Planning a wedding – whether big or small – can be extremely overwhelming, especially when the both of you are juggling full time jobs and if you have any little ones running around. Some might argue that organising a wedding is the same as having a full-time job due to the shear volume of items that need to be covered off.
It will come as no surprise that there is a lot of things that get overlooked and some which are never even thought of. I am a wedding photographer in South Wales and have seen first-hand the effects of poor planning. Here is a list of the ‘10 Things You Forget When Planning A Wedding’ to help you organise your special day.
1. Sunset Moments
Often considered as the ‘golden hour’ for photographs, your wedding photographer may want to drag you outside to savour the moment and capture a few more moments of the bride, groom, and other members of the wedding party. Find out what time the sun sets at your venue and make sure you are available.
2. Bad Weather
Thanks to our unpredictable weather patterns in the British Isles, it is advised that you think about the worst-case scenarios. Make sure you have a contingency plan arranged with the wedding venue in case of severe cold fronts, rain, or even blistering heatwaves. Couples can be guilty of spending too much time worrying about what the wedding venue looks like and not planning for what will happen if the weather changes.
3. Bridal Party
The bridal party usually get ready with the bride but will need to be at the wedding venue before the bride arrives. Make sure to book a minibus, car, or coach to take them to the venue with plenty of time to spare.
4. Extra Seats
Add extra seats to your ceremony room as people will often not sit next to each other and leave gaps. If this is the case, then you will find that you will quickly run out of chairs. Ask your wedding co-ordinator to advise you on how many extra chairs they typically provide.
5. Guest Count
This might be a silly one, but you won’t believe how many bride and grooms forget to include themselves in the final guest count which means someone will go without a meal. It is also worth asking your vendors, like the wedding photographer, if they require a meal on the day.
6. Wedding Signs
I have seen couples spend weeks picking out hand-crafted, beautifully detailed invitations but then forget about the other wedding signs. These can be made yourself or picked up fairly cheap online, think about a table plan, gift table sign and even a welcome sign. Although small in the greater scheme of things, these things add a personal touch to your venue.
7. Vendor Overtime
Your wedding vendors will be on hand to capture moments and entertain guests during the day but will often leave after the first dance. Discuss with them prior to the date if they would be willing to stay on for an extra few hour’s and what their hourly rate would be. A large portion of your guests might attend only for the evening in which case it is worth booking a wedding photographer for a few hours more.
8. Next Day
If your wedding venue doubles up as a hotel and you plan to stay the night, then make sure you pack a change of clothes and a toothbrush for the following morning. You don’t want to be arriving at breakfast in your dinner suit from the day before. Speak with the venue and they will be happy to take your items at the beginning of your wedding day and put it in your room ready for later on.
9. Personal Items
You would be surprised to find out how many couples don’t plan what is to happen at the end of the day. Personal items, décor and wedding gifts are often left behind because no provisions have been made. Designate a helper, or perhaps two, to clear the room at the end of the day of all personal defects.
10. Drink Water
A bride and groom will be dragged every which way during their special day and will often overlook the fact that they need to eat and drink water. Speak to your wedding co-ordinator and ask if they can leave some bottles of water under the top table for the both of you to drink during the day.
Conclusion
It is so important to plan your wedding with plenty of time and have a contingency in case the dreaded happens. Think about the finer details and the things that people don’t tell you about. Leave enough time (and budget) to make the changes that you need.