Budgeting
For a wedding to be successful, money is
everything. Money can be a cause of distress at the best of times. It can
turn into a major problem in a wedding situation where emotions are running
high. Wedding is a very special event for the couple to share with their loved ones;
therefore, there is a tendency to go overboard with the spending in a bid to
ensure that the special day is spectacular. At this point, it is common for a
lot of couples to just throw costs out the window, and end up starting a new life
together in debt. Many couples and parents get so stressed out over the cost of
the wedding that they completely lose sight of the joy and excitement of the
time.
It is important you start off well, figuring
how much you could spend and what you already have in your bank account. Set a
realistic budget and stick to it. Use the budget as a tool to figure out what
you can cut, what you can save and other sources where income might come from. Not
only will budgeting help you afford your wedding, it’s also an important skill
for your married life.
Leaving Tasks For The Week Before The Wedding
I would have merged this point with the preceding point, but technically speaking, they are different from each other. In this case, you've planned well up until this point, and since you're taking the week off before the wedding anyway, you'll have lots of free time to wrap up loose ends. Doing this is a serious blunder. Apart from the fact that there are better uses for your time, you also don't want to be tired on the day of your wedding or stressed about whether a last minute item is in place. Last minute issues will always come up, so the best thing you can do is get everything you can think of ahead of time. Don't wait until the week before to do anything.
Doing
Everything Yourself
Wedding is fun, but wedding planning isn’t.
Until you’ve planned a wedding, you may not have an idea the number of choices
and decisions you will need to make, and the great emotional turmoil that comes
with most of them. To have a successful wedding, you must plan your tasks
effectively. Have a realistic check list and you’ll be on top of things. In planning, you must start at least six months
ahead of time, so you'll have time to execute your plans effectively.
The truth is that, wanting to be involved in
planning your wedding is a great idea. Still, you'll want to keep yourself at
least a little sane, and you may be surprised at how quickly the months pass by.
You don't need the stress of pulling all-nighters the week before the wedding
to finish too many projects. It's simple: Don't bite off more than you can
chew. Pick and choose your projects wisely, and be honest with yourself about
how much time you have to devote to them.
If it all gets too much, wedding planners are just a
phone call away. At this point, the importance of wedding planners cannot be
overemphasized. You will be amazed at the range of services they offer. They
are the experts and they will be more than happy to give you some advice and
steer you back on track in no time.
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Venue
Event venue is almost everything during a wedding. A quaint celebration in the comfort of an open
field could be the simple choice of many people. But here's an uncomfortable
thought: the cost of rentals. Combine the cost of tables and chairs plus set-up
and delivery fees, not to mention a tent in case of bad weather and your
"small wedding" budget just shot through the roof. Unless you happen
to have access to a bunch of banquet tables and chairs, it might be cost
effective to book a reception hall. There are hotels and event centres that will
throw tables, chairs, and some, even linens into your wedding package and this
can help you save some money in the end.
Buying A
Wedding Dress Online
When you are looking at a gorgeous wedding dress
online, the "purchase now" button can become very tempting. But if
it's a gown you've never tried on or even seen in person, you should have a
second thought before you buy. There's no way to know what a dress will
really look like on you until you've tried it on. If the dress that arrives
isn't as lovely as you thought, you could be stuck with an expensive gown
you'll never wear. Even if you like the dress, unexpected fitting problems
could attract additional costs in amendments. Your best bet is to go to a
bridal salon to make sure you get the real thing.
Lack
of Personality
One big mistake I often see is a wedding
devoid of the couple’s own personalities. Other actors whose personalities are almost
as important as the couple are the MC and the DJ. They both have huge influence
on the tone of the ceremony. You’ll want to make sure that you find an MC who
is willing to perform the kind of ceremony you are envisioning. Let's face it,
if your MC is boring and dry, your wedding ceremony is going to be boring and
dry. By the same token; if your DJ is super cheesy, you’re going to be doing
the chicken dance all day. Make sure that your personalities mesh well with
these two people, and that you feel listened to and respected. It is the one of
the most important days of your life, as such, it should reflect your
uniqueness
Skimping On The Food
Just because it's a buffet style wedding doesn't mean your guests should be rationed portions of food. Being short on food is a big no-no. Buffet style lunch or dinners are fine, but you need to make sure there is enough food plus plates, and napkins to go round. Work with your caterer ahead of time to make sure you have a menu that's within your budget but still allows you to have enough food for everyone. Food is one place where it's best not to cut corners. Instead, try saving in other ways, like by having your wedding on a Sunday (which could be cheaper than Saturday) or simply trimming down your guest list.
Not having a clear understanding of your own
expectations regarding your wedding
I’ve been an event planner for a while; and
one problem I’ve realised that causes commotion at weddings is conflicting
expectations. Clear communication is important throughout the entire wedding
planning process. Whether you are speaking with family, friends, or an event
planner, express your desires and expectations clearly. Remember, it is not
what is said and done, as much as how it is said and done. Feelings can be hurt
and there can be lifelong ramifications depending on how things are handled.
Attempting to separate fantasy from reality will help minimize the source of
many problems and is the key to defining your own expectations. Do not
assume that your wedding planner knows what is expected of him or her. Some of
your friends may have been in numerous weddings and think they know the
“routine”. But, never assume they know what to do. A list of wedding
responsibilities is a good starting place in determining your own expectations.
Being Inconsiderate
It is the 21st century, not the Stone Age,
and there are plenty of guys out there who want to see their wedding as an
event that reflects their style too. Wedding planning can and should be the
domain of both people, rather than just de facto delegated to the bride. Have a serious talk with your spouse and get a
concrete idea of his interest in the various details. You need to come to an
agreement on what tasks he wants to be involved in or responsible for. You
definitely don’t want to drag him into decisions he has no interest in, for
example: the purchase of aso-ebi. Apart from your spouse, you need to take
other people into consideration as well. Yes, it’s your wedding, but a good
host puts others’ needs front and centre. Think about what you are asking, will
your guests be forced to stand around for over an hour while you take pictures?
Will they be comfortable in the weather or have you thought about providing bottles
of water and light refreshments? Do guests know what to expect?
Getting
Trashed the Night Before the Wedding
Whether your friends have mistakenly planned
the bachelor/bachelorette parties for the night before the wedding, or you plan
to drink through the rehearsal dinner, the last thing you need is to wake up
with a headache, puffy skin, fuzzy head, or worse, an upset stomach. Do
yourself a favour, skip drinking the night before or totally skip drinking at
all.
