You can’t control everything that happens on your wedding day, but you can avoid common wedding planning mistakes. If you didn’t read part one with the first six mistakes, you can find that post here. Below are six additional mistakes engaged couples make, even the most organized ones.
Hiring a “friendor” instead of a professional vendor
One of your friends or family members may make amazing cakes or create beautiful bouquets of flowers, but that doesn’t mean he or she will be a great wedding vendor. I strongly recommend hiring professional wedding vendors, even if your wedding budget is small. Weddings are a different kind of animal from other events, so you want experienced vendors who work in and are familiar with the wedding industry to take charge of your wedding day. Plus, your family and friends can (and should) be just wedding guests, so they can truly enjoy your special day.
Booking a hotel block too late
Many newly engaged couples don’t think about hotel blocks until later in the wedding planning process, but if you’re getting married during the busy wedding season and/or have a lot of out of town guests you plan on inviting, look into hotel blocks 8-12 months in advance. Securing a hotel block for out of towners (or locals who want to really enjoy your wedding night) is generally a last-minute wedding task couples think about, but you should reserve it as early as possible so you don’t end up with no accommodation options for your guests. Check out our blog post on hotel blocks for what to ask when considering a room block.
Not participating in a hair and makeup trial
Some hair stylists and makeup artists will charge a fee for a trial. Whether or not they charge an additional fee, I strongly suggest doing a hair and makeup trial before your wedding date. Even if you completely trust in your stylist/artist’s abilities to make you look and feel beautiful on your wedding day, you should do a trial so all of you are confident in the look. Not only will a trial prevent unnecessary stress, but you have a chance to express anything you don’t like at the trial and tweak it, so everything looks the way you want on the wedding day. Plus, if you schedule it properly you can align your hair and makeup trial with your engagement photos or a night out on the town!
Not asking enough questions to vendors
The most popular question will be, “How much do you charge for your services?” but it’s important to ask more detailed questions so you get all the information you need to make an informed decision. Don’t be afraid to ask more probing questions to understand what exactly you’re getting with their service. And make sure everything you’ve discussed is in writing before you sign a contract. For example, if your caterer says they will throw in a complimentary tea & coffee service or your DJ says they will add an additional microphone at no additional cost, make sure this is included in the written proposal and/or contract. It may feel uncomfortable to ask your vendors so many questions before signing, but they are used to explaining their services to potential clients and you can confidently make the best decision for you.
Not supplying enough information to guests
Here’s where a wedding website comes into play. A wedding website isn’t just a popular way to spread the word to your guests about your wedding details, it’s also a digital platform that stores everything about your big day and lasts well beyond your nuptials.
Guests will appreciate images of you and your partner, the story of how you two met or the proposal, and pictures of your wedding party. But make sure to put the below items on your website as well as any updates, so your guests can check one legitimate and current source:
Ceremony and reception start times Each venue’s addresses if they are at different locations Parking information at venue(s) Wedding registry information Hotel room block information (if applicable) Arranged transportation (if applicable) Online RSVP if you’d like guests to have the option to reply online
It’s important to not share private events on the website, such as a wedding party rehearsal dinner or family-only brunch. Send digital or paper invitations directly to those selected few for any private events, with the above bullet points included in those private event invites, so the majority of your guests don’t feel left out.
Focusing on the wedding and not the marriage
This may be difficult to read, but things can and will go wrong on your wedding day. It’s important to remember the big picture: If you get married on your wedding day, that is, you and your partner get to recite your love and vows to each other—your wedding is an automatic success. Nothing, not even all the wedding details you’ve planned for months on end, is more important than sealing the love between you and your partner through the life-long commitment of marriage. If you can keep this outlook in mind throughout the wedding planning process and not let the details cloud the reason why you’re getting married in the first place, your wedding will be a beautiful, memorable and special day.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
