Planning a wedding is meant to be fun (for the most part). And while it can be stressful as well, making sure you have a plan of attack is the best way to avoid common wedding planning mistakes. By setting a budget, outsourcing some help, and remembering the bigger picture, you can have a relatively stress free experience. We’ve put together a list of some of the most common wedding planning mistakes and how to avoid them. Hopefully you find it helpful!
Not setting a budget and sticking to it.
Probably one of the most common mistakes people run into when planning a wedding is not setting a budget and sticking to it. It is so incredibly easy to get caught up in the sparkle and prospect of a perfect wedding day and spend and spend unnecessarily. Instead of going over budget intentionally, try to keep things on target. Be firm with your budget and see where you can make concessions to achieve your dream wedding.
Trying to do everything yourself.
You do not have to do everything yourself! The next time you feel like the walls are falling down, remember that you can ask for help. This relates to all aspects of wedding planning. Ask for help when you need it. If you’re having trouble making a decision, seek other people’s opinions. Try to delegate a few tasks if you’ve opted to go without a wedding planner. It will make your life a whole lot easier.
Not hiring a wedding planner.
Depending on the type of wedding you’re planning, you may not need a wedding planner. However, if you’re going really big, or planning a destination wedding, hiring one will probably make your life easier. They have the knowledge that you may not have and they’ll have a network of suppliers ranging from flowers to venue hire to entertainment to caterers and everything in between.
Getting caught up in the details and forgetting about the big picture.
When you look back on your wedding day, what are you going to remember? Ask yourself this question over and over again throughout your wedding planning process. It will help you make some tough decisions and will be a great way to stay on track. At the end of the day, you’ll remember marrying the person you love and celebrating with your friends and family. The other stuff will be an added bonus.
Not having a backup plan for bad weather.
If you’re planning on having an outdoor wedding, make sure you have a backup plan for bad weather. You can speak with your wedding planner about this as well as your venue. Many wedding venues will most likely have a contingency plan if there is bad weather on the big day. If they don’t, it might be good to have a marquis on standby just in case!
Not having a clear vision for the wedding.
Whether it’s the type of wedding venue or the theme itself, having a clear vision of what you want will seriously help in the planning process. It will narrow down your choices really quickly. Knowing what you’re looking for will help you understand what you’re not looking for. It gives you a lot of power when it comes to staying on budget and ticking things off of your list.
Not communicating with your vendors effectively.
When making decisions with your vendors, it’s important to tell them exactly what you need. Communication is key when it comes to big budget decisions. Speak with your vendors and know what you’re getting and what the terms are. You can find vendors through a wedding planner, through your wedding venue, or by doing your own research. No matter what route you go down, you need to be sure communication is clear on both sides. Know exactly what is in your contracts. Find out what would happen if you need to cancel for any reason. See what you’re getting before the day, on the day, and what happens afterwards. Being aware of these things will help you throughout your whole planning process.
Not having a contingency plan for unexpected expenses.
Finally, know that you’ll probably incur extra expenses. It’s the nature of planning a large event. Things come up that you can’t help. If you’re able to set aside some of your initial budget for these things, that’s great! If you spend all of your budget, be aware that you may need to spend your emergency fund or other savings for any surprises that may pop up along the way.
Wedding Venues For Hire
If you’re looking for a wedding venue, you’ve come to the right place. VenueScanner has some stunning wedding venues available for hire from country manors to swanky London restaurants to beautiful and historic pubs. Start your search now!
A few of our favourite wedding venues are Trunkwell House, Old Thorns Hotel & Resort, Trafalgar Tavern, Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House, and Merrydale Manor.
