There is finally light at the end of the tunnel, and recent announcements have given so many of you reason to begin (or even resume) planning what promises to be one of the most special days of your life. Depending on how great your vision for your big day is there could be a lot of work involved and lots of decisions to be made. Here are just a couple of tips to get your planning off to a smooth start.
Make wedding planning fun!
With so much to think of, planning a wedding can be really stressful. It’s easy to forget to enjoy the journey. Don’t make wedding planning ALL about wedding planning. You managed not talking about weddings 24/7 before getting engaged so be sure to take a break from it from time to time.
Don’t waste money for the sake of it!
Even if you have a huge budget, think before you spend. Remember, everything costs and it soon adds up. You don’t want to be left with any surprises further through the process. Working out your needs vs want will really help is key. If budgets are tight, I would always advise to spend a bit less on elements such as wedding cars or favours, but to get the reception looking right. That’s where you and your guests will be spending most of your time.
Take It One Step at a Time!
Put together a wedding planning schedule and do things one by one, in a logical order, so you don't take on too much too fast and end up with everything caving in on you. Don't hire any suppliers before you've pinned down your date; don't design your cake before you have an idea what your flowers will look like; and don't book your entertainment before you've settled on a space.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask!
Your wedding suppliers should be your go-to, most-trusted experts during this whole process. You should feel totally free to really fully explore what it is you want—maybe it's adding a late-night snack for evening guests on top of your wedding breakfast or doing a bridal portrait session rather than an engagement photo session. The bottom line is that you should feel like you can have an honest conversation with them about what it is you want. Their job will be to tell you what you can and can't make work given your wedding budget, but they should always be willing to bend a little for you....within reason of course!
You Do You!
It’s hard but don’t let others influence you into making decisions you are not happy with. You can take advice but ultimately it’s YOUR day. Make it about you and your special other. This is a special day, meant to celebrate a future together with the person you love. To ensure both you and your guests enjoy the whole experience it is so important to keep the day personal. As an added bonus, guests love attending weddings that are individual and will be pleasantly surprised by any unusual, personal or quirky additions to the celebration.
Most importantly, if you’re having a celebrant led ceremony make sure that your Celebrant is the best fit for you. Make sure you feel a connection and are comfortable as well as feeling the excitement and energy that your Celebrant will bring to the occasion.
If you want more tips or want to talk about having ME as your celebrant, drop me a message at emailme@daveoctavecelebrant.com.