Wedding Planning Mistakes: How to Avoid Them
With over 5 years experience planning weddings in the Austin area, we have seen it all. Here are some common Wedding Planning Mistakes and our tips on how you can avoid them!
Assuming a certain percentage of guests will not attend
Every guest list is different and you can’t assume a percentage of guests will or will not attend. It doesn’t matter if all of your guests live nearby or if you’re having a destination wedding. Even if you aren’t as close as you used to be, and you’re just inviting them for the formality, there is no guarantee to know how many guests will attend your wedding. One of the biggest wedding planning mistakes we see are couples assuming a certain number of guests will say no, and then having more attendees than planned for. This can lead to going over budget, or going above the legal venue capacity. You should always plan for every guest to RSVP yes.
This means if your venue capacity is 250 you should not invite more than 250. You need room for a dance floor, parking, etc. You don’t want to fill your venue to the max not only because of safety concerns but guests will be crowded and not happy. And guess what then they’re going to gossip about how your venue was so crammed, the dance floor was so small, etc. that’s not how you want your wedding to be remembered.
So rule of thumb: do not invite more guests than your wedding can hold or your budget can allow.
Not having an adverse weather plan
We’re not talking about just a rain plan! Another common wedding planning mistake is not having a plan for adverse weather, or only planning for one kind of poor weather. Depending on where your venue is, you should have a plan for excess wind, heat, rain, or cold. Lucky for you, this is included in all of our packages! During your Final Walkthrough, we’ll chat through all the possibilities and create a solid plan that you and your boo still absolutely love, like the stunning rain plan pictures below 😉
Including traditions that are not meaningful to you
It is your wedding day, do what you want to do! Just because your TikTok FYP is full of past brides telling you that you need to do a first look, doesn’t mean you have to. If something doesn’t feel right for you and your partner, skip out on it. Maybe do a first touch instead, and save the reveal for the aisle. Or skip a pre-ceremony moment all together! You’ll be able to enjoy the day so much more if it’s full of all the things you want to do. Don’t worry about pleasing everyone else. We also love seeing couples try out new and fun traditions that are special to their relationship!
Not considering what time the sun will set
When creating your timeline and booking your vendors, the most important detail is what time the sunsets. Once the day light is gone pictures outdoors become difficult. We recommend scheduling your ceremony for at least 1 – 1.5 hours before the sunsets so you still have daylight for photos after the ceremony. Of course, if you’re planning an after-dark ceremony, you won’t have to worry about this 😉
Going “venue broke”
We also see couples make the wedding planning mistake of going “venue broke.” This means that before creating their budget, a couple books their venue. Then, when evaluating their overall budget, they realize there is not enough funds left to produce the rest of the event. We highly recommend creating your budget before booking any vendors, to make sure you allocate enough money for all the necessary vendors. Vendors might include catering, photo/video, wedding planner, hair and makeup, rentals, and more.
Not setting a realistic budget for your vision
A similar wedding planning mistake to going venue broke, is not setting a realistic budget. Most commonly known as champagne taste on a beer budget. When creating your budget, it is very important to be realistic with what you want, and what you can afford. For example, if your ideal floral budget is less than $5,000, but you have 250 guests and want lush, floral centerpieces for all the guest tables as well as a floral heavy ceremony arch – your budget most likely doesn’t match your vision. Not sure how to create a budget? Inquire here and let us do the work for you! We break down every category for you based on your needs and wishes, making sure you have enough money allocated for the things that matter most to you, and saving where possible.
Using friends for services instead of hiring professionals
You might have some talented friends, and that is great! However, we do not recommend hiring your friends to work your wedding. First and foremost, if they are not a professional wedding vendor, you should absolutely not consider hiring them. Many venues require vendors to be insured professionals to avoid extra risk. That being said, weddings are unique events, different from anything else! There are so many first time, fleeting moments that need to be executed and captured on a wedding day, and it is not worth the risk to have someone unexperienced in charge of those moments. You will only have this wedding day once – do not make the mistake of hiring someone you’ll regret! Additionally, hiring your friends or family members can lead to an extra layer of stickiness if things start to go wrong. Couples often find it difficult to be transparent about tough topics, like budget for example, with people they know personally. It can be hard to tell your friend that you are unhappy with something they are providing, or not providing. Hiring a vendor you don’t know makes it much easier to remain professional and unattached – no worrying about hurting feelings here!
Also, if this person is your friend or family member, odds are they want to celebrate with you. They cannot be a vendor and a guest at the same time. Let them enjoy themselves and spend the day with you and your new spouse, without being at work. Your vendors will take care of fluffing your dress, adjusting your place settings, and making your day perfect. Not convinced? Read more about why you shouldn’t designate a friend or family member as a vendor here.
Not thoroughly reviewing vendor contracts
Before signing a contract, you should be reading it thoroughly. A very unfortunate wedding planning mistake is not knowing all the details of what you are agreeing to. You should take note of cancellation policies, due dates or deadlines, payment schedules, and more.
Forgetting to have a clean-up plan
At the end of the night, everything must go! Do not fall into this common wedding planning mistake. First things first, know your venue’s policy. Can you leave items overnight? What time do vendors need to be cleared out by? Does your caterer send left over food and alcohol home with you? Assuming nothing can stay on the property, make sure you have designated people to be responsible for taking home your personal belongings. This might include your gifts and cards, guest book, or even any extra clothes you might have at the venue from earlier in the day. We recommend assigning
Not hiring Bianca Nichole and Co
Worried about making accidental wedding planning mistakes? We’ve got your back. From suggesting top tier vendors, to reviewing contracts, creating weather plans, layouts and more, we won’t let anything slip through the cracks!
Need help avoiding these common wedding planning mistakes? Click here to send us an inquiry!
Bianca Nichole and Co is a team of wedding planners in Austin, and will travel to San Antonio, Fredericksburg and the surrounding Texas Hill Country area.
