8 minute read
Marriage Meander KwaZulu-Natal 2022/2023
Wedding Planning Wisdom
OUR 15 TOP TIPS
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Congratulations on your engagement, lovebirds! What an exciting chapter you are about to embark on. For some couples, planning a wedding is exhilarating and fun, while others find it daunting and overwhelming. This article provides you with the bare bones of your Wedding Planning To Do List.
The key to making sure that you enjoy this time—in spite of the deluge of decisions and deadlines you will be faced with—is getting organised. Give yourself ample time to plan and recruit the right team to help you create the wedding of your dreams.
Here are 15 top tips to get your wedding planning off to a great start:
1. Do a ‘big picture’ brainstorm. Chat to your partner and agree on what you both want your wedding to look like. Prioritise the details that are most important to you and be willing to make some compromises on the rest. Gather ideas and inspiration from sources like Instagram, Pinterest, or bridal sites but always stay true to your personality, preferences and unique style! It is important to have a good grasp on the design aesthetic and overall feel you want to create at your wedding before you start meeting with potential suppliers.
2. Draw up a budget—and stick to it Before you dive into your wedding planning, you and your partner need to decide how much you are prepared to spend on your day and establish who else is contributing. Although it may be an awkward topic to broach, these conversations need to happen. Bear in mind that whilst your parents may be willing to contribute, they may also be out of touch with current wedding costs. Be open and transparent about your anticipated expenses so that all parties are on the same page. Once you’ve determined your budget, stick to it!
3. Draft your guest list. It is important to iron out how many guests you will be inviting to your wedding before you start setting up site visits at potential wedding venues. Chat to your other half and key family members to put together a wish list of invitees and decide whether to include ‘Plus Ones’ and kids. Now, more than ever before, engaged couples should feel free to envision the size wedding they have always wanted—whether it be a large gathering of 300 guests, or a small, intimate gathering of your nearest and dearest.
4. Create a wedding planning file. Get organised and consolidate all your thoughts, ideas, lists and budgets in one place! To help you do just that, Marriage Meander has created a Wedding Planning Blueprint, which includes some lovely free printables so that you can populate your wedding planning file with all the checklists you need to stay on track and tackle tasks like a pro. Sign up for our email list and you’ll receive regular (free) downloads of wedding planning wisdom.
Reading the Marriage Meander magazine is a great way to start getting organsied on your wedding planning journey
Credits: Laura Jean Photography
5. Choose a date and secure your ceremony and reception venues. Select a few possible dates for your wedding before you start venue hunting. Depending on whether you have guests flying in from afar, we recommend sending your Save the Date at least six months before your day to allow your guests to make the necessary travel arrangements.
6. Book your marriage officer early. Your officiant is a key part of your ceremony as they usher you into your union and set the tone for the start of your marriage. Good people are hard to find so do your research, obtain recommendations, and ask the right questions such as, ‘Will you personalise the service to our requirements?’ and ‘Are you involved in obtaining a marriage license?’
7. Secure the services of a wedding planner. Don’t underestimate the value that a wedding planner can add to your special day. A professional planner can help you avoid making costly mistakes and guide you in your selection of flowers and décor. They will help you stay on top of deadlines so that you can enjoy the lead-up to your celebration, knowing that the details have been taken care of!
8. Book suppliers that make you feel at ease. When it comes to booking service providers, it’s a no brainer that you want your team to be talented and professional. But you also want to work with people that you feel comfortable with, especially considering that you will be spending a large part of your wedding day with many of them. During your research phase, arrange a coffee date or video call with your shortlist of suppliers to make sure that they are the right fit for you.
Enjoy your time as an engaged couple and don't rush the process - you will be married soon enough! The fiancee stage is a time to be savoured too.
Credit: Vix Photography
9. Choose your wedding party wisely. The friends and family you invite to be part of your wedding party will provide emotional and practical support during the wedding planning journey, and on your big day. When you and your partner chat about how many people to include in your wedding party, bear in mind the expenses associated with this special responsibility. Also consider whether they are capable of providing the support you need leading up to your wedding, and if they are likely to play a significant part in your married life going forward.
10. Read the small print. Before signing any contracts, make sure you read and understand all the details including dates, location, times, deposits, additional fees, colours, quantities, cancellation clauses etc. Insist that all services are accurately documented in your contract so that both parties are on the same page. A contract should outline what happens if either party cancels, not just the client. Carefully read policies pertaining to a change in the scope of the service provided, which may result in the rate being revised. This is standard practice in the wedding industry but the onus is on you to familiarise yourself with each supplier’s terms and conditions. For example, if your catering quote is based on a minimum of 100 guests but your final tally ends up at 60 guests, this may affect the catering fee per head.
11. The invitation process. Once you’ve got your date, venue and wedding party buttoned up, it’s time to notify your broader circle about your upcoming nuptials. In an increasingly digital world, many couples are opting for a digital invitation and RSVP process with beautiful on-the-day stationery. Of course, if you have the budget, a pretty paper invitation really makes a statement and can be a precious keepsake for your guests!
12. Prioritise your ceremony. Many couples put the majority of their focus on the reception. But without the ceremony, there is no reception. During the lead-up to your big day, set aside time to gather your thoughts and put down in black and white, the pledges, promises and declarations of love you wish to express to your beloved. Remember that your ceremony sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Make time to be together - and not discuss wedding planning - during the lead-up to your big day
Credit: Ruby Jean Photography
13. Build in some quality ’You time’. Most past brides will tell you that the lead-up to the wedding day feels a lot like a rollercoaster. Don’t let the demands of your wedding planning schedule rob you of the joy of this season. Build in some special time for the two of you to just be together. Use this time to connect and do anything but talk about wedding plans. If possible, take a week or at least a few days off work before your wedding so that you can tend to last minute details, and fit in some pampering appointments—like having a massage, and getting your nails done.
14. Make your marriage the focus. Always stay focused on what is most important. There are bound to be things on your wedding day that don’t go according to plan. Don’t let them get you down. Nothing about a wedding is as significant as the marriage that follows. Your wedding is simply the first chapter in your brand new adventure as newlyweds! Enjoy. Every. Single. Moment.
15. Post-wedding admin. If you are heading off on honeymoon straight after the wedding, arrange for friends or family to return any rented items e.g. suits, décor, vehicles etc. and take your dress for cleaning. Make sure that you have organised someone to feed your pets, water your plants and take care of any other home-related chores so that you can switch off and enjoy every moment of your time away!
Happy honeymooning, lovebirds!
Credit: Bailee Guy Photography
by Jacqui Neumann
MARRIAGE MEANDER
