If you've ever planned a wedding, then you know: there's always information you walk away with after your wedding that you didn't know before. From figuring out who's paying for what and who to invite or not to invite, there are many things to consider when planning the perfect soirée. Read on, and get ready for some potent (and empowering) planning knowledge.
Wedding Planning Tips from the best Pros:
"Discuss the budget clearly before doing anything! Who is paying? The parents, the couple, whos parents? And figure out exact amounts. This makes planning easy and hassle-free."
"Try your DIY project way before your deadline. Don't become Pinterest fail! Make one of those centerpieces ahead of time and let it inspire you!"
"Wedding time passes a lot faster than regular time. You may have 12 months to plan your wedding, but in reality, it's less. If your wedding is DIY, you must allow yourself even more time for unforeseen issues. I advise my clients to start counting back from 1 month before their wedding.
"Start the seating chart early! It is more stressful than most couples realize. It'll save you a lot of last minute panic."
"Make sure you know who is the most important voice when you are planning—it might be that of your planner, your mom, your best friend. Whoever it is, make your list and stick to it (and above all put yourself at the top!). So many couples try to gather information and inspiration everywhere. That it can quickly become overwhelming! Facts are great, but an overwhelming amount of opinions can keep you from remembering your own opinions and thoughts when it comes to your day!"
"Prepare or order snacks for the bridal party to enjoy while they're having photos taken with you. These photos are usually taken sometime between your ceremony and reception. So your bridal party often misses cocktail hour, and by this part of the day, everyone is hungry."
"Start with your values. A shortlist of your and your fiance's values in-hand will help you filter through all your decisions with more ease. To minimize stress on your wedding day, be sure to communicate effectively. Set clear expectations for the bridal party and vendors. Good communication will minimize the chances of your expectations not being met. Also, feed for vendors. Take care of them. They are taking care of you."
"On your RSVP cards, write a number on each card so that if someone forgets to write their name on the card, you can match it up to your list. I have seen many brides freak out when they get their RSVP cards back with a "will attend" and no names.
Hopefully, all these tips will prove helpful in your wedding planning ventures! If you are looking for some inspiration or a photographer or videographer, check us out www.bluevphotography.com