Even the smartest, most organized couple can make mistakes during wedding planning. Below are ten things you should keep an eye on before walking down that aisle.
1. Budget, what budget?
If you have started planning your wedding, you know it can cost a lot of money. Many excited brides start booking wedding professionals and making purchases without having a real budget, and then they're shocked to discover they've spent all of their money (or their parents' money) and still don't have half the things they need. If you bounce checks, don't have the money to pay your deposits, or make your final payments past your wedding professionals’ deadlines, your wedding will not happen as you have planned. The flowers won't be delivered, your cake will not be decorated, and the band will not play all night -- unless you don't pay up. Planning a wedding is serious business. Make a budget and keep track of your expenses.
2. Wedding gown/bridesmaid dresses ordered too late.
If you are not going to buy your gown “off the rack,” then you need to place your gown order six to eight months prior to your wedding. Most gowns are made to order. If you wait too long before your wedding date to make your selection, you may risk the gown not arriving on time. Bridesmaid dresses should also be decided upon during the same time period, but only after your gown has been selected. You want to make sure your ladies have enough time to get measured and find accessories.
3. Not hiring wedding professionals.
Seriously. Would you have a friend fix a plumbing problem? Of course not. You would want a professional plumber to come in and do the job right. Same goes for your wedding. You want professionals who do this for a living – photographers, videographers, florists, wedding coordinators, etc. They have the experience and skills to help you have the wedding of your dreams. Don’t risk your friendships by depending upon them to do a professional’s job. There are wedding professionals that fit every style and budget. Rely on them to keep you stress-free.
4. Marriage license application woes.
Since every state has their own set of policies for marriage licenses, brides are bound to make mistakes. Be sure to investigate time restrictions well in advance of your wedding date. Get your license 31 days before in some states -- and you won't be able to legally marry on your wedding day because it may be valid for only 30 days. Go for your license the day before your wedding and you may not get it in time, because some states have a 48-hour waiting period. Another common mess-up if you're remarrying: not having official divorce papers in time to get the certificate. Be sure to check your state’s marriage laws.
5. Out-of-town guests have a room?
Brides often leave blocking out hotel rooms for out-of-town guests until the last minute. If you're marrying in a city (particularly one where conventions take place) or in a resort town and you don't investigate hotel availability in advance, you can literally end up with not a single room for any of your guests to stay in. Your wedding might go on -- but no one will be able attend. Reserve a room block as early as possible, up to a year in advance, in some cases.
6. Inviting too many guests.
Make sure your guest list and your reception site match numbers-wise. You can't invite 400 people assuming only 250 will RSVP with a yes (because your “must-have” reception site can only hold 250). What if 300 happen to say yes, you may have to turn 50 away at the door. Some sites may not be able to add several more tables, as fire laws limit the maximum number of people in any room at one time. To avoid this, assume 80% will respond "yes" and limit your guest list accordingly.
7. Beauty treatments scheduled too late.
Many brides think that scheduling chemical peels the week before their weddings will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Others think having their teeth bleached within days of their weddings will leave those pearly whites sparkling. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Remember that scene in “The Wedding Planner?” You may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes, or -- even worse -- serious infections. Start a long-term beauty regimen months before the big day and save the heavy-duty beauty treatments (i.e. chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, extracting facials, deep-tanning sessions, teeth whitening, and so on) for at least two weeks before the big day, or you could risk ruining all the hard work you've done to make your wedding -- and photos - perfect. (Never mind putting your health and happiness at risk for the most important day of your life.)
8. Invitations – didn’t put enough postage on the envelopes?
You'd be surprised how many brides just stick a 45-cent stamp on their invites and drop them in the mailbox. All but a few wedding invitations require additional postage. The postal service will not take pity on you -- your invites will be returned (and rubber-stamped with that ugly "insufficient postage" message) -- and it will take at least two weeks (never mind the additional $$) to get them back out the door. Always take a complete invitation to the post office to be weighed before purchasing all your stamps.
9. Ignoring religious restrictions.
Think your rabbi didn't mean it when he said you needed to cover your arms in the temple? Guess again. If you plan on marrying in a church, synagogue, etc., you need to abide by their rules. Wearing inappropriate attire or not completing pre-wedding requirements could be grounds for your Officiant to stop your wedding before it begins. As soon as you get engaged, be sure to contact your house of worship to find out about any potential issues. Some houses of worship won't let you marry on certain holy days; make sure to check your wedding date with your Officiant before putting down any deposits for your reception site or wedding professionals.
10. Rain or shine? Don’t ignore weather warnings.
Brides marrying outdoors often test fate and just wish for the best when it comes to bad weather. Always have a backup plan, or else you may not have a place to marry at all -- or your guests (and you) may be in misery at the hands of Mother Nature. Temperatures normally around the balmy 70-degree mark may unexpectedly turn into a boiling 100-degree debacle – have fans available for guests and it wouldn’t hurt to have bottles of water, too. A hurricane, flashflood, or gale force winds may visit on your wedding day; make sure you have an interior alternative or a tent as a back-up location.
