Planning a wedding is such an exciting time, and the overwhelm can quickly follow. A lot of couples start out with the best intentions, thinking they can fix things later once they know more, or know how the puzzle pieces fit together. The thing is – we wedding planners have been down this road many, many times and we can help. When it was our first wedding (or our own wedding) we were in your shoes learning our own versions of these lessons. Here are some of the patterns we see when couples dive into planning before bringing us on board and how to avoid these (super common) wedding planning mistakes!
Overlooking the Logistics
One of the first mistakes couples make is not thinking through the logistics when they begin hiring vendors. This can lead to contracts being signed with incorrect timings, which can be tricky to fix later. For example, couples may book a DJ for the wrong time slot or schedule hair and makeup too late in the day. These timing issues can cause stress and delays on the wedding day.
When planning your timeline, it’s essential to consider the flow of events and ensure that each vendor’s schedule aligns with your needs. A wedding planner can help create a cohesive timeline to avoid these timing mishaps.
Sending Invitations Too Early
Another common mistake is sending out wedding invitations sooner than 8-10 weeks out. While it may seem like a good idea to give guests plenty of time to RSVP, doing so can actually lead to lots of back and forth, maybes, and drop-outs. When invitations are sent too far in advance, you’re more likely to have numerous cancellations between the RSVP deadline and the wedding day.
What does this mean? You have to continually update your guest list and inform your vendors of the changes. Sending invitations at the right time—the sweet spot for domestic is six to eight weeks before the wedding—can help ensure a more accurate guest count and a smoother planning process.
Overspending on the Venue
Couples often fall in love with a beautiful, grand venue and assume that it won’t need much additional décor. While it’s true that a stunning venue can set the stage for your event, it’s important to remember that even the most beautiful spaces still need thoughtful decoration and design.
Relying too heavily on the venue’s natural beauty can leave the overall atmosphere feeling flat. To create a memorable guest experience, you’ll still need elements like wedding floral arrangements, signage, and personal touches to bring your vision to life. Avoid overspending on the venue itself and budget for key décor elements that will elevate the space.
Choosing Vendors Based on Personal Connection Alone
Many of our best or worst wedding stories hinge on vendors’ performance come wedding day. When the wedding days run smoothly and beautifully it’s because of the team coming together and everyone doing their individual job. And conversely, one of the days that was the craziest was because of a disorganized caterer. And this caterer was selected because the client “vibed” with them and really felt like they could trust them. Unfortunately, I was not in the loop yet – and with past experience with this vendor, I would have advised against booking this team. The encouragement: this couple had no idea of most of the behind the scenes because of a few key vendors that were able to really collaborate to make the day a success – and leave the disorganization behind the scenes. But it DID mean that I was less able to give the high touch concierge experience to my clients like I usually do.
Building a personal connection with your vendors is super important, but it’s not the only thing to consider when choosing them. Sometimes, couples feel a great vibe with a vendor and focus on that, but later realize the final product or service didn’t quite live up to expectations. It’s really important to dig a little deeper—look at their portfolio, see how professional they are, and make sure they can actually deliver on what you need. Asking for references is totally kosher. A good planner can help you find vendors who not only “click” with you, but also have the talent and experience to make your wedding truly unforgettable.
Underestimating the Complexity of Their Wedding
Couples sometimes convince themselves that their wedding will be simple—only to realize later that the logistics are far more complicated than expected. You may think your wedding is straightforward, but when you add in multiple locations, eight bridesmaids, or other moving pieces, the planning can quickly become overwhelming.
Even seemingly small weddings can have hidden logistical challenges. A wedding planner can help you assess the true scope of your event and guide you through managing these complexities with ease.
What you can do to avoid these mistakes
You already know that planning a wedding has lots of moving parts and you may not have the budget for a full wedding planner.
- Consider logistics from the feet up: before you book anything, take the time to map out the timing. Ask your venue and vendors for some parameters on timing: for instance, 40 minutes for each slot for hair and makeup, or how much time you’ll actually need for transit.
- Ask for photos of your venue: I think you’ll find the best photos may have more design and decor than you initially thought you needed. Or, use canva to mock up the space. Not sure what this means? Keep reading
- Our workbook might help: This step by step planning guide puts all of our best resources into an approachable workbook for couples. Buy on amazon.
- The Wedding Planning Playbook: We’d love to see you inside our group program where we get to know you so we can simplify wedding planning, and workshop all of these ideas together.
