Do's and Don'ts while planning your wedding

DO's:

1. Follow your budget regardless of what others say what look better out of your price range.

2. Ensure your vision is what you make of the day and no one else since you want the best for you both.

3. Make your wedding party work out all the pre events and their responsibilities as they are part your wedding day celebration and to work together smoothly.

4. Have the last word if your paying for everything or most of it as others suggestions may not be taken into consideration besides the bridesmaids/groomsmen wear (optional) payments.

5. Make lists to help know who are in groups and family shots pre getting ready and after the wedding if going this route to allow your photographer make better sense of where you want to get done and time it well.

DON'Ts:

1. Fight with family or friends over small matter just because they feel they know better or making helping payments towards something. Drama isn't the best result during the process to make your stressed out.

2. Please everyone to what they seem to their opinion of what would make things better or enhanced.

3. Add plus 1s on the invites if your numbers are going to go beyond maximum capacity. Family will make you feel guilty for not having someone or another attending even if you don't know them at all or well enough.

4. Buy things that look good just because and not end up using it. Its just a add on to the budget unnecessarily.

5. |Do anything you feel isn't right for you both by any means of how your day. Pressure from family and friends may be pressed onto you to add your stress.

Some great suggestions here but to add a few more


DONT do something just because you think you should or is "always done at weddings." You don't feel comfortable with a first dance, don't do one, you don't want a cake, get something else.
DO pamper yourself before the big day. Planning can be stressful so go get a massage or facial, it's so worth it.

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Thanks for the tips!
Most of these I had considered previously, but some I actually hadn't. Will definitely have to work on finding a hair and make up person n set up some trials as i don't normally wear a lot of makeup and don't want to look like a painted clown on my wedding day!

I would also agree with everything K1327 listed, also after talking with people who have recently married I am considering a day of coordinator...

Congratulations on your engagement and welcome to wedding Wire.

Start planning, don't wait for dress shopping and book your venue ASAP.

Pretty much what K1327 said is on the button.

Congratulations on your engagement!

I would say for myself these were some of my learnings and or my opinions:

Do's

- Lock down the major vendors early on because they book up quickly - example : venue, hair and make up, caterer.

- Plan your big day for yourself and your partner - you may get lots of other opinions and it can be good to listen however I would make sure at the end of the day it is what you both want and are most comfortable with doing

- Consider your guests in the planning process. We really wanted our guests to have a great time and for it to be a super easy, enjoyable evening for them so we did a few thinks I would consider extra and thoughtful - paid their parking at the venue, had non alcoholic beer (this was super appreciated!), had the photographer take group photos of some families that were there and or couples (did not want the photos to just focus on us and our immediate family) and I think everyone can appreciate professional photos of themselves . I should also mention we had a small wedding so #'s would definitely affect this.

- Do a make up and hair trial! If you have someone in mind and you are already familiar with their work maybe not so much needed but honestly hair and make up can make a big difference and I would make sure you are on the same page as the stylist so that you do not end up not liking the look they give/dislike the photos.

Don'ts:

- Put off wedding dress shopping. I think this is a tricky one because I personally bought mine early and ended up returning and going with one I loved more but I also made the mistake of continuing to shop! So I would personally not leave it too late because you must take into consideration any alterations that need to be done and the timeline for that but also maybe not too too early because styles and your mind can change. At the same time if you are the type of person to firmly stick with something and be done then you are probably good haha.

- Don't go DIY crazy. I think if someone is talented and DIY's some things - invites, signs, etc. I think it's cool but to DIY everything... sometimes a wedding can look a little too "crafty" and or it can be putting a lot of work and pressure on yourself that closer to the day you may not want. This is just my opinion though as I know lots of people DIY a lot and it works for them!

- Cash Bar. Let me start off by saying I don't think this is a firm Don't, lots of people do cash bar for different reasons whether it be religious, they have a drinking crowd and want to control things, the couple themselves do not drink and or like the idea of alcohol, etc. However I think if not any of those reasons, it is a nice gesture to not have guests pay for their drinks. As a guest, it is really nice to just be able to walk up to the bar and order a drink and not have to pull out $$ each time and I am not even a big drinker, I just think it's a nice thing for the hosts to take care of and I would be reluctant to cut something like this out of the budget.

- and lastly don't forget to enjoy the day, the food, your husband, your guests. It goes by way too fast and it can be so easy to get caught up in the nerves and quick pace of it all that you as the bride forget to enjoy everything

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Thank you!

Once you buy your dress, don't start looking at others online and such!