Planning your wedding can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor that demands both effort and money to complete successfully.
Wedding planners can make managing all the tasks for your big day easier, especially when it comes to invitations and venue selection. Once you know who will attend, determining the venue that can accommodate them becomes much simpler.
Consider Your Relationships
Planning a wedding can be stressful. Involved parties must communicate their expectations and responsibilities openly so that miscommunication does not occur during this exciting process. To manage relationships effectively in all the excitement, communication must remain open at all times between planning partners. To stay stress-free while planning, stay open with each person involved – especially family or friends that you work with closely on this event!
Your wedding party – be it siblings or best friends – should be with you from rehearsal dinner through to driving off into the sunset. They should serve as go-to people when help or advice are needed and are likely to perform tasks at the ceremony like lighting candles, reading scripture reading or blessing guests. They are also responsible for organizing any bachelor or bachelorette parties as well as the rehearsal dinner which usually occurs the night before your big day.
Consider how the selection of wedding party members will have an effect on future relationships when choosing them. For instance, choosing maid of honor and best man who don’t live close by or share similar interests could result in sore feelings which require time to heal – however candid conversations and special invitations could help ease tension and provide much-needed closure.
Weddings can also unearth old family dynamics that weren’t always pleasant growing up, including jealous mothers or critical step-parents trying to insert themselves into your planning process. While they may try and insert themselves, it’s essential that you remain focused on building strong relationships as you start your new family of two.
Think About the Size of Your Wedding
An intimate wedding can be the perfect opportunity to bring family and friends together for celebration, but the cost can quickly add up. Your guest count will affect everything from food and beverage costs to music fees and decorations.
As you create your wedding guest list, think about who it would mean most to celebrate this big momentous occasion with. Divide this list into two parts – A and B. In Part A you should include everyone you feel absolutely must attend your event while Part B could include extended family and friends you would love to invite but would understand if they couldn’t. Finally, trim down this list until it fits within the capacity of your venue.
Your wedding size also impacts how much money is spent on favors and seating arrangements, and additional people may need to help manage day-of logistics such as offering refreshments to guests or helping them locate seats.
One effective strategy to lower costs on your budget is hosting a smaller wedding, both in terms of venue costs and catering/flower expenses.
One way to save money when planning a wedding is by choosing another date than Saturday for it. This will enable you to sidestep higher venue and vendor costs and flowers costs; additionally you could rent your dress instead of buying it, find deals online, or find stores offering bridal wear accessories; for an alternative and cost-cutting wedding experience opt for milk and cookie bars or cupcakes instead for fun yet economical reception treats!
Think About Your Budget
If you are asking your parents for wedding money, it is wise to discuss your budget early on. Although discussing finances may feel awkward at times, knowing the budget allows for easier decision-making about which items on your checklist warrant splurging on and which should be saved.
If your budget doesn’t allow for welcome bags for out-of-town guests, look for other creative solutions to show that you care. Utilizing local products or treats could be an inexpensive way to show them that someone cares!
If a friend recently got married and raved about their florist or photographer, ask that couple to provide recommendations in your area – this will allow you to find vendors with similar styles that fall within budget.
Sit down with your partner and create a list of the three most essential/must-have items for your wedding. Once this list has been established, compare both lists to see if any overlap exists – this provides an excellent opportunity for learning compromise between yourselves and making decisions which both of you will ultimately find satisfactory.
As a last step, it’s also beneficial to set aside additional funds each month by cutting lunches out or cancelling subscriptions you rarely use, to dedicate towards your wedding expenses and help prevent overspending on things like your honeymoon.
Ask for Help
Friends and family may want to get involved with your wedding party songs and planning, particularly if they’re contributing financially. Keep in mind, however, that their lives go beyond your wedding, so giving them an opportunity to pitch in will ensure they feel involved rather than ignored or like their opinions aren’t valued by you.
Your loved ones can assist with whatever tasks best match their abilities and strengths. For instance, if one of your friends specializes in design or visuals, they could help select decorations for your big day; or if another loved one excels at spreadsheets and organization, she might be best equipped to assist with creating and tracking the budget for you.
Make sure you clearly define each helper’s roles to maximize participation and ensure everyone’s expectations are met. Some parents who contribute significantly towards your wedding might expect some input into certain aspects of it – for instance where and who to invite. Be honest and upfront with them so they feel included.
As your wedding approaches, there will be several busy weekends filled with engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties and other pre-wedding festivities. While bride and groom cannot always plan these events themselves, they should nonetheless clear their calendars to attend each one.
Send out invitations 8-12 weeks ahead of your wedding date so guests have time to mark it on their calendars and book accommodations if needed. Additionally, double check with venue/vendor regarding meal counts in case they require one of their own as well.
Be Honest
Tobey advises couples planning their wedding to be honest with those closest to them during the planning process, noting that while they might not agree with every aspect of what you desire for their big day, they do have good intentions and are only trying to help. She suggests seeking advice from friends in an appropriate way while always remembering this is YOUR wedding and should reflect YOUR values and preferences.
Set aside time in your calendar to check in with yourself about how the whole thing is affecting you, too. “If your wedding day has become burdensome or unenjoyable, make changes immediately – even if that means pausing planning temporarily so you can enjoy date nights, friends activities and hobbies that bring joy!” she advises.
At the same time, it’s also essential to set clear expectations with your wedding party. While Pinterest might tempt you into prioritizing smaller details over bigger decisions – like booking the venue, photographer, flowers and menu – Moore advises. “Once those components have been booked and budgeted for, everything else will fall into place naturally.”
While you work through the planning process, it’s wise to set aside 10% for any unexpected expenses that could pop up closer to the big day. This gives you flexibility in terms of where to splurge or compromise.
