Wedding Advice From Wedding Professionals

4. Always Hire Professionals.

While it may be tempting to hire cut-rate services, it rarely pays to go cheap. Professional wedding service companies understand wedding protocol and have the experience needed to seamlessly handle unforeseen conditions. Remember, this is the biggest day of your life so far, trust professionals to handle the details.

5. Don’t Work Your Own Wedding.

Once you’ve made the wedding planning decisions, and everyone has the plan, let the day unfold. If you spend the day worrying about every little detail, you’ll forget to enjoy it. Your family and friends are there to spend time with you, not watch you work a checklist. Allow the photographer to direct your photos, the DJ to lead the announcements and play your music, and your professional wedding videographer to capture the memories – you go out there and make them!

6. Consider The Weather.

Plan for the unexpected, weather-wise. Outdoor weddings are beautiful, but you should always have a backup location. If you want to do pictures outside and a thunderstorm hits, you’ll be confident knowing you and your professional wedding photographer have discussed indoor opportunities. You can’t control the weather, but you can be prepared by developing a wedding photography plan.

7. Have Clear Conversations With Family.

Have honest, open conversations with family that may be helping you with the cost. Are they giving you a gift or do they have expectations on how their money will be spent? As you develop your budget, you’ll want to know how much influence your family expects and how much you are comfortable with.

8. Be Frugal Without Being Cheap.

It’s easy to design your dream wedding when the sky’s the limit. Now, how easy is it do it on a budget? You may even want to set aside a contingency budget for last-minute surprises. It is important to take a look at the wedding you want, set a budget, and stick to it. And in the end, you’ll be happy that you did.

9. Most Importantly… Enjoy the Day!

The most important wedding advice? Cherish every moment of it. This will be a day you remember forever. You’re marrying the love of your life and celebrating with your closest friends and family. You’ve invited your guests to share in your day. Your family & friends are there to celebrate your love and enjoy this day with you. Be sure to be a part of it!

The Six P’s Of Wedding Planning

1. Price. Regardless of who is picking up the tab, you need to know and adhere to the budget. Before booking the hall, ordering invitations, or spending any money at all, you should compile a list of what each item will cost and make sure it fits within your budget. Good research is the key to planning a successful, affordable wedding.
2. Practical. Being on a budget requires the bride and groom to make sensible choices. For example, splurging on a designer wedding gown may mean sacrificing something else down the line. That leads into our next P.
3. Prioritize. Your wedding preparations start with the proposal and end with the honeymoon. It’s everything in between that can be hair-raising for you and your family! There are hundreds of things to do, order, book, arrange, and buy. I’ve prepared a special checklist of wedding tasks that will help you get organized and prevent last-minute panics. Request your free copy by sending an email to [email protected] with the words “Countdown article” in the subject line.
4. Pleasant. Sometimes this is the toughest of the Six Ps. When you feel the tension mounting, take time out for yourself. You don’t want your wedding to be remembered as an ordeal so try to keep a positive outlook.
5. Parents. Whenever possible let parents and siblings assist with the preparations. You’ll need plenty of helpers and they’ll appreciate being involved.
6. Protocol. Wedding etiquette has become more complex over the years. There are several books available on the subject such as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette. But one great free resource is an article entitled “Wedding Etiquette Guidelines.” It deals with touchy issues like who pays for what, who you tip, how you word the invitations and much more. To request a free copy, send an email with the subject line “Wedding etiquette article” to [email protected].

I wish you all the best as you plan for your wedding day. Using the Six P’s can make the preparations easier and more pleasant for you and your family.