Wedding Planning Do's and Don'ts

Always, Forever

As we enter wedding season these are some of the do's and don'ts to plan your special day. The key to a successful event is preparation. From the guest list to figuring out what color scheme will work for the colors of the bridesmaid dresses, there is a lot of work involved in organizing a wedding. Be sure you're following all these tips to avoid wedding disaster!

As we enter wedding season, these are some of the do's and don'ts to plan your special day. The key to a successful event is preparation. From the guest list to figuring out what color scheme will work for the colors of the bridesmaid dresses, guest comfort, and of course, contingencies to account for unforeseen events. There is a lot of work involved in organizing a wedding, but we've got you covered with some tips to avoid a wedding disaster!

--- Do's ----

Plan B(s)...

Have a backup plan if your ceremony is outside. If it rains, be prepared with an indoor space for the ceremony. Doing a site visit with your event planner at the same time as your ceremony will give you a feel for what you may need, and it's always a great idea to keep an eye on the weather leading up to the big day.

Evenly Yoked...

Get to know our officiant ahead of time. Make sure their values align with yours and that they're open to personalizing the ceremony in any way you'd like.

What's Old Is New Again...

Outline traditions in your program, and don't hesitate to share why they are important. It may even be good to ask your officiant to give the guests cues when a custom is about to begin or transition.

Be sure to include the order of events and any critical details guests should know about.

Seats Aplenty...

Offer comfortable seating. The more comfortable your guests are, the more likely they will focus on and enjoy your ceremony, setting the tone for the rest of the event. From form to function, ask your event planner about your guest's best possible seating arrangements.

Don't forget to give them plenty of leg and elbow room. Even if guests are asked to stand for the ceremony, provide them with chairs for the reception.

Tempus Fugit...

Add extra time cushions in your planning. Things don't always run smoothly from start to finish but try to minimize stress by adding time into your schedule for unplanned events or delays throughout the day.

From getting ready to travel time, many prewedding tasks can be a time sink and put you behind schedule, starting your ceremony late and agitating your guests. Beauty cannot be rushed! Typically, hair and makeup can take about 45 minutes each, so allocate two and a half (or even three) hours.

It may be a good idea to add 15-30 min all of your planner's time blocked scheduled tasks. Any extra time can be used for photos!

--- Don'ts ----

No Filler...

It's ok to have your program lean and mean. There's never any need to pen a novel! Sticking to the basics, like the names of your wedding party members, the order of events, and traditions. It's perfectly ok to keep all special thoughts, thank you's, and acknowledgments to toasts and thank you notes,

Also, keep in mind that some of today's wedding ceremonies don't have programs. Many forego programs for one large sign (like a chalkboard) at the entrance with all the ceremony info.

Come A Little Bit Closer...

Don't pick a spot that's extremely far away from your reception location; not only will you inconvenience guests who want to leave early or are traveling from far away, but you'll also add additional stress and costs by trying to rush from the ceremony spot to the reception venue on time.

If you have your heart set on a particular venue far from the ceremony, it would be a great idea to provide transportation for your wedding guest. Keep your guest entertained on the trip over with upbeat playlists and refreshments to take their mind off the travel time and allow them to mingle.

Budget Ball'n...

It may be tempting to blow your budget on floral arrangements for the entrance, don't do it!

Begin with allocating your budget to sections of your ceremony that will draw the most attention from your guests and the photographer, such as the aisle and altar. Make sure you tackle the entrance next, ceiling and chairs (don't skimp on sturdy seating)

Welcome To Your Love Story...

Now that you're familiar with key do's and don'ts, you can have a more stress-free wedding day and a more pleasant experience planning your wedding. Our last "Don't" is don't go it alone! Chefella's is here for you as a resource, so you can be confident that you'll have your wedding ceremony all planned for and set up. You'll also know what to expect when your big day is upon you, helping to make things run smoothly.