Planning your wedding can be stressful. Do not feel alone! There are many couples who succumb to the stress of wedding planning.
The best advice is to make a plan and do it as soon as possible.
It’s a good idea to follow wedding etiquette, but not to the point where it drives you crazy or bankrupts you. There are many books and articles on wedding etiquette, but their suggestions are not set in stone.
If it’s the amount of things you have to do that worries you, find friends and family who are willing to help out and give them projects to complete. Do not feel that you have to pay them in any way for this service. However, if you can afford it, a small gift may be appropriate, but it is definitely not required.
Your plan should include all the important things that need to be considered, such as where to hold the ceremony, where to hold the reception, how many guests, and the like.
Taking care of just these three items will put you in a position to think about what else needs to be done.
Oh, in planning your wedding, don’t forget about the wedding officiant from the start. This is especially important if the wedding ceremony is not taking place in a church that has a minister to officiate the ceremony.
Many officiants fill their schedules well in advance, and sometimes it’s hard to find someone who meets your expectations if you wait until the last minute.
If you’re running out of costs, set a budget and stick to it. Note that anything preceded by the word wedding (wedding planning, wedding flowers, wedding favors) is increased from 100% to 300%.
This is not to say that there aren’t providers in the wedding industry that will give you a good product at a good price, there are plenty of them. It takes some work to make sure you’re getting what you expect. You need to review them and get references.
There are some items that can be purchased for your wedding without having the wedding etiquette.
Find ways to save by doing a few things out of the ordinary.
Here are some ideas:
1. Buy a cake at a local food store, add wedding decorations yourself
2. Shop online for flowers, dresses, accessories, etc.
3. Do you know a seamstress? Buy a dress that needs a little work at a reduced price
4. Limit the number of band members or get a DJ instead
5. Burn your own music CDs and have a friend act as DJ
6. Do you have a friend who is a good photographer or videographer?
7. Use your own caterer, not the facility (many hire outside caterers anyway)
8. Small wedding, have family and friends provide the food and drinks.
9. Buy your own alcoholic beverages with an agreement to get a refund for unopened bottles
A word of caution, always check out those you are going to buy from or hire to perform a service. Do or have someone do a little research for you to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.
Don’t let wedding planning get you down. Remember that it is your wedding and you are the one who makes the decisions. You’re in charge. Get what you want. You can do it. You can have the dream wedding you’ve always wanted without feeling overwhelmed.
Don’t stress, have fun with the whole experience.