There are tons of details to keep track of when planning a wedding.
Forgetting even the smallest one—such as neglecting those final dress fittings—can lead to complete and utter panic on your special day.
To save you from becoming a bleak statistic, we’ve created a list highlighting 7 of the most common wedding planning mistakes.
Keep reading to learn what they are, and what you can do to make sure they don’t ruin your big day.
Mistake 1: Not creating—or sticking to—a budget
It’s imperative that you create a realistic budget, and stick to it.
There’s nothing worse than starting married life off in debt—having to take out a high-interest loan to pay off a vendor, or beg and plead family members for money.
The key to creating a budget is to first get a realistic idea of how much everything costs. If it all adds up to more than you can comfortably afford, figure out creative ways of crafting some of the details yourself, or seek a more viable solution.
Pinterest is an excellent DIY resource. There are tons of incredibly creative ideas on different ways of achieving a dream wedding on a budget.
Mistake 2: Not creating a timeline
Most weddings take at least a year to plan. If you put everything off until the last minute, you’re going to end up having to compromise—and yes, your guests will probably be able to tell.
There are tons of helpful timelines online that help break down each step of wedding planning, month by month.
Choose a way to organize your wedding planning tasks, create your timeline, and stick to it.
Mistake 3: Not ranking tasks according to priority
Some tasks are more important than others—and it’s crucial they’re not left until the last minute.
For example, when it comes to choosing your wedding gown and the bridesmaid dresses, you need time to first find the perfect ones. You also need to ensure they arrive early enough for final fittings and alterations.
Involve your bridesmaids in the bridesmaid dress selection process—Bella Bridesmaids has an incredible collection featuring a wide variety of designs. Pick a few of your favorite ones, then poll your bridesmaids to see which options they like the best.
Mistake 4: Neglecting to consider guest’s experience
Creating a pleasant and memorable guest experience needs to be a priority.
This includes things like selecting the appropriate venue size—there should be enough restrooms to accommodate guests—and ensuring there are food options for various dietary restrictions.
You also want to pay attention to comfort and entertainment—any special additions you can think of to showcase how much you value your guests and their participation in your big day.
Mistake 5: Trying to please everyone
When planning a wedding, you’re going to be subject to an avalanche of opinions from everyone.
Remember: it’s impossible to please everyone. This is your wedding—you get to celebrate however you want.
Mistake 6: Failing to create a schedule for the wedding day itself
Think of your wedding day like a play: Each moment—from ceremony to cocktail hour, dinner to reception—is like an act within that play. It requires time to set up and take down.
Your caterers need to know when to serve food, the DJ or MC needs to know when to turn down the music and hand over the mic for speeches.
It’s imperative that you come up with a timeline for the wedding day, allotting a realistic amount of time for each of the special moments—then share it with your vendors.
If there are any last-minute changes or emergencies, these need to be communicated to everyone impacted.
It’s also helpful to have a visual representation listing the events and time each is scheduled to occur for your guests to view, that way they don’t miss a thing.
Mistake 7: Failing to have a contingency plan in place
What does every wedding planner do when they hear their client is having an outdoor wedding? They rent tents, in case it rains.
If your flower girl is rolling deep in the “terrible twos,” have a Jr Bridesmaid on hand to fill in, just in case.
Run through a quick mental overview of all the major aspects of your big day.
Think: what could go wrong, and if it were to happen, what’s a good backup plan to have in place, just in case?
That way, you’re ready. Come rain, shine, whatever. Nothing will steal your thunder on your wedding day.
Conclusion:
The more prepared you are, the better. Create and adhere to a budget, give yourself enough time to plan, list your to-do by priority, and delegate tasks when needed.
Then when your big day finally arrives you can rest assured everything is taken care of, and have nothing left to do except bask in each and every incredible moment.
