Top Ten Wedding Planning Mistakes

Worried that an up-do doesn’t suit you? That your bridesmaids’ dresses will clash with the cake? Alas, while we can’t help you un-sweat the small stuff, we do have some big-picture advice that just might save your sanity. This is your time to shine, and planning your wedding should be a pleasure, not punishment. By keeping perspective – and your head – during the planning process, you’ll be able to plan a day that you and your partner and your loved ones can thoroughly enjoy, and without any nasty repercussions (like your sister-in-law never speaking to you again).   Some tips for keeping your cool:
 
  1. Don’t neglect to set a budget and stick to it – While making a budget might sound daunting (but wait, look, we’ve already laid it all out for you!), the real difficulty is in sticking to it. Many a bride has gotten hung up on one unexpectedly expensive detail, and then the whole plan goes out the window. But if you suddenly have to sport Manolos under your gown, then find another line item to cut back on. You do not want to start your marriage in debt, and definitely don’t want any regrets about your wedding day.
 
  1. Don’t forget to pick your battles – While you may have an unwavering vision, weddings tend to involve a lot of cooks in the kitchen. Your parents, in-laws and fiancé are going to be regularly weighing in with all kinds of outlandish requests. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to decide when to stick to your guns and when to throw them a bone. And you do want to throw them some bones – you want your future husband to be an equal participant in your day, of course, and you also don’t want to spend your next thirty Thanksgivings being given the deep freeze by your mother-in-law.
 
  1. Don’t get bogged down in detail – The florist can’t find orange calla lilies in December? Suddenly, your whole vision is destroyed and your wedding day ruined. You might think this doesn’t sound like you, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to lose perspective when you’ve worked so hard to plan your dream day. When you do find yourself in this pickle, remember that orange Peruvian lilies will look just as pretty and your guests will never know the difference.
 
  1. Don’t tune out the rest of your life –Wedding planning can be all-consuming, but once it’s over, you don’t want to find that you’ve let the rest of your world fall to pieces. When you return from your honeymoon, you’ll still need a job, so don’t spend entire work days audibly negotiating with wedding vendors on the phone. Don’t neglect friends who aren’t in your wedding party, and take plenty of time out from planning to spend quality time with your fiancé. Occasionally challenge yourselves to get through an entire Saturday without once mentioning the wedding.
 
  1. Don’t forget to enjoy the process –You’re getting married – this should be fun! Be willing to compromise, roll with the punches, and gracefully step around any snafus. You’ll sleep well at night and look that much better for it on your big day.
 
 
  1. Don’t over-plan your day –Some weddings we’ve been to have been so highly orchestrated that the couple doesn’t have a minute to breathe and take it all in. Dashing from one event or choreographed moment to the next is exhausting and rarely all that fun. You might end up with an impressive set of posed wedding photos, but will you have any memories of impromptu good times to go along with them?
 
  1. Don’t shut out your partner from the planning process – Your day is for the two of you. Even if his requests don’t always conform to your vision, you want him to enjoy the wedding as much as you. Not only should you be willing to compromise, but also consider biting the bullet once in a while and telling him that you like his ideas. Even if you wind up with chili dogs on the menu or a Guns ‘n’ Roses cover band, chances are good you’ll appreciate these quirkier decisions down the road. Plus, you’ll make him really happy – as he should be.
 
  1. Don’t forget to eat at the wedding – You know the reasons. ‘Nuff said.
 
  1. Don’t fail to think about your photography ahead of time –Many couples make the mistake of hiring a photographer and leaving it at that. You’ll want to convey your style to your photographer ahead of time and let him or her know of any can’t-miss shots you want. Fortunately for you, Studio Blue makes planning your photography easy with our style quiz and match-making prowess. You’ll check in with your photographer ahead of time and make sure you’re both on the same page. That way, you can sit back and enjoy your wedding day without worrying about the photographic outcome.
 
  1. Don’t forget what it’s all about – While the wedding day itself is surely important, what’s even more important is that the two of you now get to spend the rest of your lives together. Have fun with the planning, enjoy the big day, and revel in the fact of your future together. Regardless of budget, location, or any other variable, the hands-down best weddings we’ve been to were those where everyone looked ridiculously happy and had a ball.
 
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