10 Wedding mistakes to avoid:

Wedding mistakes are bound to happen and even the most organized and knowledgeable brides are subject to wedding planning blunders. We’ve heard them all and I want to shed some light on some of the biggest wedding mistakes in hopes that we can save you from making the same ones.

Mistake #1: Doing anything before you have outlined your wedding guest list.

The second you get engaged, it’s easy to get caught up in all the pretty details of the big day, like your wedding dress, the invitations, the flowers, etc.  Pouring over these details is fun but unless you know how big your wedding is going to be, you won’t be able to set a wedding budget or pick a date and venue for the wedding, which is important to get done as early as you can.  The actual number of wedding guests on your list may fluctuate as time goes on but getting a rough estimate will still help you gain perspective on the size of your wedding and atmosphere of your wedding.

Mistake #2: Planning a wedding exactly the way your mom (or anyone else) wants it.

We know that you love your mom and everyone else that has offered to help you plan your wedding.  But sometimes they tend to get caught up in their own opinions and ideas and forget whose day it really is.  Everyone else’s opinions and ideas can cloud the vision you and your fiancé have for your wedding day and it is just that--YOUR wedding day.  Discuss with your fiancé some major details that are important to both of you and how you can weave your personalities into your wedding details so that you can truly be a day drenched in all the things that are important to you.

Mistake #3: Thinking, “It could never rain on MY wedding day.”

Believing that your wedding is going to go on completely as planned is a false reality.  Don’t get me wrong, I want your wedding day to be as perfect as you do, but thinking that nothing is going to go wrong is not a smart decision.  By planning and anticipating the worst, you will be prepared for anything that could go less than perfectly.  One way to do this is to give someone you trust a list of your vendors, phone numbers and expected time of arrival so that you can rest assured knowing everyone will be in the right place at the right time.

Mistake #4: Doing it all yourself.

When trying to save a few dollars on their weddings, brides tend to think that the easiest way to do so is to have a DIY wedding.  Well, it’s one thing to do-it-yourself and it’s another to overdo-it-yourself.  DIY projects are a wonderful way to make your wedding unique and personal but you have to draw a line somewhere.  Take on just one or two DIY projects that you really love and devote your time to them.  Then, take advantage of the many pre-fab ideas out there that can save you time and sanity.

Mistake #5: Trying to drop two sizes before your wedding day.

We all want to look and feel our best on our wedding day but this does not mean that you need to lose weight to do so.  When you find the dress of your dreams, don’t order it smaller than you should in hopes that you are going to shed the weight for it to fit.  Order your dress in the size you are now because it is always easier to take a dress in a few sizes (if you do lose weight) than it is to let it out (if you don’t end up losing as much as you anticipated).  You need to remember that your fiancé is about to marry you because he can’t get enough of how you look right now, and isn’t that all that matters?

Mistake #6: Blowing your wedding budget.

When you set your budget at the beginning of the wedding planning process, it is natural to expect that number to fluctuate a little bit as you begin to nail all of the details down.  When the number you set at the beginning doesn’t seem to be cutting it, don’t just throw caution to the wind and order the $3500 dress you fell in love with anyway.  Have an honest conversation with your fiancé and come to a smart decision for how to tackle the new budget.  This is a good problem-solving exercise for the two of you to undergo and will make you a stronger team in the end.  For more budget wedding advice, check out my budget wedding post, How to Plan a Budget Wedding.

Mistake #7: Skimping on the food at the reception.

Your wedding menu is just one of the ways that you show your guests how much you appreciate them coming to your wedding.  If you skimp short on the food, you risk running out of food and leaving some of your guests famished.  Work with your caterer ahead of time to make sure that you both have the same head count for your guests, and that you have requested a meal you can afford.  I know that you may not have the same budget as Chelsea Clinton, but the food is not an area in which you should cut corners.

Mistake #8: Not creating a wedding gift registry.

Creating a wedding gift registry ensures you will receive gifts you will utilize; even if you and your fiancé feel you don’t need your guests' contributions, they will still give you a gift of some sort.  Unless you and your great-aunt Mabel have the same taste, it’s probably a safer bet to provide a wedding registry of gifts that you will use and love rather than run the risk of getting gifts you won’t.  Consider registering for items of all price points so that everyone has the opportunity to check them out.  You can even create a honeymoon registry.  For more information, check out Laura’s blog, "Affordable Honeymoons: Sandals Honeymoon Registry."

Mistake #9: Throwing a backyard wedding because you think it’s going to save money.

I love backyard weddings of all kinds, but unless you plan on renting everything you will need for your reception, it’s not the most budget friendly wedding option.  Although beautiful, a wedding in your backyard means you will have to bring all the comforts of a reception hall outdoors, meaning you will have to rent tables, chairs, a tent (in case of rain), a dance floor, a caterer, extra lighting...the list goes on and on.  Your small backyard wedding can jump upwards of $5000 in the blink of an eye.  If you still have your heart set on the outdoor event, make sure to adjust your budget accordingly and be willing to have a back-up plan just in case the weather strikes.

Mistake #10: Forgetting what the wedding is all about.

Your wedding day is just the beginning of a lifetime you and your fiancé are going to share.  I know you want your wedding to be perfect, but don’t lose sight of the fact that your marriage is what really matters.  After all is said and done, no one will remember your table linens or cake, but they will remember how happy you and your fiancé make each other.  If you can keep that in perspective, your wedding day will be perfect no matter what happens. Other blog posts you'll love: Location, Location, Location! Picking a Wedding Venue What to Look for When Selecting your Wedding Photographer Wedding Dress Shopping: Tips for Finding your Dream Wedding Dress

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