Planning a wedding isn’t an easy task. It involves careful organization, making a lot of people happy, and a whole lot of cash. It’s also one of the most memorable and important nights of your life, so you want it to be just perfect. But don’t forget, planning a wedding should be fun and exciting! Here are ten do’s and don’ts for planning the perfect wedding everyone will love.
1. Do be yourself.
If you’re not normally the kind of girl who wears lots of makeup and loves to dress up, that doesn’t mean you have to be that way on your wedding. Lots of brides overdo it on the makeup, and become almost unrecognizable versions of themselves on their wedding day. Remember that this is your day and you want to be completely comfortable so you’re able to enjoy yourself.
2. Do make a weekend out of it.
You’ll likely have lots of out of town guests at your wedding, so why not make a weekend out of your glorious occasion? Have a fun rehearsal dinner with a bar in mind for the after party and a brunch for the day after. If guests are traveling to a new city, suggest activities they can do to take advantage of their vacation. If you have multiple small events and activities you’ll get to spend more time with everyone.
3. Do have a backup plan.
It’s rare that a wedding goes perfectly as planned. Always have a backup plan: for example, have an indoor location if you’re having an outdoor wedding. If you can’t have a backup plan for something, like another wedding cake if yours turns out looking awful, then make a promise to yourself before the wedding to take everything in stride. Who cares if your wedding cake looks like crap as long as it tastes good!
4. Do be a guest in your own wedding.
Be present and in the moment that day. Don’t worry about anyone else but you and your husband and make sure to have fun! I know so many brides who say they don’t eat or drink at their own wedding because they felt the need to talk to every single person individually. Stop! Enjoy your wedding and eat and dance! No one will be mad at the bride and groom if they’re having a great time.
5. Do hire a great photographer.
The photographer shouldn’t be good, he or she should be great! This is the one opportunity in life to take countless photos of yourself looking fabulous. Embrace it! These are the photos you’ll show your children. Even if all you end up doing is hanging that one fantastic photograph in your living room, it will all be worth it.
6. Don’t put yourself into debt by throwing a lavish wedding.
It’s not worth it. If you just don’t have the budget for it, have a small party you both will love. Times are changing and having a big, lavish wedding is far from the norm. Debt from your wedding is only going to cause marital tension in the long run. In the end, all that matters is that your close friends and family are present and you have a memorable evening.
7. Don’t spend too much on your dress.
You want to love your dress, but I guarantee you can find one you love at a reasonable price tag. I’ve had more than one bride confess that they probably would have spent less on their dress looking back. You truly only wear it once and as long as you look fabulous in it, the price tag and designer doesn’t matter.
8. Don’t leave for your honeymoon the next day.
Try and give yourself a full 24 hours to decompress if you can. Your emotions will be running so high you’ll want to take in every moment. This also will prevent you from feeling stressed about the next day’s travel during your ceremony.
9. Don’t be a bridezilla.
It’s your wedding, the last thing you want is for people to be annoyed with you! Know that everyone is going to have their own opinion on everything, so just do what you want to do and don’t look back. Don’t try and please everyone, but don’t ask for unreasonable requests and always be considerate of your bridesmaids. They likely have spent a lot of time and money on your wedding. See 6 Tips to Contain Your Inner-Bridezilla.
10. Don’t procrastinate.
Putting off your wedding planning is a major don’t if you have a specific date or place in mind. Make sure you make an organized checklist of things that need to get done and do them accordingly. Enlist friends and family members to help with the big stuff and remember not to sweat the small stuff. If your seating chart isn’t perfect, keep in mind that people will probably only sit for dinner.
Did you have a fabulous wedding? Lend your tips to other readers in the comments below!
