Planning any large event requires a lot of research, comparison, time and effort or you risk costly mistakes along the way. Brides-to-be are sometimes so excited to begin the planning process that they jump the gun start things too early....or maybe order too much! Here are the most frequent mistakes we hear of brides experiencing, so take heed and be sure to avoid them when planning your wedding!
Photo by Z Media
1. Making decisions before creating a budget...
It's beneficial to do things in a certain order when taking on the huge task of planning a large event like a wedding. Make sure your budget is established before you begin putting down deposits or purchasing things. You might spend $2,000 on the dress and then find out your budget was really $1,000. It saves a lot of time and headache to create your budget before doing anything else.
2. Selecting a venue that's too small...
Always have your budget established and your guest list established before you even begin looking for a venue. You'll need to know your price range for the rental, and the guest count to make sure it's large enough to accommodate everyone invited.
Photo by Studio B
3. Not creating a day-of schedule...
Things can get out of hand, off-track, and totally forgotten if there's not a timeline schedule to follow on wedding day. You can make it yourself, or have your planner/coordinator make it for you. It should be shared with the wedding party and all vendors so everyone knows what time they need to be where. Make sure it includes delivery times and locations for everyone involved, along with times for special events you don't want overlooked (dances, toasts, cake cutting, dinner served, etc..)
4. Not making a back up plan for bad weather...
Always create a Plan B or what you'll do in case of bad weather. Depending on what region you live in, that may be wind, rain, hail, hurricanes, or any weather disaster. Make sure you have a plan ready in case the week of the wedding rolls around and thunderstorms or a cold front are looming!
Photo by Digital 504
5. Not leaving enough time for photos...
Photography is one of the most important aspects to a wedding. One reason is because it will be the thing you have on display and look at for years to come. Don't miss out on the photos that you want because you ran out of time! Be sure to work out a plan with your photographer to cover all of the photos you're looking for. If you have a LARGE family or a lot of children involved and want a pic of everyone together, be sure to discuss things like that with your photog. Gathering and posing a lot of family and children takes some time and that should be accounted for when creating the schedule for the day...otherwise, you may run out of time and not have everyone included.
6. Ordering too much food & beverages...
Food and beverage is one of the highest costs when planning any large event. Make sure to keep an accurate count of your guests so you have enough food available, but be sure to order for your minimum guest count first. You can always add a few guests at the last minute if needed, but the caterer (and bar, and cake...) generally can't decrease their order by 20 at the last minute. Be sure to keep accurate track of what you're ordering and for how many people.
Photo by Leach Photography
7. Buying your dress first thing...
It's the most exciting thing for an engaged bride-to-be to run right out and try on every beautiful dress out there! A lot of us have waited our whole life for that moment! Here's a good tip though; don't buy your dress until you've selected your DATE and your VENUE. Know what season so you can prepare for heat/cold, and know the venue so you can dress appropriately (for instance, ballgowns with trains don't work well for sandy beach weddings).
Happy Planning!
