Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning Your Dream Wedding

No one said planning a wedding would be stress-free. There are, of course, certain elements you won’t have control over, such as a rain out or canceled flights preventing guests from attending your special day. These things happen.

But there a few common pitfalls you can learn about and look to avoid ahead of your nuptials that will hopefully make for a less stressful affair. Here are some of the more common wedding-planning mistakes and how to avoid them.

Obtaining a Marriage License

Obtaining a marriage license and, subsequently, a marriage certificate is a multi-step process, one that may not spell as much fun as, say, cake tasting. Because of this, couples often move this to-do item to the bottom of their list, which you may want to avoid. That’s because each state has its own set of rules regarding obtaining a marriage license.

For instance, waiting periods for issuing the wedding certificate differs depending on where you’re planning to wed. Each of the Hawaiian islands do not have a waiting period, whereas Wisconsin has a five-day required wait time. Additionally, be mindful about getting your marriage license too early, because it can expire, and each state has a different standard for this as well. Typically, your marriage license expires 30 days after it’s issued, but you can always apply for a new one if it does expire.

Solution: Search online for marriage laws for different states to get a better understanding of what you need to do to obtain a marriage license. Then, make sure you plan your trip to the courthouse with these rules and regulations in mind.

Not Being on the Same Page with Your Photographer

There’s something to be said for not micromanaging the professionals you’ve hired for your wedding. But when it comes to your photographer, you need to be specific about how he or she plans to capture the ceremony and reception; after all, these photos will provide memories for a lifetime.

Beyond being on the same page with your photographer, know that hiring one or more of these professionals will be one of the more costly expenses of your wedding — and you certainly don’t want to leave it up to chance about whether you hired the right professional.

Solution: Be open and honest from the start with your photographer about how you want your photos to look and feel. That means discussing specific filters, a particular style of shooting and what you like and don’t like from shots in their portfolio.

Not Booking a Big Enough Space

Maybe you’ve heard the common but misguided tip that you can expect at least 10 percent of your guest list to RSVP “no”. But before you book a place with too little space to accommodate everyone on your guest list, remember that no one can truly predict how many guests will make it and how many will decline. Not to mention, if you underestimate the number of attendees, you could be looking at blowing your budget and your guests’ experience.

Solution: Some venues will stretch the capacity to appear more attractive to prospective couples. So, work with your wedding planner to find out the exact number of people a venue can hold, then reduce that by at least 10 percent to find your ideal number for your wedding guest list. This keeps your celebration away from maximum capacity and leaves your guests with plenty of room to dance and enjoy themselves comfortably.

Overlooking the Little Things

You may have the perfect “something borrowed, something blue” for your wedding, but that’s only a small part of a bride’s overall appearance on her special day. Finer detail items such as hair and makeup and wedding lingerie can sometimes get overlooked by brides as their wedding day approaches.

How many brides have gone to their final dress fitting, only to realize all they have is grungy undies or a workout bra to sport under their glamorous gown? More than you might imagine. The truth is: the smaller, detailed items — like having the perfect lingerie for your wedding day — can play a huge role in how you feel on your special day.

Solution: Don’t fret if your celebration is fast approaching and you still need some bridal lingerie. Visit the websites of some of your favorite lingerie and womenswear retailers and take your pick from their wide selections. You’ll also want to expedite the shipping to have the perfect set in time for your wedding day.

Don’t Go it Alone

Planning a wedding is a lot of work, and the reason so many brides tend to get frazzled and overwhelmed is because they don’t seek out help for organizing and securing some of the finer details when offered. Don’t be that bride. Instead, use all the resources you have at your disposal, including your wedding planner, partner and family members, to help you map out the wedding of your dreams and avoid these and other common pitfalls.