You may be dreaming of the flawlessly-executed wedding or be stressed out over the last detail because of how important your big day is. The thing is, it is possible to get occupied with planning and carried away with the excitement that things happen to slip out of your mind, and before you know it, you have completely forgotten about it. It is important to avoid the most common wedding-planning mistakes.
Because if there’s something you don’t want on your wedding day is tapping your forehead, trying to understand how you could have overlooked something so important to your wedding. The bad part is that 80% of the time, whatever you failed to get done or the mistake you made cannot be rectified on the spot.
We understand just how bad a typical wedding planning mistake can get and much of a dampener it can be to your special day. That is why we have taken out time to highlight some of the most common wedding planning mistakes and how you can avoid them.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Have a wedding planner or not, however way it is, there are a few things to remember to check off your list as you continue planning for your wedding. Our list of the most common wedding-planning mistakes will help you to identify problems before they occur.
This article will be all about the following common wedding planning mistakes you should watch out for.
Not Planning For The Rain
Not Planning For The Rain Is One Of The Most Common Wedding-Planning Mistakes. Especially since you never see it coming. Now you can’t blame mother nature for wanting to drop in on such a beautiful union as yours. All you have to do is make allowance for it.
If you’re you have an outdoor wedding; this is especially important. Your rain cover can double as shaded areas from the sun, which is excellent for guests who need a break. Even if your venue is inside, having a plan for bad weather is suitable if your ceremony and reception are in different places. Yes, the rain’s blessings, but a soaked bride is not exactly what anyone wants to see walking down the aisle. Knowing how you’ll get you and your dress to the reception and stay dry is a good plan, and guests may appreciate the option of a light rain poncho for their fine wear.
When picking your wedding date, an excellent way to go about it is to pay attention to the season it falls in, maybe it’s in the summer or spring. Once you have had this figured out, you can then be focused on the weather forecast on that day and prepare backup plans in advance. Services like AccuWeather or TheWeatherNetwork can help you have at least an idea of what to expect and avoid one of the biggest wedding-planning mistakes.
Not Knowing Your Budget
Of course, unexpected expenses happen, but the last thing you want is to be dipping into your savings. You don’t want to steal from your retirement fund or borrow on credit just because you stretched your bank account further than you could reach. Getting married with debts hanging over your heads is something you should avoid at all costs, and you can do this by having an operational budget.
Whether it is gown shopping, venue shopping, accessories, the printing of cards, whatever it might be, ensure you have a budget and stay on that budget. One common mistake couples make when it comes to having a budget for their wedding is leaving the budget planning until the marriage is fully insight.
It is a common misconception that significant expenses like venue and guest care require a budget and not having a budget for what they see as less costly, like printing invitations and pre-wedding shoots. What happens is that you realize you have already spent so much on the said “trivial” things. Staying within budget will help you afford last-minute ordeals and avoid falling in love with a dress or venue that is out of reach.
Sending out Save-the-Dates Too Early
You’re excited, and that’s natural, but having to uninvite people is a huge faux-pas. It is not new nor a rare occurrence where one has to send letters back to previously invited guests that they will no longer be able to attend the wedding, especially if they have been looking forward and have planned for it. One thing you should know is that not everyone can attend your wedding.
Sure, you have a lot of people you love and those who love you. Friends from school, even up to high school, colleagues at work, neighbors, and so many other aspects of your life. Inviting too many people and sending the invited out too early could increase the costs for the wedding. That’s not all; what if the venue can’t hold everybody?
If you pre-invite more people than your venue can hold, telling potential guests that they can’t come is not polite. You also can’t assume that enough people will say no so that you stay within your seating capacity. It’s best to plan your guest list so that you’ll have more seats than necessary. So remember to take some time to think and deliberate properly on the options before sending out your invitation. Also, have a range of attendees in mind and a prospective venue that can hold those numbers. You could even go as far as having a backup location to avoid any surprises.
Deciding to do Makeup and Hair on the Day
It adds stress if you choose not to have a trial makeup and hair day. It would be best to have a makeup artist and hairstylist that you trust and know will come through for you on your day. One thing you should avoid on your wedding day is a mistake you can’t see coming.
Even as an experienced makeup artist and hairstylist, accidents happen, which is entirely normal. What is not normal is when that accident ruins your special day. Having the style and look you want already registered with your makeup artist and hairstylist is a great way to avoid his common wedding mistake. Another extra cautious step is to run a trial before the special day.
Doing a trial also allows you to take some liberties and try out other looks that you may not have considered. Any changes to suit your needs can be accommodated before your big day to avoid one of the most common wedding-planning mistakes.
Skipping a Videographer or Photographer
Thinking that you’ll save money if you don’t have someone to capture some of your most important moments may lead to regret down the road. One part of the planning process that should never be left out is the photographer or videographer. It should be a constant and should be budgeted for in advance. Not getting a photographer or videographer with the hopes of saving cash will only have you looking back on that particular day and asking yourself how you could make such an obvious mistake. Apart from pictures and videos being important wedding documents, it also helps to capture the smiles and happy moments in one frame.
The chances are that you have distant friends and relatives coming down for the wedding that you haven’t seen in a while. Capturing your moments with them adds to the vibe of a complete wedding ceremony.
Make sure that you’ve thought through these decisions, and if you do hire a videographer or photographer, know what you want and communicate it well. These are pictures that you’ll have for a long time, and you should like them.
3 Helpful Tips To Avoid These Mistakes Completely
Always Make a To-Do List
When it comes to planning a wedding, it is effortless to forget some things, and mistakes happen frequently. A thoughtful way to curb this is with a wedding to-do list. Dedicate an index to the things you must and must not do in preparation for your wedding. Your wedding to-do list must be made at least two months before the wedding and updated as frequently as possible.
You could make a copy and send it to one of your close buddies, so even when you are unconsciously about to make that mistake, you have got one more person to point you in the right direction.
With a wedding To-do list, your chances of forgetting and leaving things out are no longer in the picture. The same goes for avoidable mistakes.
Have a Second Opinion
When making decisions that concern your wedding, like picking a venue, it is always a great idea to have a second opinion on the matter. What you see as foolproof could always have a loophole somewhere that your foresight does not cover. It could be a few friends, family members of the bride/groom, or even your partner. It also makes it easier to find solutions to these common wedding planning mistakes.
Get Yourself A Wedding Planner
Whether you are having a simple wedding or something more on the extravagant side, it is much wiser to have a wedding planner on your side. Wedding planners are experienced in planning weddings and have had their share of wedding mistakes. It is possible not to foresight on some issues that could cause a problem on your wedding day. With the help of a wedding planner, you can pinpoint the possible mistakes highlighted beforehand and make a plan to handle them. You could even have a backup plan for that backup plan. With the help of an expert wedding planner, you can avoid the most common wedding planning mistakes.
Conclusion
Finally, don’t get worked up over every detail. Focus on what is most important to you and sort out the way you’ll achieve it. Maybe you’re stressed out about the food but not the guest list—put your energy toward making the meal your highlight. And maybe give your spouse-to-be the tasks you do not worry about much.