Planning a wedding can be overwhelming at times. It seems like no matter how much time you’ve given yourself to plan the wedding of your dreams, time ticks away very quickly. You might begin to wish you had a list of wedding planning tips and tricks to keep you on track when times get tough.
Well, here it is. We have compiled a list of 10 wedding planning tips and tricks that will make life a little easier in the midst of the planning phase.
Firstly, know your guest number
It wise to have an approximate guest number before you go booking your vendors. We know it can be tempting to move straight to the fun stuff but with an estimated guest number, you’ll have a much better idea of how ‘big’ you’re going to need to go. It doesn’t have to be exact at this stage but it’s a great place to start.
Get focused on organisation
Organisation freaks unite! Now is your chance to splash out of binders, clipboards and all things stationary! Feeling organised can sometimes be all you need to reset and recharge. It also allows you to easily prioritise wedding duties.
Keep paper copies
In a technological age, we often turn our noses up at paper trails. But having all your wedding documents in your hot little hand can be extremely valuable. Not only will this make it easier to see what needs to be done at a glance, you can carry your organised paper trail with you to visit vendors. Believe it or not, it is much more efficient to refer to this, than to scroll through numerous emails trying to find the information you need.
Create a budget buffer
Together with guest numbers, wedding budgets are the main decider of how extravagant your wedding will be. Whilst we all need to be realistic, we don’t want to go too far the other way and be overly frugal. One of our favourite wedding planning tips is to add a buffer to your wedding budget. This allows for those little extras that you may not have factored in. Your buffer should be an additional amount within your means that is only used when absolutely necessary.
Don’t be scared to ask
The age old saying “you never know until you ask” couldn’t be more applicable to wedding planning. Your vendors should be open to your input, so if you have something you’d like them to include, just ask. If you have friends who could offer a service on your wedding day, ask them if they’d consider a discounted rate. The worst thing that could happen is they could kindly say no. There is only a small chance that this will happen if your request is reasonable.
Don’t be offended by rejections
It is without question that your original guest list will change. You’ll have guests decline your invitation and you’ll need to replace them with members on a ‘plan B’ guest list. This isn’t a reflection on you, it will simply come down to individual circumstances. You can do your best to choose a date that will be convenient to most, but you’ll still need to accept some guests won’t be able to be there.
Think about Mother Nature
There’s really only one thing we can’t control on our wedding day and that’s the weather. In New Zealand, there are particular times of year when the weather can be unpredictable. You don’t need to avoid these months altogether, simply choose a venue with an elegant indoor option.
Here at Markovina, we always stay on our toes when it comes to the weather and will be ready to set up our stunning indoor area at the drop of a hat.
Although the weather is out of our control, we are certainly in control over what we can do about it.
Consider the convenience of your chosen date
Choosing a wedding date can be tricky. Although it’s your day, you’re not the only one to consider here. Think about any major events surrounding your chosen date; is anyone expecting a baby, is it a public holiday, does it clash with a major birthday? Go through your guest list and consider the circumstances of each person and whether your chosen date will work for them.
Wedding run sheets take several edits
As far as wedding tips and tricks go, run sheets are extremely important. Even for the most organised person, it can take a few attempts to get a run sheet just right. Run sheets are often given to the MC who will ensure things are ticking along as you want it. You want it to be very clear about the times for each stage of your wedding so your MC can do their best for you.
Take things one step at a time
As the average engagement period is 15 months, you’ll have the ability to take things one step at a time. You don’t need to juggle several different tasks at once if you’ve given yourself plenty of time to plan. Working through your tasks methodically can be far more rewarding than having a whole lot of unfinished tasks on the go at one time.
Simple wedding tips and tricks can be so handy when wedding planning gets on top of us.
They’re also great when we don’t know where to start.
Hosting your wedding at Markovina isn’t just about the venue, it’s about having a supportive team of wedding experts behind you that can offer advice whenever you need it.
It’s extremely important to us that you have the wedding you’ve always wanted.
If you’re about to begin planning, call us today to pop up and check out our venue.
