Planning a wedding is an exciting adventure for most couples. However, very few will come out the other end and claim that the wedding planning process was stress-free. If you’d like to manage your stresses as much as possible, you might want to watch out for some of these common wedding planning pitfalls.
1. Not Setting a Realistic Budget
Not only do you need to know how much you can spend on your wedding, you need to allocate funds to different areas in order of priority. In a bid to have the most perfect wedding possible, a lot of couples kid themselves into thinking they can save more than their funds will stretch to. Sit down with your other half, discuss how much you can both contribute, determine who else may make a contribution, and then decide on how much you wish to spend on each element.
2. Relatives Becoming TOO Involved in the Wedding Planning Process
Everyone wants a little help from their parents, siblings, and other family members when it comes to wedding planning. The chances are someone is going to give a little too much help. From a sibling who has an idealistic view of what a wedding should be to a parent who’s concerned you’re spending too much on something, someone is going to get on your nerves. To stop this being an issue, let them know you appreciate their input, but that the final decisions are down to you and your partner.
3. You Might Argue with Someone You Love
Let’s face it, nobody agrees on everything. Weddings are highly emotive times, and those who are playing a key role may feel as though they should have a big say on what goes down. In some cases, but not many, they may cause an argument. Whether it’s your partner, your mother, or your chief bridesmaid who doesn’t want to wear the colour dress you’ve chosen for her, someone will challenge you. In the throes of the stressful planning process, you might snap at them. When this happens, take a breather and accept that it isn’t the end of the world. You can make friends and move forward, hopefully with a resolution.
4. Vendors Might Disappoint You
Ideally, vendors would exceed expectations with every wedding they tend to. In reality, the chances of every vendor doing this is fairly rare. You might find that a caterer doesn’t cook steak the right way, your cake might not be as bright as it was in the pictures, or your venue’s wine choice could be a little lackluster. To prevent this from happening to the extremes, be clear about your wants and expectations. Scrutinise those you hire, and make sure you don’t expect absolute perfection. Just expect them to get as damn close as they can manage.
5. You’re Going to Feel Very Emotional
There’s no two ways about it; planning your wedding is going to make you feel emotional. One minute you’ll be browsing venues without a care in the world, the next you’ll be waking up in the dead of night wondering whether your photographer really knows what they’re doing when it comes to lighting. Here’s where those overly involved family members can come in handy: let it all out, to them. They only want to be involved because they want what’s best for you anyway, so they’ll be more than happy to take on a rant.
