7 Common Mistakes Brides Make
April 26, 2021
After the initial excitement and surprise of a proposal, brides-to-be find themselves inundated with an ever growing checklist of to-dos as they plan and prep for their wedding day. From choosing your wedding party to picking the perfect date, there is so much to be done. We’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming and stressful the planning process can be, but it doesn't have to be! With the right vendor team and the wisdom of wedding professionals (ahem, us!), you can avoid making these 7 common wedding planning mistakes.
Image: Katie & Alec Photography1. Overcommitting with DIY Projects
We love a good DIY project as much as the next girl, but make sure you’re not overcommitting yourself or friends and family with wedding DIY ideas. Your wedding week will fly by and you need to be present for every single second! If you are crafty, assign yourself one or two DIY projects that can be completed well before your wedding day. Think invitation suites if you’re proficient at graphic design or wedding reception signage if you enjoy calligraphy. Try to avoid large, day-of projects such as florals or your cake.
2. Not Setting and/or Blowing Your Budget Before Booking Vendors
The only thing worse than not setting a budget before booking vendors is blowing up your budget on one line item. It’s imperative that you set your budget with all parties that are contributing BEFORE you book any vendors! Your budget should be broken down vendor by vendor so you know exactly what you can spend in each category. This will ensure you stay on track throughout your entire planning process and that you evenly distribute your funds based on the average pricing of each vendor.
3. Overbooking Your Wedding Weekend
All the festivities of your wedding weekend are SO FUN, but be careful about overbooking your schedule. From family coming into town to your bridesmaids luncheon and rehearsal dinner, it’s easy for your weekend to quickly become overbooked. Make sure you carve out down time to spend with your soon-to-be spouse, close family members and friends, and for YOU before you head into your busy wedding weekend.
4. Underestimating Your Guest List
One critical mistake brides make is assuming at least 10 percent of their guest list won’t come and booking a venue and catering based on this assumption. You simply do not know who will come until you get your RSVPs back, so always plan for your full guest list and then cut down your list as you receive guest responses. Most vendors don’t require full guest counts until 10 days to two weeks before your big day anyway. The last thing you want to do is underestimate your guest count and end up running out of food, drinks, or space!
5. Trying Out Something New The Week of Your Wedding
While we’re usually cheering on ladies as they venture out and try a new hair style, get their first spray tan, or test out the latest skincare trend, your wedding week is NOT the time to try out something new. From hair dying gone bad to bright orange spray tans or a skin reaction to a new product, we’ve seen it all! It’s best to avoid anything your skin, hair, and body aren’t used to the week of your wedding to ensure everything runs smoothly and no unwelcome surprises pop up. Also, try to avoid any major weight loss or weight gain after your final wedding dress fitting! Trust us, you already look PERFECT.
6. Attempting to Accommodate Too Many Peoples Opinions
While we know you value the opinions of your family and friends, it’s important to create clear boundaries for those you love when it comes to expressing their opinions and desires about your wedding day. Ask questions when you need to and of course, confide in your maid of honor and parents but overall, be sure that you are staying true to you and your fiance as you plan your big day!
7. Not Preparing For Your Marriage
There’s no doubt that planning your dream wedding can be all consuming, but don’t let that keep you from preparing for what you’re taking away from your wedding day – your marriage. While your wedding day will be beautiful for a day, you want your marriage to be beautiful for a lifetime. Premarital counseling is a super important step to preparing for your marriage. Remember to continue to date your fiance throughout the planning process and invest in a healthy and strong foundation before you tie the knot.
We all make mistakes, but the team here at Engaged is here to help you avoid some of the most major trip ups as you plan your wedding. We would love to assist you with your big day! We offer a one of a kind wedding planning service to brides, and most of them will tell you we are “vendor matchmakers.” There are over 100 Birmingham vendors in our group, and each of them offer a special perk or discount to Engaged Brides. Looking for some wedding day help? We’ve got you covered with our added service, day-of coordination which means unlimited meetings PLUS amazing savings! Ready to get your card? Click here. Want to set up your complimentary meeting with us? Click here.
XOXO,
The Engaged Girls