Planning a wedding can be chaotic. There are so many things to do and remember in the months leading up to your big day. Here's my advice from personal experience:
#1: How many invitations should you order? One of the biggest mistakes I made was ordering way too many invitations. So you're inviting 150 people? You don't need 150 invitations. Seems like a no-brainer but I've talked to a few other brides that made the same mistake! Remember you only need 1 invitation per household and households are usually 2+ guests.
#2:
Create a list of must-take photos for your photographer: Many brides put effort and time into creating cute DIY wedding decor so make sure your photographer captures all the details as well as the Pinterest-inspired photos you love.
S&S Photography
#3:
Use an online wedding planning tool: I used Martha Stewart's wedding tools which was a lifesaver! I used these tools almost daily to make sure I was on track:
- Checklist: provides a weekly checklist with deadline dates and alarms if you happen to
forget anything.
- Budget Calculator & Planner: helps track &
record all expenses and when payments are due.
- Guest list tool: keeps track of your guests' addresses, RSVPs and the gifts you receive.
- Seating Chart: helps you map out where your guests will be seated. Print
this out and give it to your venue and/or wedding coordinator. Example image below.
#4: Adults-only wedding: Make sure to specify it (discretely) on your wedding invitation or the envelope.
I didn't specify it on our invites but tried to spread the word mainly to those with children. This failed miserably. While most of our guests were respectful and knew it was adults only, we did get a few RSVPs from our guests and 2+ kids. We ended up having toddlers and
babies at our lakeside (alcohol-plenty) wedding.
#5:
Create a hair & makeup schedule for your bridesmaids: Leave enough time for any delays and make sure to schedule the most amount of time for the bride. The bride should also typically go last so her hair and makeup are fresh for pictures and the ceremony.
#6: If your budget allows, hire a wedding coordinator for, at least, your rehearsal and wedding day: There are so many little things that need to be done on the day of the wedding & I don't know what I would have done without a coordinator. They usually help coordinate the wedding party and priest/officiant on the rehearsal day and then coordinate all the vendors, decorating and setting up the floor plan on the wedding day. Along with greeting guests and making sure everything runs smoothly and on time.
#7: Print out an itinerary for the guys: Let them know where they need to be & at what time for photos, etc. You won't have time to be calling around and sometimes guys get distracted when they get together (or they end up at the bar). Weddings and photography usually run on a tight schedule and you don't want a late groom.
Wedding Day Tips:
#8: Make sure to eat dinner: The bride and groom typically get seated first and served dinner. Take this opportunity to eat and chat with your new husband. I was too excited/distracted that I barely touched my plate. By the end of the night, I felt light headed from lack of food and drinking on an empty stomach. Make sure to eat enough to prolong your moves on the dance floor! ;-)
#9:
Walk around from table to table and great your guests: Your guests should be still seated and eating by the time you're done with dinner, so make sure to spend a few minutes with each table. Every bride says that their wedding night just flies by in a wink of any eye and they never get to really spend time with all of their guests. This is the perfect time to mingle with your guests before the music gets turned up and the dancing begins.
#10:
Don't sweat the small stuff on your wedding day. Enjoy the hours leading up to your wedding and just try to catch up with
your favorite girls while you get dressed. Have a mimosa to calm your nerves. Mistakes do happen but think about the grand scheme of things. Is it really that big of a deal? Your your fiance still loves
you and you're still going to get married!
We plan for months & even years for everything to go perfect.
Well is life perfect? No. Do mistakes happen? Yes, all the time because we are only human. Remember mishaps or small hiccups just bring character to your wedding day and it will be something to laugh about when you look back.
Good luck to all the brides-to-be out there and feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific questions or want any additional advice!
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Jordan and
Meredith today.
