10 Common Wedding Planning Mistakes

“We all know the saying ‘don’t sweat the small stuff.’ Remember that the reason for a wedding is to celebrate the union of you and your new spouse — not to pull off a perfect party for your wedding guests.

Everyday thousands of couples say “I do,” which means there are a lot of people who’ve made mistakes while planning their wedding before you.

Couples who’ve walked down the aisle are the perfect resource to ask for advice on wedding do’s and don’ts.

We’ve compiled a list of 10 common wedding planning mistakes so you can avoid them — and not have to find out the hard way.

Prepare for inclement weather.

This is a no-brainer, and we’re sure you’ve heard this a lot.

For couples planning an outdoor wedding — even in the summer or a tropical place — things can happen. You never know when Mother Nature will whip up a wind storm or a quick deluge of rain. Always prepare for a Plan B in case you need to bring in your guests for your ceremony and reception — even if just temporarily.

You’ll also want to shield your guests from the beating sun in case it gets too hot. You can provide Parasols, rent a tent or ask your guests to wear comfortable clothes. The last thing you want is someone fainting while you and your future spouse are saying “I do.”

“Believe it or not, there are laws regarding when you can apply for a license before your wedding date and they vary depending on where you live.”

Have a realistic budget & be prepared for unexpected wedding costs.

Wedding costs can add up quickly, and there are lot of unforeseen bills that can potentially pop up.

We suggest having an estimate of what you can afford, and then making some room for unexpected costs.

Start with booking big items first — like your venue — and then calculate what’s leftover of your budget before moving on to smaller items on your checklist. Adjust your “wants” and “wishes” as necessary.

We’ve heard from past brides and grooms who say it’s the small things that typically add up to one big bill over time.

Saying “no” to a videographer.

One of the biggest regrets that couples have is not hiring a videographer for their wedding day.

The majority of couples will set aside money for a photographer, but then skip out on hiring someone to capture their wedding on video. Maybe it’s for financial reasons or they simply don’t think it’s necessary.

However, couples who regret not hiring a videographer say they wish they could relive their wedding through audio and video, especially because the day goes by so quickly.

It’s also important to note that a professional videographer is much different than hiring an amateur videographer or relying on your guests to capture your wedding on their cell phones.

Professional videographers have equipment that will capture video and audio that cell phones simply aren’t capable of doing.

“We’ve heard nightmare stories from couples who thought their cousin — the amateur photographer — or their aunt — the wanna-be-baker — could handle taking on an event the size and scope of a wedding.”

Stressing out.

We all know the saying “don’t sweat the small stuff.” That statement is especially true on your wedding day.

Many brides who are detail-oriented normally envision a perfect wedding day. But our advice is to try to be as realistic as possible, and expect that no wedding will be flawless.

Remember that the reason for a wedding is to celebrate the union of you and your new spouse — not to pull off a perfect party for your wedding guests.

Sending invitations too early.

We get it. You’re excited to tie the knot, and you want to connect with your guests. But there is such a thing as sending out your invitations too early. We talk about the reasons why it could do more harm to your wedding planning than help you in this blog.

Failing to go over your timeline.

One reason for hiring a wedding planner is to help you create a wedding timeline.

If you don’t have one, you’ll have to create your timeline on your own (or you can hire us to help you).

Whether you have a wedding planner or not, make sure to go through your wedding timeline with a fine tooth comb, including when you’ll need to get your hair and make up done, arrive at your venue and when your photographer should begin taking pictures.

You’ll also want to share these logistics with your wedding party so that you can maximize the time at your wedding. They should know when to gather for pictures so you don’t have to hunt them down or how long their speeches should be so they’re not cutting into the meal service, dancing or someone else’s speech time.

Forgetting to research marriage license laws.

Believe it or not, there are laws regarding when you can apply for a license before your wedding date and they vary depending on where you live. You’ll want to look up your county’s marriage license laws in your county, including when you need to send in the paperwork after you tie the knot.

Hiring friends or going solo instead of hiring professionals.

Sometimes finances can prevent us from hiring professionals to help with catering, photography, videography and so on. But if you can, try to hire as many wedding vendors as possible for your wedding day. We’ve heard nightmare stories from couples who thought their cousin — the amateur photographer — or their aunt — the wanna-be-baker — could handle taking on an event the size and scope of a wedding.

Not providing a meal to your vendors.

Always, always, always feed your vendors. It’s not only a “thank you'“ for their hard work, but they also deserve it after being on their feet all day. By giving your vendors a break and a nice meal (preferably, what you’re feeding your wedding guests), it will give them more energy and motivation to work even harder for you on your special day.

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.