THE END OF BIG WEDDINGS

FEATURED IMAGE BY ENRIQUE MENDEZ

When I first began working in the Wedding and Events Industry, many… many… many moons ago (one “many” just wasn’t enough). There was overwhelming glamour and huge budgets, leading to enormous weddings and guests totalling on average between 250 and 300 people.
When I went solo, as an Event Designer, my very first Wedding was for 450 guests… by today’s standards, that’s like inviting your entire Facebook friend’s list and having them all show up!
But times have changed… people and the economy have changed. Nowadays your average person can’t afford a big Wedding and all the extras that come along with it.
We’ve reached a point where I am seeing my peers change careers after being in the industry for so long because of the rise in the DIY Bride.
But we are also seeing a rise in the intimacy of the actual wedding… where it’s become more about the couple saying the words and making the commitment out loud in front of loved ones… and this I can get behind.
You don’t need to feed 450 people, or to keep up with the Jones’ … you need to make sure you ceremony and your days reflects you as a couple, and why you are doing this.
So what is the best advice I can give you when it comes to your Wedding Day? What tidbits of knowledge can I pass down, like a Wedding-Yoda?
Simple…

IMAGE BY LUCAS ROSSATO

1. EVERYONE’S GOT AN OPINION
When you are getting things ready for your big day; all your BFF’s, Aunties, Cousins, Sisters and Even your Parents are going to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. But you need to smile, thank them for their opinion, and politely remind them that this is a joining of you and your partner, so the final say is yours.

2. CREATE A BUDGET
Make and stick to a budget! You need to know where you are spending and what you are spending on. Once you’ve laid out what you can save and spend…and then add another 15% as back-up. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT count on “Wedding Gifts” or a “Stag and Doe” to help cover the costs… just don’t.

3. REFLECTION
Think about your day and your celebration, figure out what the most important factors are going to be for you… I’d count on the top three being Food, Booze and Photography… but you may have different opinions. Make your top three factors the main recipients of your budget and get it done first. This will provide you with an idea of how much you have left for other things.

4. REMEMBER, IT’S A CELEBRATION
That’s right. It’s going to get tough, there will be fights and things will get very stressful. Just remember that this is a celebration of love between you and your partner, and nothing, not even how and where you do it, really matters. What matters is the two of you making your declaration to one another.

5. FRESH FLOWERS
Whether its mason jars with daisies, or a full on six foot tall centrepiece… fresh flowers can never be beaten. There is no substitute.

6. IF YOU CAN, HIRE A PLANNER
I’ve said before and I’ll say again… save yourself the stress. Focus more on the journey. If you can, always hire a planner… not your friend or little sister who has offered or wants to be one… a real one.