Almost as soon as a woman gets engaged, everyone seems to be full of wedding planning advice for her, usually in the form of directives. “Oh, you have to start planning the wedding! You need to reserve the church/venue/get the wedding party squared away/invite people you don’t like or even know, but your father & I have obligations,” and so on. Her head is spinning, and she wonders, “Now what?”
There will always be brides-to-be who love every last detail of wedding planning, and worry about things like perfect place cards. If you’re like me, that kind of thing is enough to make your head explode. Here is advice for non-micro managers.
The best wedding advice is the old KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Wedding planning will drive you crazy if you let it. It’s true that most wedding venues will want you to reserve a year in advance, especially in large cities. So think about where you want your wedding and your preferred time of year.
Give special consideration to wedding venues where you can have the ceremony and reception in the same building. That will save considerable time and money, plus making things easy for your out-of-town guests. A website like The Knot or Weddings of Today will have plenty of great suggestions.
Bridal gowns don’t have to be a huge expense. Most large cities have wedding gown consignment stores, and a serious bargain hunter might even be able to find a wedding dress on eBay! Bridesmaids’ dresses and flower girl dresses can be bought off the rack. A trend that’s growing in popularity is to pick a color and have each member of the wedding party buy her own dress in that color. Once again, simplicity!
Wedding invitations can often be purchased at a discount. Check with a local printer for rates and designs.
Many people make their own invitations! Wedding photography and musical entertainment, however, are best left to professionals. Ask around, or consult a website listing of local photographers, DJs, and bands. Also, consider a buffet or heavy hors d’oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner. That means no seating chart or place cards, plus everyone will mingle more!
Also, take into account that probably a third of the people you invite will not be able to come to your wedding. If you invite 150 guests, plan on 100-120 to actually make it to your wedding.
Remember that this is your wedding, your event, and your day. If it’s within the bounds of good taste, go for it! Have a lovely wedding, your way!
You must log in to post a comment.