Arranging your wedding can at times seem an impossible task and there are many potential pitfalls on the long road toward the big day. A lot of people fall victim to these classic planning mistakes, but you don't have to!
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Let's look at 10 common mistakes, and how to avoid them.
Spending Without a Plan and a Budget
Before you start spending, and even before you budget, think carefully about how you will plan your wedding: What kind of venue do you want? How many people will you invite? Everything! Companies such as Better Venues offer a range of locations and services to suit all sorts of weddings, catering to African and Asian weddings too.
Then there's budgeting... I know a budget can feel like a bit of a buzzkill, but wedding costs can easily spin wildly out of control. So deciding on budgeting priorities is vital. If possible, a 5-10% contingency budget is a good idea, just in case a little over-spending is unavoidable.
Thinking Not Everyone You Invite Will Show Up
Your guest list should be written as if everybody on it will be attending. In all likelihood there will be people who can't come, but it's better to plan for more people, not less. You don't want to be squeezing people into a venue or running out of room at the actual ceremony.
Not Hiring a Wedding Professional When You Need the Help
Some people are great at planning a wedding. Others, not so much. Not everyone can do it alone, and that's okay! If you need help, you should hire a professional wedding planner.
Having an Open Bar
In an ideal world, you would have an open bar and all your guests would drink to their heart's content. But, in reality, it's incredibly costly and the money you'll save by not having one is significant. It also allows you to spend in other areas of the wedding which perhaps need a little more of the budget.
Not Having a Plan B
I know you've got your special day planned perfectly in your mind. You can see it in every detail. But you need to be flexible, and compromise if absolutely necessary. Drinks and photos out on a lawn might be part of your vision, but if the weather suddenly turns, you'll need to be able to switch to Plan B, and not allow a little rain to ruin your day.
Trying to Keep Everybody Happy
Your parents or parents-in-law may have their own ideas about what your wedding should be, but there could come a point when you have to put your foot down. This is yours and your partner's wedding day, and it should be perfect for the two of you. You can't please everybody, and that's okay! It might cause a bit of tension, but try and keep this in mind when planning.
Going with the Cheapest Supplier
Yes, you're sticking to a budget, and a lower-priced supplier might end up being perfect for you, but that doesn't mean you should automatically go with the cheapest choice. High-quality, professional suppliers charge a lot for a good reason. They're also incredibly varied. So do your research, ask people for recommendations, and look around to see what services and products each supplier offers. Sites such as Little Book For Brides are incredibly handy for this kind of thing.
Not Hiring a Videographer
Wedding photos are one thing, but video will allow you to truly relive your special day over and over. The day all goes so fast, and paying for someone to capture it all professionally is definitely worthwhile. No doubt some people will be filming you on their smartphones, but it's not really the same thing, is it?
Not Planning the Toasts
This isn't an open mic night! Of course, it would be lovely if everyone said a few words but not everyone has that kind of patience, and your guests probably want to get to the dancefloor. Plan a few toasts, and space them out throughout the wedding dinner to keep things structured.
Feeling Constricted by Tradition (or Non-tradition)
As wedding and event planner Katrina Otter says, "2016 weddings don't have to abide by a strict format if the usual running order of the day doesn't work for you". Don't feel too bogged down by the traditions of a wedding ceremony if they're not to your taste. However, you also don't need to break completely with tradition if you don't want to. Traditional doesn't mean boring or derivative - you and your partner are already making it unique by virtue of being there, together.
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