Tips For Wedding Planning

Wedding Planners are professionals who have lots of experience in making dream weddings happen. Here is a list, compiled from several successful planners to help you, even if you choose not to hire a planner for your wedding.

Wedding Planning Tips

Invitations – Ribbons and Lace

1. Put your invitations in the mail on Wednesday. They will arrive on the week-end and your guests will have more time to look at them and, hopefully respond right away.

2. Set your invitation RSVP date no later than three weeks before the wedding. That gives you time to contact the ‘non-responders’ and invite your “B list”. It also lets you contact your vendors with a count so possibly they can get you a better deal by locally sourcing some things.

3. As you begin to plan, write down a few (1-3) ‘must haves’ to represent how you see your wedding. This could be a simple and specific as “I want white roses” or “The music will be a jazz combo”. Or it could be a more general statement like “My wedding should feel like an elegant barn dance.” What you write down should be the most important things to you. Then, use these as guiding principles with every vendor, on every shopping trip, as you scan every magazine. It will help you stay focused.

4. Your wedding should match your style. Don’t go with what is trending because that is what is popular. Your choices of everything from your dress to the decorations should reflect you and the groom not what a Bridal Magazine says is “in”.

5. Another important event planning tip is to understand your venue’s alcohol policy and cost before your sign a contract. Alcohol can be enormously expensive. Be very clear that you understand what the cost will be before entering into a contract.

6. Use seasonal flowers and decor. You can control your costs by using flowers that are readily available in the season you are getting married. Additionally, use arrangements and bouquets from the ceremony to decorate the reception.

7. Beware when selecting attendants. Your attendants need to be part of both the fun and the work of the wedding. And they need to get along. Consider personalities when making your choices.

8. Between the wedding and the reception, take some alone time as a brand new Mr. and Mrs. Slip away with the photographer right after the ceremony for some quiet, intimate first ‘couples’ photos. Snack on a protein bar to boost your energy and then make your grand entrance to your reception.

9. Wedding planning doesn’t stop just because you have gotten to wedding week. Now it’s time to contact all your vendors one more time. Even if you believe that everything has been settled long ago, go over it all one last time, including timelines, expectations etc. Also, it’s extremely important to have a designated contact person (NOT YOU) the day of the wedding so they can handle all problems and questions and you can just enjoy the day.

A Very Pretty Wedding Cake

10. Who is handling the cake? If you are at a traditional venue they will cut it after the initial bride and groom cut. And they will provide forks, plates and napkins. But remember at a less traditional reception, you will need to designate someone who is knowledgeable to cut the cake and you will need to make a plan for the plates, forks, napkins and even the ceremonial knife for the bride and groom to use.

By getting some of these things in order well in advance of your special day, you can avoid panic and stress. Wedding planning doesn’t have to be an awful experience as long as you handle it in a sensible and organized fashion.