With advice on how to plan the perfect wedding everywhere these days, it can be overwhelming trying to pick out the most helpful bits. But what about the things that could actually make your planning more stressful than it needs to be? Today I’m going to share with you the three most common wedding planning mistakes I’ve seen made in my 7 years as a wedding planner, and my professional advice on how you can avoid them. Before you start jumping into venue visits and styling ideas, there’s one thing you might not realise is the very first step…
It’s all about the guest list
One of the biggest wedding planning mistakes is not creating your guest list as soon as you start thinking about planning your wedding – before you even get to the budget or booking the venue. You need to know how many guests you’re going to invite- even if it’s only a rough number in the early days- so that you can plan your budget effectively, and approach venues that can cater for the size of your wedding. It can also be a big morale boost. It’ll remind you from the outset that you’re going to be surrounded by friends and family who are there to celebrate with you and that’ll keep you going when the stress creeps in. And you won’t have to worry about missing anyone out…
The blessed budget
Money can be an emotional topic at the best of times, but when you’re talking about weddings, it’s even more of a tender spot. Start by figuring out what you want to spend in total. Your partner might have a different idea of how much you should spend, so it’s important to have an honest discussion. You might want to research the cost for the kind of wedding you’re having, and especially in the area you’d like to get married, as cities generally command higher costs.
Once you know how much you have to play with, you can make wise choices about suppliers, venue, catering, etc. Keep prioritising what is most important to you as a couple- whether it is the photography or the food- and that will help you figure out where you can spend and where you need to cut back.
Timing on the day itself
A rushed wedding is not a fun experience for anyone, and often I find couples want to fit more than they can into their day, which leads to a bit of a frantic wedding. It can be difficult to get the pace right, so use a wedding planning services London, or make use of your suppliers’ expertise, to get advice on the best way to time the day. Check how long you’ll need for hair and makeup, to travel between venues, to move guests around, to seat, serve and enjoy dinner, etc. Make sure you give yourself enough time so that you can relax on your big day!
On the flip side, make sure there’s enough going on so your guests don’t get bored, especially if there are children at your wedding. Create activities that can be enjoyed at any time, and are really fun for your guests, such as a photobooth or interactive guest book. This will give you the opportunity to slip away for your photos or have 10 quiet minutes together, without your guests getting bored.
I believe that there is no right or wrong when it comes to your wedding day, you really can pick and choose the elements that mean the most to you as a couple. If you get the three areas of guest list, budget and on-the-day timing organised properly, you can relax and have fun with the other details that matter to you.
Feeling like this is all too much to get your head round? As a professional London based wedding planner, I can help you with all of these areas and much more. Get in touch today to find out how together we can craft a day that is truly reflective of you both: weddings@alwaysandri.co.uk
Images by Siobhan H Photography
