When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s easy to overlook details and make mistakes. It’s important to stay as organized and on top of things as possible, but we know how hard that can be when you’ve got a million things going on. Mistakes we notice couples make the most when planning their wedding are ditching the budget, skipping the event planner, ordering the dress too late, inviting too many guests, and messing up the marriage license. Below are a few common mistakes couples make, and how you can avoid them when planning your wedding.
Ditching the Budget
Although you’re planning a small and intimate wedding, you still need to stick to a budget. Many times, couples are so excited to jump right into planning that they start booking vendors and making purchases without realizing how much they are spending. Overspending is the last thing you want. A budget is supposed to help you visualize an amount of money you can afford to spend and allocate it to the expenses. If you’re unsure where to start, find a wedding budget to follow until you’re comfortable creating or changing it to your own. Without one, you could potentially overspend by a decent amount of money, causing you to have a hefty debt after it’s over.
Sticking to your budget will allow you to save money for other things after your wedding. Maybe you are looking to buy your first home as a couple, or renovate the home you reside in now. If a new home is on your radar, a good credit score to buy a house is around 620 or higher. The higher the credit score you have, the easier and more affordable the entire process will be. The last thing you want is to tank your credit score by falling into debt after the wedding. This is why it’s crucial to have a budget to stay ahead of the dreaded expenses.
Skipping the Event Planner
It’s no surprise that most brides want to have full control over every detail of their wedding. Not only does this make it hard, but it’ll be more likely for a mix-up to occur. An event planner will help your love story come true while organizing and handling all the small details you might overlook. They will assist with the style you want the wedding to be whether it’s contemporary, rustic, chic, or urban glam. Everything will be customized to your lifestyle needs and dreams. They will create, plan, and perfect your wedding details, so everything runs smoothly. Don’t be that bride and skip over the needed help. Not only will it take the weight off your to-do list, but it’ll also help lower the stress and the feeling of overwhelm when planning.
Ordering Your Dress Too Late
One of the biggest no-nos for a bride is underestimating the amount of time dress shopping and alterations require. It’s highly recommended that you start looking six months in advance at the latest. The reason why this is so important is that depending on the style, alterations can take weeks or months and if something is still not right, you’ll have to send the dress back again. Don’t be discouraged if the alterations are not perfect the first time, as it’s an ongoing process. This is why it’s crucial to give yourself plenty of time when it comes to the dress.
Inviting Too Many Guests
Depending on the venue or where you’re hosting the celebration, don’t over-invite guests. If you’re planning a small and intimate event, limiting the number of guests is important to keep the vibe you’re going for. To avoid over-inviting, take the time to create a guest list. The guest list should be close friends and loved ones to keep the intimate environment you’re going for. Once you have your completed guest list, send out save the dates and personalized invitations. The save-the-dates should not be sent out until you’re a hundred percent set on the guest list to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. You’ll also want to include the small and intimate details on the invitations, such as no children allowed. The last thing you want is to have a guest bring their kids when you weren’t planning on them.
Messing Up the Marriage License
Many couples have no idea about all the rules and laws that come with getting married. How would you? A marriage license is an issued document by a church or state authority that states that two people can be wed. For a marriage license to work, it will require two signatures from the couple, two witnesses, and the person’s signature signing the marriage license. You’ll need to see how long a marriage license is effective and when it will expire. Depending on where you live, the expiration date alters. If you reside in Arizona, a marriage license will be valid for twelve months. If your wedding is farther out in the future, apply for your license in a reasonable amount of time to avoid any hiccups.
Now that you’re aware of popular mistakes couples make when planning their wedding, you’re ready to start planning your own. Although there are a lot of details to plan and avoid, don’t forget to focus on the big picture – saying, “I do.”