Wedding planning is supposed to be fun, right? Well why can it end up being so stressful? I have a few theories!
• Lots of decisions to be made about the most important day of your life – so much pressure
• Financial constraints
• Lots of opinions from lots of people
• So many options and choices out there
• Not completely sure of what you really like
Lets talk about alleviating the stress in your wedding planning and bringing the fun back!
The Food
There are many things to consider when planning the food at your wedding:
- the time of year you are getting married
- the amount of guests at your wedding
- tastes
- the budget.
Speak to the chef at the venue or your caterer well in advance of your wedding and go through the options; so that you will have time to think about choices, courses and tastings. Ask for advice!
The Venue
Venue research is one of the first things to do once your engagement is announced. So begin by:
• Researching venues online that you have in mind (keep your budget in mind). Check availability of your favourite venues on Wedding Dates.
• Request wedding brochures and pricing via Wedding Date’s online enquiry form.
• Make appointments with the Wedding Coordinator/Sales Manager/Management Team for a show round.
• Visit the venue, meet with the relevant person and discuss:
- number of guests
- availability of dates
- obvious costs and any hidden extras
- terms and conditions of the venue
- accommodation for guests
- menu options
- timeline for booking
- payments
- meetings
- tastings
• Consider each venue carefully. Take your time. If you are not sure or have more questions to ask contact them again.
The Décor
Candles, flowers, lanterns, arches, seating plans, escort cards, favors, photo booths – where do we draw the line! We hear so much about wedding trends and decor every day that it can make another decision stressful!
Choose a trend, style, theme or colour that you like and that is suitable for your wedding. Try not to over do things – sometimes less is more.
Ask yourself:
- What do I like?
- Is what I have in mind really me?
- What time of the year is my wedding?
- What is the over all look I am trying to create?
Remember if you are not enjoying your wedding planning maybe it is time to stop and ask why!
Karen Buchanan is a regular blogger for Wedding Dates. She runs a wedding planning business called Weddings With Karen Buchanan. Connect with her on her Facebook page at Weddings With Karen Buchanan or chirp her over on Twitter. Her Twitter handle is @karenbuchanan3. Image sourced via Microsoft Online.
