TOP WEDDING PLANNING TIPS

T’is the time of the year for reflection and celebration and I am all smiles thinking about our 2019 weddings and the moments we’ve been a part of!  There is still one more wedding to go this year and while I work on the final details and other yearend projects, I wanted to share one more blog post before the holidays.  To conclude the year, I thought it was a great opportunity to share my TOP wedding planning tips:

BUDGETING

Discuss Early

It can be political, divisive and just down right uncomfortable, but a conversation with your partner and family about your wedding budget should happen early before any vendors are confirmed.  Come prepared with a ‘big picture’ budget in mind and discuss the vendors you need help with.  If you are having a social, make sure to consider that potential revenue as well, (often this pays for a large portion of the catering bill).

Prioritize

In order to stay within your budget, think about the top three items you’d splurge on and where you can reduce without compromising quality.  For example, opt for a DJ instead of a band.  There are some amazing DJ’s available who can create a great party atmosphere at a fraction of the price.

Guest Count

Confirm your guest list early to help shape your budget.  Once you and your partner agree on a list and it fits the capacity of your venue, stick to the list! This is a great way to stay on budget since you can predict costs per person (bar, food, tableware etc.)

GUESTS

Consider the weather

How many times have you felt too cold or too hot at a wedding or special event? It’s not pleasant and when your guests are uncomfortable, it can be a buzz kill at your reception.  If your wedding is outside during the summer months, consider umbrellas and water stations and conversely in the fall, consider heaters or blankets.

Host Bar

It may be tempting to offer a cash bar, but this is a wedding planning no-no and will almost certainly have your guests grumbling.  If you are worried about sky high bar bills, you have options to reduce - stick with wine and beer only, keep the bar closed during dinner or consider a brunch wedding!

Take dietary requests seriously

Prompt guests to share their dietary and accessibility requirements when they RSVP, track the requests carefully, inform your caterer and follow up with guests to let them know you’ve received their request.  These touches show your guests their comfort and safety is a priority to you and your partner.

Transport

If your wedding is thirty minutes outside of city limits (or more), consider a shuttle bus to take guests to and from the wedding.  This ensures guests stay until the end of the reception and they don’t drink and drive.

ORGANIZATION

Table Assignments

Don’t wait until one month before your wedding to tackle the stack of RSVP’s piling up in your kitchen.  Rather, add RSVP’s to a master list as they come in and organize guests in groupings of 8 – 10 to be as efficient as possible.

Floor Planning

Along with table assignments, work on your floor plan early!  This allows you to assign table numbers to your guest groupings, and confirm final numbers of linens, centerpieces well before the deadline.

Emails

Send emails from one dedicated email account and create wedding folders in that account to quickly reference messages by category. This is an easy way to keep track of the hundreds of messages back and forth during the planning process.

Hire a wedding planner

Had to include this one!  Wedding Planners offer a variety of services, so at a minimum, hire a planner to manage the weeks leading up to the wedding and coordinate the wedding day itself.  Ask anyone who hired a planner and they will tell you it is the best money they spent to stay on track and enjoy their wedding day!

Need help with your wedding management?  Send us an email alli@allimae.com