Tag Archive for: wedding planning

Five Common Mistakes Everyone Makes in Planning Weddings

The day you get married is with a doubt the most important day of your life. You need everything right. The thought of anything going wrong gives you a panic attack. While preparing for your wedding, you can commit some mistakes. These small mistakes will make you a sad bride or groom.

Here are some errors previously committed by people. Just don’t try to make the same mistake as them

1. Creating a budget before planning

Make the planning according to your budget. But, some couple commits the error of planning before making the budget. Doing the later one will bring you nothing but disappointment. It is like picking up your desired wedding outfit without looking at the price tag.

The worst case scenario is that you will pick your wedding venue with all your heart and when you find out its price, your heart will break into a million pieces. So make the smart move and make a budget before doing anything else.

2. Listening to everyone’s advice

Your wedding is a big event, and you will be probably spending a lot of cash on it. Your near and dear ones will give you advice based on their perspectives. They will not give you the wrong information but the problem is that there is no practical way for you to follow everyone’s advice.

This is your wedding, and you need to be in charge of all the planning. Everything should be according to your visions and ideas. Listening to others will only make you confused. Just get an expert opinion from a few people and take the rest of the decisions yourself.

3. Not having a backup plan

There is no way Mother Nature is going to delay the rain just because it is your wedding day. No offense bud! This is the truth. Many couples plan an outdoor wedding and don’t have a rain plan. The only thing they do is pray that it doesn’t rain.

If you make a 50% budget and don’t add the rain plan, it will cost you more. For instance, if you plan an outdoor wedding and it starts raining, your 50% will go down the lane as well. Make sure you have a backup plan for any tragedy that can possible struck you on your wedding day.

4. Booking vendors

Each vendor that you will be hiring has a definite and vital part of the wedding. One wrong choice and your whole wedding could get ruined. Book your vendors at least six months in advance. Do your complete research and take a proper meeting with them. Check their previous reviews and ask all the questions you have concerning their work.

It is best to pay all your vendors in advance. Make sure you are debt-free when you are saying your wedding vows. You need to have a good time after your wedding, but you won’t be able to have that relaxing time if you haven’t paid for all the vendors yet.

5. Not giving enough info to your guests

Give clear and precise information to your guests. Some couple makes the wrong move of giving very little information to their guests like where the venue it, dress code, timing, and parking area. If you are having a destination wedding, give a complete wedding itinerary to them.

Tell them when to arrive where and what transport they should use. Many guests get late because they don’t know when the bus will come. Don’t make this mistake because it will ruin your entire wedding event.

June 25, 2019/by Chris Abell

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10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Wedding & Save Dollars

Most couples aim to save a lot of money when planning a wedding. Couples tend to scrutinize the budget multiple times to ensure that they have saved the most that they can. Even with the level of scrutiny wedding budgets gets, mistakes still occur that can lead to loss of a substantial amount of money, as much as thousands of dollars.

Here are our top wedding planning mistakes to avoid in a bid to save more money.

Renting instead of buying

Most couples do a lot of renting, especially with items that are assumed to be necessary for only the wedding day. Wedding vendors understand this thought pattern and provide rental services for a range of items. However, renting may be a more expensive option. To avoid this mistake, weigh your options even with items you think you might not need in the future.

Renting a Venue without Knowing its Terms and Conditions

Some venues come with furnishings. For others, you only get the space. Before committing a venue, ensure that the terms and conditions are convenient. Otherwise, you may end up spending a lot of money on getting services and items not provided by the venue.

Altering the guest list

The guest list is the first thing you should consider while planning your wedding. Other decisions are affected by the guest list. Be sure of who’s on the guest list, and be prepared stop invitations as soon as you make a comprehensive guest list.

Also, be sure of who gets to come with a date and stick to a strict policy. Change in guest list affects the venue, food, accommodation plans for guesting coming from afar and other activities planned for guests. Such changes can cost a lot of money.

Outdoor locations are cheaper

Yes, the cost of renting an outdoor space may be cheaper, but the cost of tents, power, chairs tables, lighting and other materials needed to make the outdoor space cozy may increase the cost of using outdoor locations drastically. Before you conclude on an outdoor location, ensure that the overall cost won’t cost much more money.

DIY projects are cheaper

Except you are sure of your competency with a particular task, do not attempt to do it yourself. Embarking on DIY projects for your wedding can lead to incurring more costs.

The cost of learning how to do a task, getting the right materials and tools and executing the task may be more than the cost of getting the task done by a professional. Except you are a professional or a near-professional, DIY project may not be the best call. DIY projects may cost you much more money.

I can do it all

No, you can’t. The more helpers you have, the better. The tendency to control every bit of their big is common with most couples, especially brides. Controlling every bit of your wedding can wear you out and lead to mistakes that will cost more money.

The more help you get also gives you time to focus on aspects that matter most to you. If possible, get a professional planner and allow them to take a lot of stress off you. If you can’t get professional help, accept the help of willing friends and families, and try not to overstress them.

Forgetting to make accommodation plans for out-of-town guests

Most guests coming from other towns and cities will arrive the night before. Most of them might also forget to make accommodation plans. To save cost and stress, provide accommodation options for out-of-town guests with an agreement on who foots the bill.

Bulk accommodation plans may also attract discounts. Waiting to the night before to procure accommodation for out-of-town guests may result in spending a lot more money as your preferred hotels could be completely booked.

Wrap Up!

Ultimately, every couple wants a day that turns out great without overflowing stress and expenses. Mistakes and inevitable when planning a wedding, and it is necessary to mitigate mistakes as much as possible, especially those that will lead to spending more money.

June 18, 2018/by Chris Abell

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Wedding Planning 101: What Every Bride Needs to Know

Planning a wedding is one of the most hectic activities that awaits both the bride and groom. You want the day to be perfect, and you want to feel like a princess, but there are a lot of factors to be considered.

Even with destination weddings and the smallest and most intimate wedding ceremonies, proper planning is required to pull off a hitch-free day. Before you start planning your wedding, it is necessary to consider some value-added tips and advice.

There is a lot of bracing up to do before planning a wedding. We have put together some tips that will guide you towards achieving your dream wedding day. There is a possibility that things might not be perfect, but with these tips, the odds are reduced.

It’s Never too Early to Start Planning

Wedding planning and preparation can drag over an unpredicted amount of time. You think you’ve got everything figured out until the tiniest details begin to beg for attention. With the craziness of the days closer to your big day, it is advisable to start planning even the smallest details from months before.

Planning the fundamental details long before time will give you a structure to work with, as soon as your wedding date is confirmed, it is advisable to sort out the fundamentals. Questions like “how much money can I afford to spend on my wedding?”, “who do I want at my wedding?” and “what can’t I remove from the list?” should be answered long before the heavy planning begins. That way, whatever happens later can be checked by the decisions you made.

Figure out the Budget

Working with a fixed budget is pertinent. Unforeseen needs will arise. A vendor could fail. Natural causes could even disrupt the flow of activities. A fixed budget helps in dealing with the financial stress that could be associated with wedding planning.

The budget should also include a specific amount of miscellaneous expenses and unforeseen circumstances. You can get in touch with a wedding planner or do research to get an estimate of the amount to set aside for miscellaneous expenses and unexpected circumstances. Your budget should also be as detailed as possible.

Get as much Reliable help as is Available

It’s tempting to want to see to every little detail yourself. As a bride, there are a lot of things to worry about, from the flowers to your manicure. So, get as much reliable help as is available. The emphasis is on reliable help because you do not want to get help from someone whom you can’t trust to deliver.

The person helping out should be someone who understands your needs and would go all the way to ensure that you get them. If you don’t have a lot of reliable help, a professional wedding planner would be the solution. The availability of a professional wedding planner depends on your budget though. As you plan your big day, you need a lot of help. When you find help in any form, accept it, especially if it’s from someone with your best interest at heart.

Get the Best Vendors

After establishing your budget, you should carry out proper research to find the best vendors within your budget range. Wedding cost quite some money and wedding vendors capitalize on the fantasy nature of wedding to offer prices that could be a bit outrageous.

For a moment, forget about your fantasies when you search for your vendors. Get the vendors that offer the best value. The value you seek as a bride is not necessarily the best price. It could be the vendor that gets your needs and will be able to deliver.

Wrap Up!

Finally, don’t forget to have fun, you will get married just once, at least to that person. So, be a little bit selfish; have fun. In the midst of all the overwhelming activities, ensure that it’s still your day.

You should fit in at least one de-stressing activity in your day, at least before the night comes. Whether you choose to go for a quiet ceremony or a big party, you should fit in an activity that you and your spouse will remember forever into your big day.

April 9, 2018/by Chris Abell

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Things To Know Before You Start Wedding Planning

When you first start planning your wedding, there are things that are nice to know (like the hottest wedding colors of the year). Then, there are things you need to know — advice so essential that any bride who’s lucky enough to hear it thinks, “I’m so glad someone told me that!” These are those.

1. DON’T BOOK YOUR VENUE BEFORE YOU HIRE A PLANNER

Venue selection is the starting point, but if you are able to work with a planner, involving them first can be a lifesaver. “Some clients inquire about our services after they have already booked their wedding venue, but the venue can dictate almost all of your wedding-planning decisions, which isn’t always ideal if you are not aware of this,” says Lindsey Norton of L. Brook Events.

“Does your venue have the ability to fit 200 people, with a dance floor and a stage for a 10-piece band? If your guest count exceeds a certain number are you required to rent bathrooms? These are all questions that you may not know to ask, but your planner does.”

2. PEAK WEDDING MONTHS ARE EXPENSIVE

June to August is peak wedding season, and everything is at a premium cost during this time. Consider getting married earlier in the year, when winter is no longer as severe, and spring is just about to arrive. Or, you can consider early fall for your wedding, as venues often slash their prices this time of the year.

3. LIGHTEN YOUR LIST

The easiest way to trim your wedding budget? Cut your guest list. We know that might seem impossible to those with large families and friends from all over the place, but consider this: Half of your wedding expenses go to wining and dining your guests.

If it’s costing you $100 per person, eliminating one table of 10 can save you $1,000. Not to mention, you just took away a floral centerpiece, 10 place setting rentals, 10 invitations, 10 favors, and more, saving you thousands.

4. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO

You’re getting married, not having a birthday party. Remember: Your wedding is about two people coming together—and the celebration should reflect that. “Stop comparing your wedding to what your friends have done in the past, what you see on Pinterest, and what your friends and family are telling you need to do,” says Morgan Perrone of Valley Flower Company.

“It has to be what feels true to you as a couple. If it means having 1,000 red balloons because it reminds you of your first date, by all means, have the balloons and don’t let anybody tell you it’s stupid. Don’t worry what people think or say about your wedding.”

5. GET ORGANIZATIONALLY FOCUSED

Before you meet with any vendors or sign any checks, set up your online checklist, budgeter, and guest list manager. Get a three-ring binder to use to compile all your correspondences with vendors, notes you make during meetings, and photos or tear sheets from magazines you want vendors to see.

It’s also a good idea to set up a special email address dedicated to your wedding (so that you can easily access all wedding-related emails).

6. BEFORE YOU GO WEDDING SHOPPING

Wedding dresses are crucial to transforming you into a splendid bride, however they can be quite pricey. Before you step into the shop, do your research and know your options. Here are some ways to make the most of your wedding dress budget.

Consider more than one style: If you keep your options open, it is easier to find a dress that falls within budget. Do your research ahead of time, and identify which styles will look good on you. Then look at dresses in these styles and choose the one that you are satisfied with, both in look and in price.

Look at the clearance and sale section: Many bridal will always have dresses on discounts and on sale. Before you look at the latest collection, it may be a good idea to see what is available in the sale section. You may find a dress that is quite similar to what you love in the current collection, at a fraction of a price.

Wait for trunk shows: Trunk shows are a bride’s dream-come-true, especially if you are in a standard 8-12 size group. These shows allow you to find the dress of your dreams at a reduced cost. If you are engaged for a year or more, it is likely that you will come across at least one trunk show during this time. So, call up the boutiques in the area and find out whether they have one scheduled in the near future. Put off your wedding shopping session till after wards, so you can take a chance and hope to find your wedding dress at the trunk show.

7. PROVIDE ACCURATE DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Make sure guests know where they’re going. As easy as online map programs are to use, sometimes the directions are wrong or there’s a quicker, less traffic-prone route to take. Ask your ceremony and reception sites for printouts of recommended driving directions, which they often keep in stock for weddings and will give to you for free, and test out the routes yourself.

February 12, 2018/by Chris Abell