Welcome back to our series on the Top 5 Things To Do When Planning Your Wedding. If you missed the last post introducing this detailed series of wedding planning tips from me, your local Calgary wedding planner, click to #1 of the Top 5 Things To Do When Planning Your Wedding and come on back for more!
#2 of 5 Things To Do When Planning Your Wedding — Figure out your priorities
Where to invest in your wedding
Unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited budget, chances are that you will have to figure out where you want to invest the most in your wedding. For some, this may be on the best of the best in decor and entertainment: think a chic lounge area by the dance floor and a live, 8-piece band to boogie down with your friends and family. For others, this may be on the venue to secure the hottest restaurant in town for a night of overindulging in a fantastic 5-course meal and gourmet hors d’oeuvres.
Wedding “must-haves”
Sit down with your fiance and make your lists of “must haves”. If you find that neither of your lists mention anything about a limo or formal dance, then consider doing a “First Look” (ask any photographer: this is a beautiful, intimate moment for the Bride & Groom) and photo session before an evening ceremony. Then you can flow directly into an evening reception with cocktails, action stations and great music for hanging out and chatting, allowing you and your fiance the time to really visit with all of your guests.
Stick to your wedding priorities
It may be hard to narrow the list of priorities down during the course of your wedding planning as you will be constantly bombarded with new ideas from wedding blogs, wedding shows and even friends/families that have recently been married. But do whatever it takes to keep this list at the top of your mind. Stick it by your computer and certainly in your wedding planning book to remind yourselves why you are doing what you are doing.
Photo credit: Ritzy Bee
Your wedding priorities are personal
My clients always comment on how they get a lot of advice (solicited, and un-solicited) about what you “have to” do or how something is a terrible idea when it comes to wedding planning. The truth is, your wedding is personal, and your decisions should, therefore, be personal. While you must certainly follow etiquette and think about guest experience when planning the details of the day, remember that it is very difficult to please absolutely everyone.
As a wedding planner, a part of my role in wedding planning is to help couples stick to their priorities. The budget and “must haves” list often balloons up as we go along in our wedding planning because of excitement, and I help couples keep things in perspective and remember their priorities.
Join me again later this week for #3 in the Top 5 Things To Do When Planning Your Wedding!
