Getting married has to be one of the most wonderful things that we ever are able to experience in our lives. It’s one of those moments in time that we will remember forever, and knowing that, it can make the planning process and the whole experience a bit stressful and overwhelming. As a wedding planner, I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to planning for & experiencing the day. I was recently married in the last few years and I realized a few things that I knew going into the planning process as a bride that I wish all brides knew. Here are my top 4 tips for planning & enjoying your wedding:
Don’t build a budget for your plan, build a plan to fit your budget
Too often I see couples trying to plan the Royal Wedding on a Cinderella budget. When it comes to budgeting for your dream wedding, sit down with your fiancé and ask “What are our non-negotiable items?”. This will be different for each couple, whether it’s a big cake, “the” dress, a particular venue, etc. Knowing these up front will help you when you are allocating money. If favors aren’t on the top of your list, then put that money towards the wedding dress you’ve always dreamed of! Next, break down your total budget into monthly payments from now until your wedding date & ensure this will not put a strain on your finances. If it does, lower your budget and make some cuts or consider pushing your date further out so that you can better afford the monthly cost. If your parents or future in-laws are paying, make sure you have all agreed upon a budget and when payments are due. My biggest piece of advice - do NOT take out a loan to pay for your wedding, you do not want to start your new life together in debt. Just budget appropriately and stick to it!
2. Hire a planner or day-of coordinator that you trust
Even as a wedding planner myself, one of my biggest priorities when I got married was to ensure I had a day-of coordinator that I could trust (shoutout to Liz DeKoyer at the Country Club of Asheville for being amazing!). Even though I could handle the pre-planning myself, I knew better than anyone that I did not want to be responsible for anything the day of my wedding. Your day-of coordinator will be the one receiving calls from your vendors, directing them on set up, greeting guests, and ensuring the day is running smoothly. They also handle any issues that arise without you ever knowing something went wrong (while you are enjoying champagne with your bridesmaids and preparing to marry your best friend). This is your big day & you should enjoy every moment - you shouldn’t be answering calls from vendors, decorating & stressing over details. Find a professional planner that you connect with, who can deliver a stress-free day to you and your fiancé.
3. Hire professional vendors - you’ll thank me later!
Everyone that has ever gotten engaged has had a friend, aunt, cousin or mom say “Oh I can be your photographer/ planner/ florist/ etc”. While their intentions may be good, the outcome isn’t always the best. Although it may be cheaper to have a friend do the work, you will be sacrificing quality in the long run. Vendors in the wedding industry that have gone through the process to register their business legally, have learned & perfected their craft, and have gained clientele over the years are professionals and will deliver a professional product. Also, if you have friends or family that ARE professionals in the industry, consider if you want them working instead of having fun at your wedding. My grandmother is a professional photographer and offered to shoot our wedding, but I wanted her to be in the photos, not taking them. Hire professional vendors and your wedding will run much more smoothly.
4. Be present
This one seems like a no-brainer, right? Sometimes we tend to overthink, over analyze, ensure everything is perfect and exactly how we dreamed it. Trust your planner as they are there to make sure every detail you’ve planned will be executed perfectly. You don’t want to look back and remember how stressed out you were, you want to remember the women who surrounded you while getting ready, the sweet moments with your parents, and the look on your groom’s face when you walked down the aisle. Take a deep breath and enjoy every step of the day - it’s only going to happen once!