The Real Key to Planning Your Own Wedding

In my experience, the main reason why couples choose to hire a wedding planner is that they lack the confidence to do it themselves. Having confidence in your own abilities is the key to successfully planning your own wedding. Here are a few quick tips that will boost your confidence right away.

As I was planning my little girls' birthday party recently it came to my mind that we all have some type of experience in party planning. However, when we think about wedding planning we just assume that we are in need of an experienced planner. What if it's you that is the experienced planner? Who says that your experience can't come from baby showers and birthday parties? You know you have the experience to plan your own wedding you just need the confidence.

Sure a wedding is a little more detailed and elaborate than your average birthday party, but all the same facets are involved. You generally have décor, food of some type, a cake of course and some type of entertainment. The only major difference is the theme and perhaps the scale. Now you are thinking that a wedding takes a lot more work to plan and I would say that yes while there is more involvement you have more time to plan generally speaking. With a birthday party or a shower you plan about a month or two in advance. Hopefully with your wedding you have at least a few months. If you don't there's no need to panic; it is still possible to do the planning yourself. Spread the decision making out as not to procrastinate to the very end. This eases the stress and worries of all the details.

Once you have your date chosen start on the guest list right away. Make sure that you and your fiancé agree on the size of the event. Once you have the list and figure how many guests you are to have start looking into venues. Decide whether to have the wedding and reception in the same or different places. Make sure that you also have a budget set and stick to it! Be thinking about the style of wedding that you want to have and this will help you in your choices. Picking the venue right away is very important as most places book months and years in advance. Be aware of the peak wedding season or be willing to be flexible on days or times of your event.

Interview florists and tell them your ideas and let them create your vision. Try a few and see which does it best and within your budget. Remember you are the customer. Getting your flower choices chosen in advance is a good idea. Don't forget to include bouquets and corsages. Next meet with bakers and look at their portfolios and check prices. Choosing your cake should be a fun part, because there's a taste test involved. Next you need to line up a DJ for your reception. Have a list of wanted songs ready to pass on. Whether you want a sit down meal or finger food, interview different caterers and see what your options are. Yes, this includes another taste test!

With all the interviewing and choices to be made the easier part is focusing on you. You need to pick a dress that fits the time of year and the venue. Make your choice in enough time in advance to allow for alterations. Choose your shoes and accessories based on the style of your gown. Have an idea for how you want your hair and makeup. Set up trial runs and the appointments for the day of the wedding.

So, while a wedding is not a birthday party it is a party, a celebration; and you know how to do that right? Just think about all that needs to be done and spread out the decisions, you don't need to make them all at one time. You have the skills and experience with the planning you're just changing what the event is!

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Eight Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

If you're still on the fence about whether or not your need to hire a wedding planner, this article I came across may help you decide. It explains the best reasons why hiring a wedding planner may be one of the decisions that you will make for you wedding day.

The article is from Elegala.com and contributed by Luxurious Wedding Etiquette & Protocol Expert, Claudia Lutman.

Eight Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

An etiquette and protocol expert explains why hiring a wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps…

Congratulations! You are engaged and you are elated. Your wedding day is going to be the most important day of your life and you envision everything is going to be perfect.

You want to be involved. You have planned parties that have wowed your friends. You want to take a hands-on approach to the planning of your wedding and the prospect excites you.

Yes, the thought of planning a wedding is very exhilarating. But in reality, it is like solving a Rubik’s Cube. Getting all the pieces to work together and fit together precisely to complete the design is the objective.

It may look like a seamless process but it is not easy. A wedding requires Synergy – the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Much like a movie, a wedding has to be produced, scripted, edited, and directed. As a visual feast for the eyes, a wedding has to have a flow and a tempo. It needs to be as pleasing for your guests as it is for you.

As the star of your movie, can you envision yourself being the central character, producer, editor, director, and run interference for all minor details on your wedding day?

If you are having more than 25 guests, the idea of working with a wedding planner should appeal to you. As the creative director for the most important day of your life, your wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps that could ruin your day.

Reason # 1: A Theme Is More Than A Hodgepodge of Great Ideas

Your ideas are fabulous. But they are only the foundation of your theme. Remember: They are only ideas and pictures ripped out of magazines. Brides have ended up blowing their budget on one item to the detriment of the whole wedding. This is where your wedding planner becomes your magician. Knowing all the tricks and resources, your wedding planner can create a theme that runs through the whole event. They see the whole picture. If budget is a constraint, they will advise you how to economize and still achieve a similar look.

Reason #2: Is Your Budget A Guideline Or A Blueprint For Bankruptcy?

A budget is an essential part of your wedding planning. Even a million-dollar wedding has a budget. A budget will give you perspective and it will center you. It will be a great comfort to you when you want to know where you stand financially. Expenses tend to mount up quickly, and your budget will always give your a realistic assessment. I have witnessed brides being so out of control that they end up randomly buying items that have no rhyme or reason. That money could have been spent elsewhere to make the wedding a better experience for the guests. Being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t fool yourself with a figure knowing you can go over it. You will only be hurting your chances of selecting the best possible vendors. Your wedding planner is your accountant and will believe the budget you give them. They honestly try to work within your parameters. Therefore, decide on a realistic figure so your wedding planner can recommend the vendors who will deliver the best work within your budget.

Reason #3: The Venue Event Manager

When the event manager from your venue tells you they can do your wedding planning, they are not lying. They will do everything under the sun to oversee everything they are responsible for; however, they are not responsible for 90 percent of the details that go into your wedding. Some brides are shocked when things go wrong. They thought their venue person would be on top of things. Not necessarily. If they have several events that day, they can’t be held responsible for letting you know your flowers haven’t arrived or your best man is held up in traffic. Imagine walking into a bald room instead of the floral intensive ballroom you paid for. Your wedding planner is your overseer. Their job is to make sure everything arrives on time and complete. If you have 15 tables, 13 centerpieces just won’t do. They will get the florist to fix it. If the videographer does not show up, they should be able to find a replacement for you. Things happen, but it is your wedding planner’s job to see that things are fixed and end up perfect. Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother.

Reason #4: Timelines And Other Annoying Details

Checklists. Do we know anyone who likes them? And timelines. “Who has time to think of these boring things? I’m getting married!” I recall one bride saying. Actually, you might not be getting married after all if the minister does not show up. Timelines are critical. Timelines are necessary. And timelines keep your wedding planner sane. They thrive on them. You, however, should never be subjected to them. These are the things a bubbling bride should be kept far away from. They will certainly kill the excitement.

Reason #5: Synergy Applies To Vendors Too

There are vendors who work so well together you almost get double your monies worth. Having a vendor with an attitude can affect everyone. Your wedding planner knows these things and will steer you in the right direction. By involving your wedding planner in the selection of vendors from the invitations on, you will be guided down the path of success. After all, synergy is what we are striving for!

Reason #6: What Are The Rules?

Brides need a go-to person for etiquette, wedding-related questions, and to keep the planning timeline moving forward. All brides need a liaison to help keep emotions and relationships from straining during planning. Your wedding planner is a combination of Martha Stewart and Emily Post. Do you really have the time and inclination to research, answer, and solve the problem yourself?

Reason #7:Overtime Charges Accrue Faster Than Champagne Pours

One hour of overtime with a location site or photographer can cost you plenty! Everyone is on the clock and so is your wedding planner. The difference is your wedding planner is on your clock. They keep everything in motion so extra costs are avoided. In the end, your wedding planner is the most cost effective choice you can make.

Wedding planning and the events that lead up to your day will be stressful. You should have one job only. Keeping yourself relaxed and living in the moment. You need time to take in and enjoy this special day. Be with your loved ones. Be happy. Be kind. And mostly, be assured that your wedding is going to be the most fabulous day of your life.

Yes, all weddings have glitches. And yours will, too. But your wedding planner will make sure you never have to deal with or see them. You may never even know anything out of the ordinary happened. And that is the sign that you are a genius at wedding planning. You started out with great ideas, hired a wedding planner to bring them to life, and sat back like a pampered princess on your wedding day accepting all the accolades that you deserve.

Related Wedding Planning Resources

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