Planning a Wedding: The Dos and Don'ts of Saying "I Do"

Planning a wedding: The Dos and Don'ts of Saying "I Do."

Planning your wedding can be the most exciting time in your life. It can also be plagued with stress, difficult decision making, and anxiety. Those of us here at My Wedding Chat would like to help you avoid those unpleasant feelings and make this wedding planning experience one that you will cherish for the rest of your ‘new’ life. With over 30 years in the wedding industry, My Wedding Chat has learned a thing or two about what to do and what not to do during the planning of and during the day of your wedding. So please, sit back, relax and take mental notes on how you can turn what could be an unpleasant wedding planning experience, into some of the best memories in your lifetime.

Wedding Planning Dos:

Wedding planning can seem overwhelming. For many, it's the first time you've planned an event like this (and hopefully the last)! So how do you know where to start? Check out our advice for things that you should do. First and foremost:

Do remember that there are only five essential things you need to get married:

A bride, a groom, an officiant, a license and a witness. Everything else beyond that is just fluff. Your wedding should be everything you envision it to be but keep in mind that your marriage is not built on how fancy or expensive your wedding is; your wedding is a merely celebration of the union you and your fiancé are about to make and beyond that, the details are, in fact, trivial. That being said, your wedding day IS very important, but don’t get lost in the little things and remember always why it is you are getting married in the first place.

Do delegate.

We know you’re smart, focused, and energetic but you’re still just one woman! Know when to ask for help and accept offers while planning your wedding even if you feel that you want to handle it all yourself. Be clear and polite in explaining what you want done and always be gracious to your entourage for giving up their time to help you.

Do set a wedding budget.

Create a realistic wedding budget and stick to it! First, add up how much you can spend then prioritize, putting the biggest amount towards the elements you value most. Your wedding is not about how much money you spend but the love between you. Think about how you can avoid going into your marriage on the edge of bankruptcy.

Do remember your friends.

Don't forget that your bridesmaids (and the rest of your bridal party) were your friends and family before the wedding madness and you should treat them accordingly. Your bridal party is filled with the most important people in your life and they are the people that will still be there once the celebration is over (if you treat them with respect and gratitude, that is). Although this is your big day, your bridal party has been gracious enough to give their money and, more importantly, devote their time to standing up with you on this very important day. Don’t demand so much out of them that they need to take a friend hiatus after the festivities are done. Show them your love and appreciation every step of the way. Do shop the Wedding Shoppe. This one's just a no-brainer. Check out everything in your one stop shop!>>

Wedding Planning Don’ts:

Sometimes we can get a little caught up in all the wedding excitement. We want our event to be unique and perfect in every way. We dedicate oodles of time to planning and just so happen to forget a thing or two that maybe we shouldn't do. Here are a few things we think you shouldn't do while planning.

Don’t spend all of your time planning.

Keep things in perspective and realize that there is more to life than debating to serve chicken marsala or chicken cordon bleu. Remember that you’re not just planning a wedding, you’re also planning a life together. Be diligent in making non-wedding related dates with your fiancé and remember that after the party is over, you are going to have bigger life decisions to make than your reception dinner.

Don’t go DIY crazy.

I know the idea of saving money and putting a one-of-a-kind stamp on your day through do-it-yourself projects can sound very enticing but be careful. If you’re the hands-on type and want to employ your craft/sewing/baking/designing skills to fashion your big day, by all means, don’t let us scare you from doing so. However, be reasonable and curb your enthusiasm on your DIY projects so that you can still enjoy the entire process and wedding day without having to worry if your homemade cake will fall apart before you cut it.

Don’t procrastinate.

Weddings can be planned quickly and efficiently but the key is to be organized and get as many of the ‘right things’ done as soon as you can. Start with the budget and the guest list and the rest will follow, but you have to start somewhere. These two aspects are key and once you have them set, the rest of the decisions you have to make will be easier and more accurate.

Don’t have unrealistic expectations about making everything perfect.

We want your wedding to be beautiful just like you do but perfect is different story. Sometimes it’s the moments of imperfection and mistake that make the fondest memories. Strive to stay calm and make a decision early on to ‘roll with the punches.’ You will find yourself enjoying your day rather than walking around with a cloud of worry above your head. Remember, your wedding day was probably an event a year-in-the-making so don’t waste it away in a state of anxiety but try to soak up every minute; it will be gone before you know it. This is just the start. Let's be honest. We could write a novel about the Do's and Don'ts of wedding planning.