Planning Your Own Wedding? Here are Some Tips to Help You Out
While hiring a wedding planner is never a bad move, many couples prefer to take a fully self-directed approach to the process and do the planning on their own. This is done quite often, but all too often it is done under great stress and frustration. While there is nothing that can completely eradicate your wedding planning worries, there are plenty of things that you can do to lighten the load and keep yourself sane during the process.
Determine Your Budget Early – and Stick with It!
Expenses pile up very quickly when planning a wedding, so it’s important that you know exactly how much you have to spend. This figure should include everything, from the venue itself to the center pieces on the tables at your reception. Keep receipts and keep thorough track of every wedding expense paid for as you go.
Know Who You’re Going to be Calling
What features do you want at your wedding? Apart from the officiator of the wedding ceremony, what other people are you planning to hire for your big day? Is the venue going to have to be reserved? Are you getting a band? Catering service? Bar services? Create a list of numbers and relevant names to refer to and call them as soon as you are ready to start booking.
Work Together
It’s hard to pitch in on wedding planning when both spouses work and have other obligations, but nobody should feel like they have to plan a wedding alone. That’s a surefire way for one of you to experience a serious case of burn-out.
Organize Your Process
Many who plan their own weddings make use of traditional wedding planning books and binders, as well as digital spreadsheets through a format like Microsoft Excel. This helps to keep track of where you are in the wedding planning process and where you are going as things progress.
Weigh Your Options
Don’t cave and then hire the first florist, photographer or caterer that you talk to. The first one could end up being the one you go with, but not interviewing several prospects could stand in the way of finding the perfect fit for your wedding. Interview different companies and individuals that you’d consider hiring for your wedding and consider your options carefully before making a decision.
Planning a wedding is tough, no matter what. But with these tips at the front of your mind you will be able to make the decisions that lead to a smooth-going and gorgeous wedding. Give yourself plenty of time to work on the arrangements and remember: Take some time to yourself to avoid burning out on both ends.