When it comes to wedding planning, everyone will have different ideas on how it should be done and love to make their opinions known. Many of these tips can be inspiring and super helpful, resulting in connections to great caterers, photographers, or firsthand insight on viable venues. Other tips, however, are catastrophes waiting to happen.
We’ve heard it all and have compiled the list below of some of the worst advice that’s floating around and how to avoid it.
Focus on Your Self; It's Your Big Day!
They’re right, this is your big day, but be wary of making it all about you and your partner. Between friends and family, there are a whole lot of people who are invested in this day and care about your wedding. That being said, they are also spending their time—and usually a good amount of money—to be part of it. Your wedding is the perfect time to showcase who you are as a couple, but during your wedding planning process, also be mindful about what your guests would enjoy. They will be thankful for the thought.
Worry about Money Later
This is a very dangerous piece of advice that can put many new couples directly into a financial crisis–which is no way to start a marriage. Although this day calls for some splurging, be realistic and work within your means. Start your wedding planning by creating a solid budget that you can stick to. Identify the areas where you’d like to spend more money, and try to take some costs away from other areas that aren’t as important to you. This way, you’ll be prepared when the bills start rolling in rather than stressing about money on your honeymoon or when you’re looking into buying your first home together.
You Don't Need a Wedding Planner
When allocating expenses for your overall wedding planning budget, it can seem daunting to add another chunk of money to hire a planner to do what you think you could do on your own. This is where the misconception lies. Yes, many brides are able to do this on their own, but make sure to factor in the extra stress, avoidable costs, and time that it takes to do the wedding planning by yourself. By hiring a professional, you and your partner are able to focus on what you want your day to look like rather than being bogged down by all of the stressful details. Wedding planners also give great guidelines and put things into perspective when decision time comes for every element of the wedding.
Save Some Money and Skimp on the Food
The food tends to be the focal point at most weddings and is also one of the main details that every guest will remember and talk about. You’ve invited these guests to your wedding because you care about them, so work with your caterer to prepare a pleasing menu within your budget that everyone can enjoy.
There’s No Need for an Open Bar
Simply said, guests want to have fun at a wedding and most of the time they’re looking forward to letting loose on the dance floor with a few cocktails. Nixing the open barsends a signal to your guests that they weren’t worth the extra cost, and many could be offended. After all, they are also spending time and money in order to attend, so spend the extra bucks on the bar. In the long run, it’ll pay for itself by saving future you from the huffing complaints,and it’ll make the night run much smoother for everyone involved.
Send the Courtesy Invite
There’s no such thing as a courtesy invite! Although not all guests that you invite will RSVP, you have to assume the risk. Inviting those who are not essential to be at your wedding can leave you with a huge bill with less return. Be selective and try not to worry about offending, or else it’ll be your pocketbook hurting in the end.
