Wedding Planning Secrets from Our Experts
Congratulations! You're getting married. Prepare yourself for unsolicited advice - from your coworker, your best friend, your mom, his mom and even the lady at the bridal shop - I'm sure you get the idea. How many of these people actually have your best interests at heart, so who better to provide you guidance than actual wedding planning experts!? Right? Well, we've tapped into our previous wedding planning client database and come up with the best tricks, hacks, tips, and know-hows that we believe will make wedding planning a little bit easier. Trust us when we tell you that this is the kind of advice all brides need and want, and it comes directly from the experts -- our wedding planning couples.
1. Have a Dedicated Email Address for Planning. Get a separate email address specifically for wedding planning related messages, so that you keep your personal mailbox free of unwanted messages and so nothing will ever get lost in the midst of the planning process.
2. Plan Your Toast Crew Wisely. For the reception, designate a few key people to offer toasts so that toasting doesn't turn into roasting. 3. Break in Your Wedding Shoes. Don't allow the first time that you wear your wedding shoes to be on your wedding day! Wear them before hand to break them in so that they are comfortable on your wedding day. If you can't do that then bring another pair to change into on your wedding day so that you are comfortable. 4. Bring an Extra Set of Your Paper Goods. "On your wedding day, your photographer will most likely want to photographer your invitation so be sure to bring an extra one as well as your envelopes, programs, menus and any other stationary good that your wedding photographer can use. 5. Cut Your Guest List. If your wedding budget becomes an issue, cut your guest list. Cutting your wedding guest list will also make planning easier when you are looking for wedding venues and wedding caterers.
6. Save for Unexpected Expenses. When we at Classic Wedding Designs are putting your wedding budget together, we include a miscellaneous category line for unexpected wedding expenses. This also helps when your service estimates come in a little higher than expected. 7. Sleep & Hydrate & Sleep. Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before your wedding. 8. Having a First Look Saves Time. "If want to be able to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests, consider doing family photos and a first look prior to the ceremony to save time. This way you have minimal photos left to do post ceremony. 9. Don't forget to Breathe. Before we open the doors to the ceremony area, we always take a moment to remind our brides to breath as she is getting ready to walk down the aisle. This helps here stay in the moment. 10. Give Your Wedding Planner, Photographer and Videographer a VIP List. Having an important family member cheat sheet for your wedding planner, Videographer or Wedding Photographer, complete with pictures, is a good way to help your wedding vendors know who to focus on your wedding day as they capture those memorable moments.
11. Be Strict on Plus Ones. Your wedding isn't a first-date opportunity for your friends or family, so no plus ones unless someone is in a relationship that you already know about. 12. Ask Where Your Guests are Staying. Especially for destination weddings or weddings not in your home state, add a line on the RSVP card for accommodations so you can easily manage transportation and welcome bags. 13. Go Potty Backwards. Going to the bathroom backwards will be much easier in your wedding gown, so if you have to go have someone hold your train and sit on the toilet backwards. 14. Choose A Venue that Matches Your Style. Instead of going with the new "it" venue, choose a wedding venue that matches your overall wedding style goals -- your wedding planner can help with this one. Choosing a reception venue that matches your style will be help create a much more cohesive look. This will also save you money in the long run, if that is an issue. 15. Trust Your Gut. Women's intuition is not a myth. Always trust your gut- your first instinct is often what's perfect for you.
16. Stay in the Moment. After months of planning, your wedding day will fly by, so remember to pause, be in the moment, and enjoy every second, for it will prove to be your most cherished wedding memory.
Eat, Drink and Be Married! It is so easy to be pulled in different directions, spending time with all of your nearest and dearest, but at the end of the day, you want all of your memories to line up so you can share them for the rest of your lives. So, make sure you eat, drink, dance and are married together, side-by-side, throughout all of the moments!