Biggest Things
Brides Overlook
Setting A Date
You will want to consider the time of year for many
reasons. Depending on where you live, weather could be a big factor when
choosing the date for your wedding especially when you need to think about unpredictable
weather. You may have a certain color in
mind for your wedding and certain flowers in that color may only be available
certain times of the year. Is the day you choose close to another event such as
a major holiday, could that cause a problem especially if you have your heart
set on a particular venue, would they be booked that time of the year?
Know Your Deadlines
Wedding planning
guidelines are available to help you prepare for your wedding day and these
timelines include deadlines. You do not want to have your heart set on a venue
to find out they are booked and then have to choose a place you are not happy
with.
Wedding Venues
Book your venue as soon
as possible and be prepared to have a couple of backup dates.
Having an
outdoor wedding
It may sound quaint to have a backyard celebration
in the comfort of your own home but think about a few things; is there enough
space, who is doing all the cooking and cleaning, and what would the cost of
wedding rentals be? Unless you happen to have access to a bunch of tables and
chairs, it might be worth your money to book a wedding venue. Many hotels and
local venues include tables, chairs, and even linens into your wedding package
-- which can save you big in the end!
Do you have a plan B if it rains? If you are
getting married at a venue, ask if they have a plan B before you book so you
will be happy about the location even if it rains. What if it is unusually
cold, could you get heat lamps or fans if it is unseasonable warm.
You don’t stick to your budget
It is important to have a budget for your wedding. If you prioritize what is important, it helps on what you where you want to save and where your want to splurge Maybe photography is more important than the flowers, or maybe the flowers are more important than the music or maybe the music is more important than the centerpieces. Money issues cause more stress than anything else when planning a wedding. Be sure your set a realistic budget and stick with it! It is important not to get so stressed out over the cost of the wedding that you cannot enjoy the excitement of planning the wedding or enjoying the wedding day. Most people do not have a clue what a wedding actually cost, make some calls, set up appointments with vendors and find out what it cost. After you gather the information, then you can prioritize what is important and what you can comprise on…just remember do not compromise on the amount of food! You may not be able to have the filet mignon and lobster you envisioned but can comfortable have chicken instead and remain within your budget.
NOT
HIRING WEDDING PROFESSIONALS
There is no substitute for expertise and experience. If you
want everything to run smoothly, hiring professionals is the way to go. When
you rely on experts, you do not have to stress! If you want a smooth and
relatively worry free planning process it is important to hire the pros.
Professionals have seen it all, which makes them the best source for creative
ideas and handling any challenges that may arise. Think twice before you ask
friends or accept offers from friends and relatives for major responsibilities
for your wedding. Relationships are put to the test when well intentioned
friends and relatives causing wedding catastrophes. I have personally heard
many stories including missed important photographs, blurry photographs, dry
wedding cakes, wedding dresses tearing and ripping at the seams during the
ceremony and more horror stories. You do not get a second chance to make it
right!
Buying a wedding
dress online
When looking online, it
is probably better to just look to get an idea of what is in fashion. You may
fall in love with a dress, which may be tempting to purchase, but what if it
does not fit right. A pretty dress may loose its appeal if it does not fit you
properly. The dress may also need costly
alterations. Your best bet is to go to a bridal boutique, remember it is your
special day and you do want to look your best. Think about the amount you may
be spending on photography and how you want to look it the pictures. You do not
want to be saying “well, it did look like a pretty dress online”.
Doing your own hair, nails, and makeup
Having your hair, nails, and makeup doe professional ensures you will look great! You may want to have a trail run on hair and makeup. Ask your professionals to try different hairstyles and makeup and decide what look you want for your wedding. I think it is important to have hair and makeup trails, you do not want to be surprised on your wedding especially if you chosen a style from a magazine or an updo you dreamed up.. You want to look and feel great on your wedding day.Wear the shoes you’ve chosen before your Wedding
I know you want to keep your shoes in pristine condition, but if you have never worn them before, you could get painful blisters and pinched toes. You want to be comfortable and a suggestion would be to wear them around your house for several hours to break them in and make sure you will be comfortable wearing them to walk down the aisle. Some brides wear a different pair of shoes during the reception to be more comfortable while dancing and talking to guests.Don’t pack last-minute for the honeymoon
Packing last minute means forgetting things you need especially when your wedding day is on your mind, not your honeymoon. You do not want to worry, did I pack my contacts or toothbrush. You booked your trip early, pack early, then concentrate on your wedding, trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
Skimping on the
Food
Buffet style dinners are fine, but you need to make
sure there is enough food, drinks, napkins, plates, silverware, and cups. If
you decide to cut corners, at least hire a caterer and work with the caterer on
how many people are on the guest list. You and your caterer can work together
and still stay within your budget while making sure your guest do not leave
hungry.
Choosing
out-of-season flowers
Before you decide on what type of flowers you want
at your wedding, think about what flowers are in season. It cost more to have
flowers flown in, talk to your local florist about what types of flowers are in
season and available on your wedding day.
Doing Everything
Yourself
It may save you money by
making all the invitations, seating cards, bouquets, favors, centerpieces,
etc., but do you have the time involved in making everything yourself? Do you
want to do last minute preparations on your wedding day? Wouldn’t you rather
spend your wedding day getting pampered with someone doing your hair, nails,
and makeup? What if well meaning friends and family offered to help on your wedding
day, then backed out last minute…even if they have a good reason. As the bride
you want to be completely involved with the planning, but do you have to do
everything yourself? Do you really want to be stressed out before and on your
wedding day? Do you want to be up all night, then walk down the aisle with dark
circles under your eyes? You may want to do some of the projects yourself, but
be honest with yourself and decide how much time to you have to devote to the
projects. Leave some things up to professionals;
it will save you a lot of headaches in the end.
Ceremony
Be true to yourself on
what type of ceremony you and your finance want. Some people like to write
their own vows and for others it causes a great deal of anxiety. Talk to your wedding officiant and make sure
the wedding officiant will work with you.Write down your vows
Even if you’ve practiced it in front of a mirror a million times, keep a small piece of paper with your wedding vows on you or ask your officiant to hold them. No matter how many times you practiced, you do not know how you may feel until you are standing at the alter. Think of it as your safety net. I have also had brides and grooms tell me to have vows prepared in case they do not think they can say the vows they have written where other brides have asked for help with the vows they have written because they were too emotional to say them. Talk to your officiant and see how accommodating they are.
Reception
Your reception should be
fun and if you are stressed, so will your guest. The bride and groom will set
the tone for the party, if both of you are enjoying yourself, so will everyone
else!
Having a Friend
or Family Member Be Your Photographer
You have a friend who has professional equipment and
states she takes great pictures. You know she will take pictures at a really
good price, perhaps even free. Do you know if she is a good photographer? This
may seem like a really great idea, but usually it does not work out to be a
great idea in the end. What if your friend or family member becomes more of a guest
and less of a photographer? Is it even fair to your friend or family member to
miss out on “guest moments”? What if
some great shots are missed, especially the important moments! Hiring a
professional photographer will ensure those important moments are not missed.
Many have packages at different price points. Perhaps family and friends will
still take picture, but you hire a professional photography and purchase a
smaller package. Not hiring a professional photographer is a common regret I
have heard from brides throughout the years!
Using an iPod for music
If you are picky about what music should be played during your reception, you still could hire a professional. Interview professionals and tell the DJ or Band a list of what can and cannot be played to ensure you get the music you want. Your iPod could lose music halfway through the night and how are you going to fix it? A professional is always prepared!
Decorating yourself
It might be fun for you and your family to do the
last minute decorating, typing ribbons, blowing up balloons, putting linen on
the tables, doing the flowers, etc., but what if your “helpers” are late, or if
last minute décor does not arrive on time. Do you want to be stressed a few
hours before your wedding? Last minute issues always come up, no matter how
much planning and preparation is done ahead of time. Professionals are used to
last minute issues and come prepared. The only thing you should be doing the
day of the wedding is enjoying yourself.
Reverend Arlene Ponack
alwaysandforeverfloridaweddings.com
alwaysandforeverflweddings@gmail.com
(407) 271-2430
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