How To Plan Your Wedding; 8 Important Considerations
It is commonly said that two of the most stressful things you can do in life are buying a house and getting married, and with good reason. A lot goes into planning a wedding, ensuring it runs smoothly and that you are happy with the big day. It can take people months but usually years to plan their dream wedding. If you are in the process of planning your wedding here are some of the key considerations you will want to make to ensure you get everything you want from your big day.
Budget
Weddings are big, big business, and the moment you utter the W-word venues and relevant wedding personal start adding a percentage to their final price, so it is important that you get your budget locked in early. Think about how much you have to spend and how much you actually want to spend. Yes, it is a special day but it is just that, one day. Be sure you are comfortable parting with your agreed amount. Once you have decided upon a budget stick to it. Itemize each expenditure and allow a certain amount for each thing, and don’t deviate.
Guestlist
You may not need to have the exact numbers and guestlist planned immediately but you will need a rough idea of the numbers you are working with. An idea of the people you definitely want to be included and for which parts of the day. Knowing your guest list will make decisions such as choosing the venue and food options easier as you know the number of guests you need to accommodate for throughout the entire day.
Save the date
Save the date cards are a very popular way of notifying people of your wedding before you are ready to hand out the official invites with timings and venues included. A save the date card informs people of the day on which your wedding will take place so they know to keep it free. Examples of save the dates can be by way of cards, fridge magnets, or wooden plaques and are becoming more and more unique all the time. To make yours stand out why not personalize it by using a silver foil sticker printing company to send your details out on luxury stickers. On average save the dates are sent out four to six months in advance of a wedding, if not sooner.
Venue
One of the biggest decisions you will need to make will be on the venue, not to mention one of the biggest expenses. Your venue will need to accommodate all of your guests. Is it big enough for the evening wedding party for example? You will need to consider whether your venue is legally able to hold the ceremony and whether you even want the wedding ceremony there in the first place. If you opt for a separate venue for your ceremony and after-party you have to take into account the fact that guests will need to travel from one location to another and whether or not you will be providing the transport between venues. Locations ideally, therefore, need to be accessible and within a reasonable distance of each other.
Other considerations are whether you will need a venue that provides overnight accommodation or if there is a suitable option nearby as weddings often see people traveling from different parts of the country to be together. You also want to ensure your wedding venue is suitable for the time of year you intend to get married. Will it be warm enough for a winter wedding? Is there suitable coverage in case of rain? Finally, be sure that you research a lot of options. You may fall in love with a place but if it is out of budget will it be worth compromising on other aspects of your wedding? Check out all of your options and all of the different packages they have to offer, you never know you may be able to negotiate a better price.
Invites
Once you have all the finer details worked out such as venues, timings, and the guest list you can then start sending out invitations. Wedding invitations are typically sent out two to four months prior to the wedding and you will want to ensure you include a deadline for RSVPs as you need to know how many people you are catering for.
Theme/Decor
Choosing a color scheme or theme for a wedding is a great way to ensure harmony in its presentation. Themes and decorations can often be linked to the seasons or particular interests of the couple. Christmas weddings for example are often filled with red, pine cones and winter berries.
When it comes to naming (labeling) the tables for the wedding breakfast why not choose something that is significant to you. For example, tables may be named after places or people that mean something. Perhaps you are a surf-loving couple, then you may want to incorporate this into your big day with the table decorations, rooms dressings, and the overall feel of the day. Choosing a theme or color scheme is a wonderful way of personalizing your wedding and making it a day to remember.
Wedding clothes
When it comes to the bride’s dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, groom, and groomsmen typically, you want to ensure some form of unity within the clothing. It may be that everyone can pick their own outfit but as long as it complies in some way with the overall look and feel of the wedding. Just remember it is your day and if you want people to look a certain way this is one of the few times you can insist on it.
Remember what the day is for
You’ve heard the term ‘bridezilla’ before and chances are it is not a label you wish to carry, no matter how perfectly you want your day to run. Yes, it is an important day and yes you only want to do it once but try not to lose sight of the day and what it is for. It is a celebration of your love for each other and just because something may go wrong or isn’t how you wanted it doesn’t change that. It is one day of your life and you have many many more important days in front of you. Expect a few hiccups and don’t sweat the small stuff. Try to enjoy your day, even the bits that might not be quite right because it will be over before you know it.