YOU WERE EXPECTING KITTENS?

We all know that Weddings are not cheap, and for a lot of people, hiring a planner just isn’t in the budget. As such, we are seeing a huge rise in the DIY Bride and that’s ok… but if you are planning your own wedding, someone needs to warn you… It’s not all rainbows and daisies.

The truth is, planning a wedding can and is one of the most stressful things a person can do.  There will be fights, tears and tons of stress.  From sourcing out good vendors, to location viewings, timelines and then the stress of having family and friends all giving their ideas, opinions and unsolicited remarks.  You no longer feel like it’s a magical day and it becomes more of a full time job than anything else.

And let us not forget the actual day… dealing with unforseen issues and problems, schedules and timing… late vendors, traffic problems and the drunk uncle.

A wedding is supposed to be a beautiful and magical day one in which, the slightest error or over-looked items / licence / scheduling could make it one of utter chaos.

“Oh but my aunty/sister/bff is going to be my “day-of” coordinator.” you say… just remember, this person is technically still a guest and there is the chance that he or she may want to get in the spirit of the party too… all it takes is one glass of wine too many and your day-of is out for the count.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t to deter you from doing it yourself, but rather, helping you to prepare. So here’s a bit of professional advice for planning your own wedding:

1. Start planning early!  I’d say at least a year.  This will give you enough time to make sure ever aspect is covered.
2. Research your vendors.  Don’t just jump on the lowest price… it’s true what they say, you get what you pay for.  Also, check if there are any negative reviews online.
3. Contracts!  Whether it’s a friend offering you something, or a professional service… get EVERYTHING in writing!  I can’t stress this enough.
4. Ask all suppliers, vendors and even your local municipality about any permits or licences you may need to get.
5. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.  Make sure every delivery, schedule, supplier, contact number is all organized way ahead of schedule.
6. Make sure whoever you have doing your day-of is made fully aware of EVERYTHING! From the delivery times, to what items are being delivered, where it goes, etc.  Also make it very clear what their responsibilities are and what you expect of them.

That’s really the best advice I can give you.

In a nutshell, allow enough time, stay organized and most importantly… Don’t try and do everything yourself.  Sometimes, it’s worth it just to pay someone.

featured image courtesy of all-free-download.com