Here a few trends I've seen that I think would help things to run a little more smoothly on your wedding day
A wedding day is made up of so many different moments. Leading up to the big day is so much planning, money saving, decoration buying.... hard conversations with family and friends even? I'm not sure why, but once you start planning a wedding friends and families start having opinions about so many things. It's so hard not to let their opinions get in your head, and even change your way of thinking about things you've felt so strongly about. I've said this before, and I"ll say it again - the wedding day is for the bride and groom. Not mom. Not Aunt Marie. Not your younger sister. For the BRIDE AND GROOM.
So after the planning, and ironing out all the details, how can you make sure it all runs according to plan? Well first of all, you make sure you've hired a day of coordinator, which I've mentioned in a previous blog. https://www.theburchontwenty-seven.com/post/why-you-need-a-day-of-coordinator But, other things can be done through wedding planning. I've noticed a few trends when talking to couples in our planning sessions, and I think sharing these might help eliminate some of the potential "fires."
First, it's very important to put a deadline on your RSVP. Open-ended due dates don't work for projects at school or work, they definitely won't work for one the most special days of your life. Gathering a guest count allows you to plan for food (and trust me, you do not want to pay for more food than you have to), helps you to plan for how much alcohol to provide, and helps your venue owner to know how many tables and chairs to provide. You also need to know the total number of tables for centerpieces...all of this depends on how many people are coming to your wedding. Add a due date to your RSVP and cut-off the ability to respond. Maybe add an automated message for those that try to response after the RSVP deadline like "We've finalized our guestlist based on the RSVP deadline. I am so sorry that we will miss you at our wedding, but we hope to see you at future events."
Lock in those vendors! Catering can be the most expensive vendor next to the venue, sometimes even more expensive! Food is one the "main" things people look forward to when attending a wedding - you'd hate for your caterer of choice to be booked up just because you procrastinated. A photographer would be next in my opinion - capture those moments. Photographers have so many different styles and vibes....they book up fast just like caterers, so do your research and get them locked in. Then you have music, officiant, wedding cake and THE DRESS!!! None of those are in any particular order - all vendors are important so do your research, make a short list and get to calling!
Another VERY important thing to gather once you've had some conversations with your photographer is a Shot List and Timeline. After the ceremony is over, you won't believe how fast your family and wedding party will scatter. You can't get those family pictures if Aunt Sally has run to cocktail hour to see her cousin whom she hasn't seen in 3 years. But...if you have a shot list, and Aunt Sally knows she has to be in pictures after the ceremony, your day of coordinator and photographers will keep everyone contained (as much as they can anyway.) I've learned that people are slippery, so the more prepared you are, and the more you prepare those required in pictures, the better off you'll be and the sooner you can get those post-ceremony pictures knocked out. Then...you can join your guests for the party!
Let your vendors do their job. I see so many brides that want to make their own timelines, which I agree that they need a final say, however, leave it to the professionals. For example, the timelines for the day should be provided by your day of coordinator and photographer. So many things go into creating a timeline - like how many times you are moving guests from one space to another. How long is the photographer contracted for? When does the music stop? It would stink to schedule your send-off after the photographer has left. A wedding is a day full of events, which usually depend on other things that happen first. Let your day of coordinator and photographer handle the timelines - I promise, they have you as the center of their focus.
Lean on your venue owner to guide you regarding the arrival times of vendors. He/she is the one is knows the property the most, and the logistics of the wedding. If you have a ceremony time at 5 pm and the caterer arrives at 5 pm....is there a risk of interruption of the ceremony from the chaos of the caterer unloading their vans? Now, sometimes arrival times can't be helped, or maybe there is a limitation regarding a vendor contract...I get that. I'm just staying, if your venue owner has some suggestions, it's probably for a reason based on experience and other mistakes that have been made along the way.
Until next time...
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