Mistakes are inevitable, while planning a wedding, so try not to sweat. But here’s a heads-up on 10 of the most common wedding planning mistakes so you can avoid from the get-go.
1. To do something before the guest
You’re so excited to be involved and plan the most amazing wedding. You can not wait to get the ball rolling with a save-the-dates, booking your site, choosing your flowers and cake tasting flavors. But wait, one of the key factors that goes into wedding planning your guest list. It is what determines most of the other elements of your wedding, the catering bill seating arrangement the ceremony.
The solution: It’s not the best part of the planning, but you should not make decisions before guest list fairly firm your wedding place. Why? You do not want to put down a nonrefundable deposit on a cozy restaurant room 75 suits your mother-in-law additions bump your list more than 200. If you have discussed once numbers with your fiancé and families, then you can move forward. That said, this means that you and your fiancé can start thinking almost immediately about what you want to be the mood of your wedding: an intimate affair with family and friends-only or the bash of the season with 300-plus people (or somewhere in the middle)? Later, when you’re in the guest-list trenches, this bit of planning will help back up your instincts about whether to say yes (or no) guest-list additions.
2. Bridal Magazines Reading Aloud to your fiancé
We know that times have changed and grooms want to see their wedding as an event that reflects their style. But we warn you: There’s only so much anyone can take when confronted with an infinite series of invitation choices and bridal conditions.
To talk incessant wedding and possibly irritated keep voting remotely, designate a night to sit down and talk about any other aspect of the wedding, and try to get a concrete idea of the importance of your partner in the various details to get. Like flowers just do not resolve their thing, to leave them in that decision. No need to get everyone into something they could not drag care less about. But also listen to the things they are interested in and voila! You’ve found yourself a willing helper, at least in one area.
Also, forward, assign one night a week to your wedding free time. Catch up on work, friends, family everything. You’ll both so glad to know the person you love is still there, and certainly appreciate the breather.
3. Freaking Out Because someone else has your gown
Since wedding personalization is so important for couples these days, it’s easy to lose it as another couple chooses the same favors or flowers or food. Before you decide to arm wrestle for it, consider a healthier way to go.
Instead of worrying about someone else’s wedding looking the same as yours, think about how similar detail otherwise. If a friend had chosen the same dress as you, personalized accents you add: Accessorize with a brooch, add a sash, decorate the train with some embroidery (you get the idea). Has anyone else swiped your fun favor idea? Find a way to wrap you to put them aside.
4. Realizing the grape is not your color (to two months)
When you started planning your wedding, you thought you knew exactly what you wanted, but after scouring inspiration boards and wedding magazines for a few months, you’ve totally changed your mind. It’s not the best realization, but do not worry-your could still save his wedding style.
You must be free to reconsider again and renew every element of your wedding that you want to feel. This does not necessarily mean a huge investment or reneging on a bunch of contracts-you will be surprised how easy it is to create and change simple additions or subtractions your whole style. Already ordered those pastel dress? Think about adding a bold sash or accessorizing with chandelier earrings they liven up a bit. Unsure about the color scheme you have chosen? Pay an extra visit to your florist and work out changes in your bouquets and centerpieces-adding new flowers in all your appointments will introduce a new color in the room. Same if you’re already ordered linen: Season them with bright table runners or overlays. If you decide you really can not live with it, chances are that you can go back to your first choice, just remember that it’s a cost. A good rule of thumb is that if you have already signed a contract or having any proof, you have to pay extra for any changes or additions you make. But if it is still relatively early in your planning, do not be afraid to make the change. And remember, you’re getting married to your husband, not your centerpieces.
5. Trying to Drop Two Sizes Before Your Final Fitting
You’ve found dress of your dreams, but it’s not quite a perfect fit on the real-life you. Your plan: Order the dress two sizes too small, and then do whatever it takes to make it fit.
Making a commitment to eat right and exercise is great if you are planning your wedding or trying to stave off the newlywed nine. On the other hand, crash dieting and linking yourself to the treadmill is a course likely to end in disaster and an ill-fitting dress.
Instead of losing more sleep than weight, find a dress you love and order in your current size. If you want to work on your body during your involvement, that’s great, but make sure your goals are manageable (toning but not drop 20 pounds, for example). You’re more likely to stick with a routine that does not require superhuman willpower. And if you still find that you are freaking about your figure, but remember that you’re about to marry someone who did not get enough of the way you look (really, really) are getting at the moment.
If you do drop some weight, this slow and steady approach will help you big time (and help to keep long-term). You want to get rid of extra pounds before your second fitting. Any big changes after that, and although you might be lighter, your amendment bill will be quite hefty. Your final installation should be for last minute tweaks, not a total overhaul.
6. Doing it all yourself
We love nothing better than seeing the clever projects that pairs to make their wedding unique. But we must draw a line somewhere. There is to do it yourself, and then there yourself exaggerate. There are numerous benefits to DIY. You can be sure no one else has exactly the same, you can keep your budget under control and (before you actually sit down to tie the hand 200 small ribbons) you probably think it will make a great story.
Instead of too many projects, choose the one (or two) that you really love and put your resources (both mental and monetary) to work on that. For others, do a little research and try to make finding a ready-made version you happy. With so many big prefab goodies out there, chances are you’ll find one that suits your style and saves you find a lot of time.
7. Overload Your Mom’s Day or To-Do List
If you have done then you can not do everything yourself, you rely on someone you trust to double-check with the caterer and the florist, steam your veil and make sure the limo company directions. Most brides turn to their mothers to care (or their sister or their honor) to ensure that things go as planned on the actual day. These people are usually happy to help in any way they can, but remember that they came to celebrate with you (and they work on a voluntary basis!).
No matter how worried you are, most of the wedding day (and the day before) chores can be trusted to a competent adult, and there is not a lot of them come to the city just for your wedding? Before handing your mother or maid of a mega-do list, consider splitting jobs among a larger group of people-friends, cousins, aunts. They will be glad to lend a hand (and probably flattered that you asked), and it’s a great way to include more people in your party. If you’re worried about losing track, simply take the to-do list that you already have and make a note of who is who in addition to any task. Check in with each person at a given time, then check off the job from the list.
You also have the possibility, if the budget allows it, to hire a professional wedding coordinator for the last weeks before the wedding (or even just the wedding day). They are experts at ensuring that these last-minute treats to get done, and having the extra hands around helps you (and your mom) decide what you really want to be in charge and what you can hand happy. It’s more affordable than you might think, and frankly, you can put a price tag on alleviating that kind of stress?
8. Crying Over Mismatched Linens
Place cards just came back from the printer, the ink color is a little off the pressure on your invites. Or the best man’s boutonniere with a hint of baby’s breath where you had given berries. Let’s face it, even the most perfectly planned wedding is sure to hit a few bumps along the way.
If you’ve worked so hard for so many months on your wedding details, it can be difficult to go when you find an error. The important thing is that when you have a place, you need to take a deep breath and think: How important is it will be to me in a year? Not in 10 years, even five, but in a. Chances are, most of the accidents that caused so much turmoil will not really matter to you once you are doing your wedding (let alone post). If it’s a serious growl, go ahead and go. But if it is a small mess-up, try to move on. You can not give up all your resources to every little crisis. Pick your battles wisely and they will be better controlled.
9. Blowing Your Budget
You came with a song, doing your research, revised the number, starting with the planning and now that number is not going to cut it. Budgeting for a wedding can be the stuff of nightmares, but that does not mean you have to play chess.
If you find that you underestimate expenditure, do not panic. Instead, sit down with your fiance and try to find a constructive solution. Perhaps you can specify an item or exchange it for another (for example, dahlias over Black Magic roses save approximately $ 4 per stem). Why do not you come short overalls, you may have to take on some debt. To make it as small as possible, you may consider obtaining a low-interest loan or using a low interest credit card. And to avoid becoming a source of tension between the two of you, a plan to deal with the debt and a deadline for paying it off, so it will not hang over your head.
10. Saving Your Place Cards for the morning
At present, it may seem strange to have found a basic sketch of your floor plan or all of your favors and ready to go. But other than taking a little extra space in your closet, they are not causing damage and will actually save you a ton of stress for a month or two down the line. The closer the wedding is, the busier you are, so make and stick to your timeline is essential.
Do not be afraid to move forward on your wedding day timeline. If you focus on saving jobs until the agreed time (instead of going ahead and doing a little bit of this or that if you have the time), you can reach the wind with too much in the last month (or week) for the wedding. That is exactly the time when everything (and anything) can happen, as everyone will have demands on your time, and you just want to take a hot bath and dream about your honeymoon. With a checkmark next to all of your biggest to-dos, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy both your actual wedding and the days leading up to it.