The early stages of wedding planning can, and should, be lots of fun. But it’s not uncommon that we see clients begin to second guess some of their initial decisions once they get a bit further into the process. I asked some of my favorite clients and wedding industry vendors for their insights and came up with a list of top wedding mistakes. Take these as a guide for how to avoid the common pitfalls.
There’s so much planning that goes into a wedding day that it’s actually easier than you may think to gloss over some essentials. So here’s my count of the top four things brides often forget to plan, but shouldn’t. These may not be at the top of the list, but if you plan for them, the smoother the day will go.
In the age of Instagram and Pinterest, a huge question brides ask themselves when planning their wedding, is whether they should buy, or DIY? The best way to distinguish between tasks a bride should tackle, and ones that should be left to the professionals is to ask: Is this something that can be done leisurely and well ahead of time?
Meagan and Sean were a young couple in love and starting their life together was going to be a celebration of a lifetime! Guests were coming in from all across the country and the Mother of the Bride wanted to ensure it would be “an event of a lifetime!” From the custom gift bags for guests including a private self labeled wine and a personalized cook book from the couple to the decadently elegant mirrored head table and the groom’s custom cigar bar built off the side terrace to the second line processional to the custom made mardi gras float at the end of the night — THIS was the event of a lifetime that pulled out all the stops. It was so much fun working with this family and the Westin Annapolis to plan the event of a lifetime for this family & their guests!
The couple met in New Orleans and because of that, the city always held a special place in their heart. They thought it would be fun to bring a little bit of The Big Easy to Annapolis and we had a New Orleans themed cocktail hour complete with a french quarter area with a custom tree bar and authentic Jazz grouping. We had custom screens flanking the bar showing images from earlier in the day for guests to enjoy while getting a drink at our 32 foot long mahogany oak bar in the foyer. Once guests moved into the ballroom, it was timeless upscale elegance all the way with sparkle, bling, and stunning florals. We wanted to make a head table to remember so we custom crafted a 32 foot truss and then suspended alternating strands of white orchids and crystals from it. Below was a 24 foot long pristine mirrored head table with stunning arrangements and elegant crystal stemware, beautiful bone white chargers, and custom chocolate menus in its own keepsake box! The special touches were out of this world on this event and guests left knowing the couple put a lot of thought into each detail.
Meagan & Sean, it was our pleasure to bring your fantasy to reality and create an event all will remember for a lifetime! Wishing you many years of continued happiness and fond memories of your amazing day!
xxoo
Raquel Shutt, Owner & Founder, Wedding Savvy
Full Service Wedding Planner: Raquel Shutt, Wedding Savvy
Florist: Silver Stems of Annapolis
Decor: Staged Right Productions
Ceremony: St. Mary’s of Annapolis
Reception: Westin Annapolis
Rentals: Party Rentals, LTD.
Budget conversations can be stressful, no matter the context. But when it comes to planning your wedding, take these two things to heart: 1) Just because you’re keeping costs in check, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to compromise on the look or feel of your event, and 2) Getting serious about staying within budget is no bad thing.
