Planning a wedding could take all your reserved energy. It starts from securing that dream venue months before, to meeting up with different suppliers, up to finding the right dress; the list never stops. It could stress you out as a couple before you even get to the ceremony itself.
Being said that, it doesn’t always have to be that way. And that is the importance of making yourself aware early on of the dos and don’ts of wedding planning.
Read on below to see the list that was curated for you lovebirds:
Do: Start Planning Early
To plan early does not necessarily mean bringing out bags of cash for down payments or reservations and whatnot early on.
When you plan early, you strategically schedule things out in a more natural way. Be ready with an idea in mind as to how you would want your wedding to be.
Would it be done indoors or outdoors? Would it be done during the summer or fall? And then list down the suppliers you wanted to meet up first.
Maybe start with the easy ones like flowers, wedding souvenirs, and the like. Then work on those that need more focus on such as the venue itself, bridal gown, and the groom’s suit.
Space out your meeting schedules to ensure that nothing would interfere with your everyday life or, most especially, your job. By planning early sets the mood right and avoids irrational or impulsive decisions compared to when you’re running out of time.
Do: Choose the Right Location
If you plan on doing the celebration in a tropical country, make sure to be updated by its weather changes.
Never choose an outdoor location during the rainy season, or it will just ruin everything. Choose a location that best suits your personality as a couple. Talk it through amongst you two and come up with a place that is both practical and achievable based on your planned budget.
Do: Keep Track of Your Budget
If there’s one thing that most couples tend to overlook at, that would be going over the set and agreed budget.
Some traditions would let the family of the bride chip in; other nations do it the other way around. However, if you’re one of those couples who decided to cover all the expenses yourselves, then it is imperative to plan an achievable budget.
Before choosing your preferred list of suppliers, make sure that both parties would agree on a set budget, and then work your way around it. Give yourself some allowance in case you go over it. Nonetheless, it’s better to go under but never go way beyond whatever is agreed beforehand.
Meanwhile, your budget might include your honeymoon destination, or you may opt to have a separate budget for it.
Do: Get the Dress You Want
Remember that you, as a bride, will only get married once. So if there is one item you are allowed to decide on intricately, that would be your wedding dress.
Say you have been eyeing on a specific gown for so long even before the proposal happened. Make it your number one option to try on. If you didn’t feel the same excitement as to when you were browsing it online when you wore the dress, then go to the next atelier.
It may also be a big help if you bring your trusted team bride with you. Maybe let a few of your closest friends, your mum, or your sister to help you decide which dress to say “yes” to.
The point here is to get the dress you want and not what other people want. It’s you who’s going to wear it anyway. This tip goes out too for the groom.
Do: Have a Backup Plan
They say that if your plan A didn’t work the first time, do not get fussy. There are 27 other letters of the alphabet anyway.
Meaning, make sure to be ready with your plan B or C all the time. You can never anticipate weather changes, for example. So if you planned on having the celebration outdoors, make sure to have the indoor area prepared as well in case it rains in the middle of the dinner.
Go over your guest list one more time, so just in case one of the bridesmaids didn’t make it on the day of the wedding, you can quickly pinpoint another of your friends for replacement.
Whatever it is, always have a backup plan.
Don’t: Send Your Invitations Too Late
Planning a destination wedding means double the hassle and double the stress.
The most significant chunk goes to flying your guests from all over the place to your chosen wedding destination. Therefore, allot a few months to inform your guests about the event. Some give it a year; others give it eight months at the very least.
If you send the invitations early, it offers your guests some time to respond, whether they can make it or not. Which, in return, allows you to fill in the seats of those who can’t go.
Don’t: Forget the Legalities
Never miss any paperwork needed to legalize your nuptial.
You can spend so much on venue, gowns, and whatnot, but at the end of the day, it is the legalization that matters the most, especially if you are doing a wedding in a different country.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with whatever documentation that needs to be completed and have them done before anything else.
Don’t: Make Last Minute Changes
You’ve planned this wedding for so long. That being said, do not expect the party to be perfect as there will never be one.
Be prepared for some technical issues on the day, things that might have forgotten, etc. However, remember not to make any last-minute changes. That’s because, according to some wedding planners and coordinators, any changes done within 7-days would require another 3-4 months of preparation.
Don’t: Leave Guests Unprepared
Never allow your guests to walk on the beach with their stilettos on. Nor come at a wedding destination without bringing any thermals with them.
Make sure to inform your guests of all the necessary details they have to know before they attend the wedding. If you wish for your guests to wear summer wedding outfits or formal wear, it is crucial to let them know beforehand.
You may include it in your invitation or tell them personally. Some couples do it creatively too.
For example, if you’re planning a beach wedding, one of your wedding souvenirs could be a pair of flip-flops your guests could use during the ceremony. Or pashmina for colder destinations.
Last Say
Planning a wedding can take its toll on you as a couple. No matter how detailed and focused you are in planning; it is inevitable for simple things to go wrong. You have to keep that in mind. However, remember also that catastrophic situations are preventable by proper planning.
