You may have heard how hard it is to plan a wedding. You may even think you have a good idea of how to plan your own. However, once that ring is on your finger (or your fiancé’s), wedding planning gets difficult for everyone. Yet with wedding season coming up, it’s the perfect time to go as an engaged couple and get ideas!
So, if you’ve RSVP’d to a wedding (or five!) this wedding season, use these as great opportunities to see what really matters most to the happy couple and to the guests at the event. While you’re sipping wine and enjoying the love-filled evening with your fiance, look for details you may be sweating over that just don’t really matter, plus validate some of your thoughts on your own wedding goals. (YES, we need to spend a bit extra on a same day edit!)
We’ve listed a few thoughts and questions to think about at the next wedding you attend!
Ambiance:
A unique venue may be worth it if you can save on decorating the space to create your ideal evening ambiance. Factors that can help fulfill your wedding vision could be moody dark linens and uplighting, or heavenly light linens and twinkle lights. What mood or atmosphere do you want to set with lighting? What aspects of a wedding speak to you to set that mood/atmosphere?
Additional Roles:
Do they list hosts, personal attendants or other roles on their program? Think of all the volunteers (with fancy titles) it takes to put on a wedding? Do you have enough so you won’t have to worry about any details on your big day?
Decor:
Are there statement pieces that you notice more than others or decor you barely noticed at all? Perhaps the centerpieces make the difference for you versus a highly-decorated dessert table. Maybe renting/borrowing an item (from someone who just had a wedding perhaps?!) versus creating it on your own is the way to go.
Food:
Did they serve their food buffet or plated style? Were there options for those with a gluten free, vegetarian, or paleo diet? Did they offer appetizers or have a static snack or candy table? Typically being a large percentage of the budget, think about if food matter more to you than a decor piece or second photographer even, or if you’re a foodie who needs it all!
Fun:
What really made their wedding a blast for you? Maybe an interactive game, photo booth or ice breaker activity had the guests mingling and excited for the evening from the start. Did the DJ get the grandma on the dance floor?
It doesn’t hurt to do your research at an actual wedding versus something you see online that a professional might of created. Of course, be realistic about what can be accomplished in time before your wedding date and what can be added into your budget. There is nothing like a real wedding to spark ideas for your own and remind you the true meaning and purpose of the day!