Category: Wedding Planning

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Say yes to these rules and stay away from wedding planning stress

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Planning a wedding is no easy feat. Gone are the days when the options were limited, and you had to only choose from one or two choices and be done with it. With a plethora of options in wedding dresses, venues, wedding styles, flowers, caterers, invitations and more, brides can easily find themselves stressing out over the wedding planning. So, we thought we’d bring you this set of rules to follow and stay sane during this intensely stressful time. Read on and be prepared to handle it right

#Rule 1

I will stick to the budget, no matter what

Yes, it can be tempting to throw in an extra stash of dollars to get that designer dress, or go with the florist’s recommendation to add those imported delicate flowers to the bouquet and make it just “perfect.” Just remember that “perfect” is how you define it. You can have a perfect wedding even on a shoestring budget if you are content with what you choose. So, stick to what you can afford and don’t splurge. Decide that whatever you find within budget is good enough, and it will be just that.

#Rule 2

I won’t listen to others for the sake of making them happy

Your friend who has started her own baking venture may want to do your wedding cake, or your cousin may have requested to be your wedding photographer. It is also likely that you have friends or relatives who suggest that you do the wedding like they suggest. Keep your cool, and go with what they suggest only if you are convinced it is worthwhile. Unless your friends or relatives are professionals who have worked at weddings previously, don’t take on their offer for fear of offending them. If someone tries to force their preferences on you for your wedding, say you’ll think over it, but stick to your decisions. If these people genuinely care about you, they will understand, no matter what you decide.

#Rule 3

I will not stress over perfection

Everyone wants the best, but when you begin to obsess over it, you lose all the fun of wedding planning. So, don’t be worried if you can’t find the perfect colors for your wedding décor, or if you have to settle for plans that are not exactly as you anticipated. Be flexible with your plans and keep your expectations realistic, you will find wedding planning a lot more relaxing.

#Rule 4

I will be happy with how I look on my wedding day

So, you wanted to shed several pounds before your wedding, or had decided to get a few facials but couldn’t find time. Remember that you will be beautiful, no matter what. You may not even remember this plan to shed weight, when you think back over your wedding years later. So, don’t obsess over what you couldn’t do. Instead, go forward with optimism and you will enjoy your wedding day as you ought to.

What is important today may seem irrelevant tomorrow. So don’t dwell on what could have been, or whether it would be better if done differently. Just go with the flow, relax and enjoy things as they happen.. All that matters is that you have a great engagement and exciting wedding.

To help you with your wedding shopping needs or for more wedding related tips and advice, keep visiting us at Best for Bride.

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Have realistic expectations from your wedding planner: 3 things she cannot help you fix

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Do you think that you can hand over the A to Z of your wedding planning to your wedding planner, and sit back and relax till the wedding day? If so, you are in trouble.

While a wedding planner can help you with the planning process, and even reduce the stress associated with the task, she isn’t going to be responsible for everything. After all, it is your wedding, and you should have a role in planning it. A wedding planner can only facilitate your plans and execute them smoothly.

Check out this article on the Huffington Post , where wedding planners share their thoughts on what they wish brides would realize. This will open your eyes to the fact that wedding planners have limitations, and it will be better for both parties if you set reasonable expectations from her.

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Having said this, let us come to the three most important things that you are responsible for. Make a mental note of these, do your research and planning on time, and you will make your life (and hers) much easier.

  1. Planning your guest list accurately

The guest list is your decision to make. Unless your wedding planner knows you personally, it is unlikely that she can help you with who should be dropped, or who should be added to your guest list. You should be decisive about the number of people attending, and she will do the bookings and planning for them. While your planner may be able to accommodate a few last-minute changes to plan, she is not a magician who can make arrangements for 50 extra guests, who simply turned up on the day. Similarly, make sure you get those RSVPs on time, and follow up with those who don’t send it. Or else, you will simply lose money on those extra bookings you made, just in case. Your wedding planner cannot do anything about guests not turning up.

  1. Making sure your bridesmaids are where they are and when they should be

While your wedding planner can create a well planned schedule for the day, help to speed things along and fix last-minute hassles, there is no guarantee that she can have your girls ready and in-place, unless they make the effort to do so. So, entrust this task to your maid of honor, and choose your bridesmaids wisely. Make sure they are girls who will be serious with their responsibility of getting their hair and make-up done on time.

  1. Sticking to deadlines

Your wedding planner will put you in touch with the right vendors, caterers, photographers and all other services you require. They will offer options, and also suggest deals with the best value for the money you spend. However, they cannot make your decisions for you. Many wedding tasks are time-sensitive, and unless you inform her of your final decision on time, you run the risk of losing a booking or missing an offer.

Remember that your wedding planner can only help you so much. Have realistic expectations, and follow her instructions. This way, you will be a great client, and she will ensure that your wedding plans progress in the best way that is possible. For more wedding planning tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.

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Crafting Your Dream Day: Essential Questions to Ask Your Wedding Planner!

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Wedding planners are an additional cost to your wedding budget, but when you choose the right person, your wedding will be a breeze. Most of your success depends on how capable the candidate is and also on how well you gel with your wedding planner.

A wedding planner may be professional and experienced, but you will not be satisfied if they do not get your ideas. After all, it is your wedding, and not theirs. So first off, remember this. Don’t hire anyone who

  • is bossy or busy
  • dismisses your ideas or is skeptical about implementing them
  • doesn’t agree to signing a contract and
  • just doesn’t understand you

Before hiring a wedding planner, you should conduct an interview with her. This may be face-to-face or over-the-phone. Here is what you should ask at this interview, and the answers will determine whether you have the right candidate for the job.

Are you available on my wedding day?

There is no point in pursuing the discussion if the planner has another wedding lined up on your wedding day. If your wedding date is not yet confirmed and you really like the person you are talking to, consider fixing your wedding on a day when she is available.

What services do you offer?

Does she work only with a recommended list of vendors, or is she open to interviewing and assisting you with other vendors? Can she design your wedding, plan the ideas and be in charge of everything from sending out invitations to decorating the venue, or will she only assist you while you find and book vendors? Will she handle any booking issues herself? How often will you communicate, and how many meetings can you expect?

If the scope of her services are limited, consider whether you can tackle what is left yourself. If so, this shouldn’t be a problem. Also ask about the team. How many staff members will be on-site on day and how many other weddings they will be working on simultaneously.

How many weddings have you planned already?

The last thing you want to do is to entrust the task to an inexperienced planner. Ask her how long she’s been in business, and obtain references. A good wedding planner will direct you to a number of satisfied clients.

Share your vision for the wedding with her and ask what she can contribute to make it better.

What if there is an emergency?

Ask her how the team tackles emergencies like bad weather or other wedding disasters. If you anticipate a likely problem, ask her how she would prepare. Another big challenge is adhering to budget, how can she ensure this? You should also ask for backup plans, should something unforeseen occur and she cannot personally handle your wedding.

And finally, the fees

Don’t feel shy to ask what her charges are, including all overheads and extras. This will confirm whether the charges are within your means. If your planner will handle vendor payments, ask how this will be done. Will you be paying your planner a lumpsum, or will you have to write out checks to each vendor as and when required?

Once you have all this information, you should have a fair idea of whether this wedding planner is right for your wedding. If not, keep looking.

For more wedding advice and tips, as well as your wedding shopping needs, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Wedding planning: 5 Mistakes you can avoid

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You are bound to make mistakes when you attempt something for the first time. Your wedding is no exception. With so many details to look into, it is easy to make a few errors along the way. The sad part is, some mistakes can cost you dearly.

Here is a roundup of the common mistakes many brides make, and what you can do to avoid them at your wedding.

Doing it all yourself

You certainly want your wedding to be perfect in every way, but is it worth burning yourself out by doing every task yourself? Many brides find themselves dreading their wedding day, as they are overwhelmed with the number of things they have to tackle.

Instead of worrying yourself to death, it is best that you realize some things can be done better if you delegate them. Save your energy for important tasks like choosing the wedding dress, vendors and planning the dates. The sub-tasks can be handled by capable friends or assistants. Curb the temptation to micromanage, and leave out details that aren’t extremely important. You will enjoy your planning your wedding this way.

Blowing your wedding dress budget

via Best for Bride

When brides budget for their wedding dress, they should set aside a particular amount for the dress itself and distribute the rest for accessories and alterations. Do not exceed the wedding dress amount, by looking only at those that fit your budget. If you go over-budget with your dress, you will have to compensate by cutting down on accessories like shoes or jewelry, as you cannot skimp on alterations if you want to look perfect.

Not figuring in additional costs

You have planned your wedding budget, and you intend to stick to it when ordering things and booking vendors. However, have you figured in the overhead costs as well? There are additional charges for cleaning up, taxes and tips. Make sure you incorporate these into the budget and that your bookings are all within the limit. This can prevent you from receiving a shocking bill in the end.

Being fixated on a specific idea

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This applies to your wedding dress, flower arrangements, wedding venue, décor, bridesmaids dress and all the other aspects of your wedding. If you are too particular about your choices, it is likely that you will be disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as intended. Keep yourself open to ideas and you may even be pleasantly surprised with what you find. When you go with your bridal consultant’s advice, you may discover a better wedding dress than you ever imagined; allow your florist to choose the flowers for your bouquet and you may receive a stunning but affordable one that complements your wedding theme.

Hiring family or friends who aren’t professionals

Unless your cousin is a professional photographer, or your aunt is used to baking wedding cakes, don’t hand the task over to them just because they asked for it. Whether you will be paying in full for their service or not, you will risk things going wrong on your wedding day by entrusting it to someone who isn’t capable of handling it on the required scale. Your wedding is not the occasion to take such risks, and you will be better off with a vendor who knows what they are doing, even if they charge more.

For more wedding related tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.