to fail you. Have a notebook designated for all wedding planning material. Keep contact names and numbers in there a long with ideas, discussed and decided on options as well as negotiated fees and payments made. This will be your go to if all else fails.
14. Write thank you note cards as the gifts come in
It will be easier to manage the thank you cards after the wedding if you continually write them as the gifts come in. You wont get behind and also wont inadvertently forget about anyone.
15. Have fun!
You're getting married!! This happens once! Don't get bogged by all the details. Make a plan, stick to it, ask for help, give yourself plenty of time and everything will be ok. Enjoy your engagement. The minute it stops becoming fun is the minute you need to revamp and ask yourself why you're stressed and make a new game plan.
1.Set a budget and stick to it
Be realistic when you sit down with your husband or bride-to-be and discuss what you can afford. Sure, everyone would love to have a royal wedding but is that practical? Start your list with your "must haves." Perhaps flowers are an essential to throwing your garden themed wedding or you'd rather spend a little extra on your guests experience so you rent a photo booth. While there is no right or wrong way to throw a wedding, going beyond budget will hurt you in the end and could cost you much more than you expected.
2. Don't be afraid to show some backbone
Keep in mind that this is your wedding and what you says goes. While you should never act nasty and be a bridezilla it is perfectly ok to say "no, no thanks, and not gonna happen." If you had in mind something different than what someone is presenting to you speak up and say it. Is the deposit down? Don't feel guilty about making sure that vendor gets their job done. It is the wrong color? Say something! You don't want to walk down the aisle of someone else's dream wedding. Remember though to pick your battles. Save your fury for the big important stuff.
3. Ask (politely!) for discounts
Remember when I mentioned stick to your budget? Well now is the time to do it. A lot of vendors are willing to work with you and your budget if you simply just ask. If they come in above budget ask for freebies, ways to save, etc. They're going to be looking for the business and a good review which turns out in your favor.
4. Financial assistance
If parents or grandparents etc. are assisting financially let them play a part for the reception. The Ceremony is a true celebration of the two of you becoming one and should ultimately reflect your wishes.
5. Limit your entourage
Consider bringing only one other person to meetings (cake tasting, dress fittings, etc.) as too many opinions can sway your own and lead to hurt feelings. This should probably be a tip all of it's own but don't ever try to make everyone happy. It's not going to happen and your wedding will turn out entirely different than you had planned. Reminder to put yourselves first.
6. Ask yourself who really cares
When it comes to the small mundane details of the ceremony and reception ask yourself if the guests will even notice? Is this aisle runner something that everyone is going to miss or are you able to forgo? At the end of the day you will be married, don't let yourself get caught up in all the tiny details.
7. Keep the lid on some things
Keep your wedding details a secret. Don't reveal all of your creative design ideas, save some surprises! Do you want your guests to hear about it or experience it?!
8. Be aware of environmental factors
Nothing can ruin a outside wedding faster than a torrential downpour. Remember to do your homework, if you want an outside wedding be sure to research the historical temperatures for that area at the time your wedding is supposed to take place. Be aware of heat advisories, hurricanes, tornados, etc that the area is prone to having during different seasons. Prepare your guests with sunblock, umbrellas, blankets, etc if you choose to have an outside wedding.
9. Remember that is about BOTH of you
Don't forget about your groom! He's getting married too and may have an opinion or two. Most men may not care what color the flowers are, or the style of the bridesmaid dresses but he may have a suggestion for the flavor of cake served or what color his suit will be. Incorporate the groom in the decision making, you may find out he has more opinions that you realized.
10. Ask for help
Wedding planning can be stressful. Don't undertake the tasks single handedly. Maybe pay someone to do that...(wedding planners!!) or ask your girls to help do some DYI projects, that's what bridesmaids are there for. Delegate and divvy up the tasks so they are more manageable.
11. Exclude stressful people
Surround yourself with the right people. Don't spend your day surrounded by those who increase your stress levels and who cannot be happy for you. Keep the people who know how to love and support you during tough times in your inner circle.
12. Put away the cellphone (this goes for family members too!)
Let a trusted member of the bridal party take care of any non-emergency issues. Don't let personal calls trigger unwanted emotions and if you have hired a wedding planner let them do their job. This goes for other vendors too especially the photographer. You have hired a professional to capture all the happy and exciting moments of the day don't waste your time snapping pictures. You'll get the copies soon enough.
13. Put it all down on paper
Living in the technology age we have all information at our fingertips, but wouldn't you know it the moment you need to find the number to your caterer you have no cell service... Don't get stuck in the dark when technology decides to fail you. Have a notebook designated for all wedding planning material. Keep contact names and numbers in there a long with ideas, discussed and decided on options as well as negotiated fees and payments made. This will be your go to if all else fails.
14. Write thank you note cards as the gifts come in
It will be easier to manage the thank you cards after the wedding if you continually write them as the gifts come in. You wont get behind and also wont inadvertently forget about anyone.
15. Have fun!
You're getting married!! This happens once! Don't get bogged by all the details. Make a plan, stick to it, ask for help, give yourself plenty of time and everything will be ok. Enjoy your engagement. The minute it stops becoming fun is the minute you need to revamp and ask yourself why you're stressed and make a new game plan.
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