Mistakes to Avoid When Planning your Wedding

Mistakes to Avoid When Planning your Wedding

Starting to plan your wedding before you set your budget

Having a detailed budget in place is necessary before you start touring any venues or dress shopping. You do not want to end up with a negative bank account because you did not have a plan from the beginning. Make sure the venue is in your budget before you tour it, and do not be scared to ask for prices right away. Nothing is worse than falling in love with an idea that is not in your budget and feeling disappointed when you must settle for something else.

Signing contracts without reading the fine print

It is easy to get excited when you tour the perfect venue, or when you finally find a caterer who is available on your date. However, you should always take your time reading over your contracts and asking detailed questions. You could be missing hidden fees you did not know about or double tipping your vendors because you did not realize you were already charged for a gratuity. It is also important to read over the venue’s rules and regulations. Having your credit card charged during your honeymoon because you did not understand the contract you had with your venue is never ideal.

Forgetting the marriage license

In most states, obtaining a wedding license can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Start your research early in your planning process on what your state requires and include it in your timeline. Most importantly, put it in a folder to bring with you on your wedding day, and plan for time to sign it with your officiant, spouse, witnesses, and photographer/videographer. Then put a responsible family member or your event coordinator in charge of getting it home so you do not have to worry about it.

Not planning to feed your vendors

Your vendors work extremely hard to make your day perfect. Most wedding staff members end up having 10-14-hour days, and some take little or no breaks. Feeding your staff will have them feeling appreciated and ensure they have the energy to keep working. Set aside time for staff to eat, and provide a table in the back where they can sit down for a minute. Don’t have it in your budget to feed your staff steaks and lobster tails?  Talk to you caterer and see if they can make a less expensive meal for your wedding staff. They will be just as happy with pasta and a salad while being able to rest for 15 minutes.

Allowing guests to take photos at the ceremony

The last thing you want to see when your professional wedding photos come back are lots of phones in your ceremony pictures. What are some alternatives? Have a photo minute! Give your guests one minute at the beginning of the ceremony to take as many photos as they like before they put them away. Sending your guests a photo of the ceremony in your thank you cards is also a great alternative.

Using friends and family instead of professionals

Maybe Uncle Dan used to work for a DJ service, but he forgot to tell you this was 20 years go. Aunt Lydia makes amazing cakes, but has she ever made a 4-tier wedding cake? It may seem like more work and money to hire professionals, but you get what you pay for. If something goes wrong, it is easier to be upset with the company you hired (you should have a contract!) than a family member or a friend.

Skipping a videographer

A videographer may seem like a big hit to the budget initially, but it is one of the few things you will keep from your wedding for a lifetime. A videographer is going to capture all the big moments, smiles, tears of joy, small details, and all the laughter. You do not want to leave one of the biggest days of your life saying, “I wish I had that moment on video.”

Skipping an Event Coordinator

An Event Coordinator can save you on time, money, and stress. Hiring a Day-of-Coordinator early in the process of planning means you will not have to create your own timeline or deal with the logistics of your wedding. Your coordinator will always be one step ahead of you and will resolve problems on-site. Read more about why you should hire an Event Coordinator here in our latest blog.

Inviting too many guests

The best way to save money at your wedding is to invite fewer guests, and this also ensures you can spend time with each one as well. Make sure you are sticking with your venue requirements and only inviting the number of guests your venue holds. Some think they can invite extra guests because not everyone will show up, but what if they do? This means some of your guests will not have a spot at the ceremony causing them to stand, or there will not be enough spots at the dinner table for them.

Forgetting to have your wedding jewelry serviced

This is often overlooked during the planning process by many wedding couples and is an especially important step. The wedding rings are photographed multiple times during your big day, and your guests will ask to see your bling as well. About 6 weeks before your wedding, send your jewelry out to be inspected, cleaned, polished, soldered and rhodium dipped.

This will ensure your ring looks brand new, and you will be less likely to lose a stone with a proper inspection. The week of your wedding, stop in a jewelry store to have one final deep clean and have them box up the rings until the rehearsal dinner so they stay clean. Most jewelry stores also offer complimentary jewelry cleaners to take home for touch-ups.

Not having a detailed plan in case the weather is poor

You can control a lot of things, but the weather is not one of them. Have an incredibly detailed plan of attack in case the weather takes a turn for the worse. Even if you do not have to use it, you will be glad you made one.

Forgetting to have fun!

Don’t sweat the small stuff and the things that are out of your control. You won’t get this time back, so enjoy and trust the process. Plan the best you can and then make a point to have fun on the day of the event no matter what! You are here to marry the love of your life, and nobody will know that your Maid of Honor accidentally left the personalized napkins at home.

Happy Planning!

Complete Weddings + Events in Des Moines, IA