The 5 Biggest Wedding Planning Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them
Your wedding should be the best day of your life. But the delicate balance between Pinterest dreams, budgets, and schedules, creates the perfect storm for unnecessary stress to creep in. To prevent this from happening to you, we'll show you the five biggest wedding planning mistakes we’ve seen and how you can avoid them. These aren’t run-of-the-mill tips, but real lessons for a relaxed, beautiful, and truly unforgettable celebration.
Here are the 5 common mistakes that people make when planning a wedding and how you can easily avoid them to enjoy the process and be relaxed on your wedding day.
Mistake 1: Starting planning too late
Mistake 2: Forgetting the guest experience
Mistake 3: Ignoring the weather
Mistake 4: Cutting the wrong things from your budget
Mistake 5: Not including down time
Mistake 1: Starting planning too late
Many people think that six months is enough time to plan - its often too short. You'll find that most of the popular venues, photographers, and other vendors are booked. Often the most popular venues and vendors are booked up to 18 months in advance, especially for peak season weddings. Starting too late doesn't give you enough time to consider multiple options for each need, meaning you could risk overpaying or having to make big compromises and can lead to additional stress on your big day.
Our advice: Once you've picked your date, start planning. Create a priority list and factor in: What's most important to you - location, music, a specific DJ or wanting a photo booth? Don't forget you can use our free wedding planner! It makes it easy to organize the to-dos, what you've booked and keep track of everythig from smaller tasks to your vendor list throughout the wedding planning process.
Plan enough time for those unexpeced changes and be sure to clearly communicate early on. When you give yourself the extra time, it can minimize stress and make your wedding day much smoother.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the guest experience
Yes, its your day, but your guests are what make it truly special. These are the family, friends and colleagues that you hold dear – you’re going to value their opinions and want to give them a great experience. Its easy to get lost in the details but if guests experience long wait times, missing information, or become bored without entertainment it can dampen the mood – even if you planned with the best of intentions.
Our tip: Think about your guests early on: What will happen when you get to the reception? Are there clear directions, enough seating, and plenty of entertainment? An easy way to get the party started is a KRUU Photo Booth. It brings the people you love closer together and creates lasting memories for you and your guests.
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Learn more about how simple and fun a photo booth can be for your wedding!
Part of the guest experience is the flow between different types of events. Whether your ceremony and reception are in the same place or you’re doing a cocktail hour, be sure that you’ve thought about how guests will interact with each part of your day and communicate that plan to guests. Don’t forget to include a little quiet space - you never know when you (or your guests) will need a short break from the fun. Small details like that will help your guests enjoy the day as much as you do!
Mistake 3: Ignoring the weather
"The weather will definitely be good in July" – sounds logical, but it's risky. Rain, heat, or storms can quickly put a strain on an outdoor wedding. Without a plan B, your dream wedding can quickly become stressful for you and your guests.
Our tip: Plan for the weather from the start. Is there an indoor alternative or tents? Are there enough shady spots, water sources, or heat lamps available? Inform your guests about possible changes early on – whether it's via your wedding website, a text or email. This way, you can stay calm in the event of weather chaos.
A flexible plan helps you avoid extra stress and make your celebration happen regardless of what the weather does.
Mistake 4: Cutting the wrong things from your budget
Budgets are often tight – but there are a few key areas you shouldn’t skimp. Entertainment, photos, and music are the things that keep the party going and create those memorable moments for you and your guests. While you can DIY some of these, its best to find other places to cut back.
Our tip: Find the “invisible” things that you can cut out. Overpriced decor elements, wedding favors, and the expensive bar package are usually good places to start. This way you can hire a pro to help keep the dance floor alive or grab a photo booth for an instant memory maker (plus, the prints can be a wedding favor!)
Getting the most out of your budget helps you stay stress-free on your big day!
Mistake 5: Not including down time
You want it all – the beautiful ceremony, group photos, games, drinks, dinner, speeches, dancing and maybe a sunset send off. Its beautiful, but ambitious. Your wedding day is going to be emotional, fun and overwhelming. A full schedule doesn’t let you truly enjoy the little moments throughout the day. Ditch the stress and build time in for making memories that last.
Our tip: Less is more. Plan small time buffers between your ceremony – the start and finish – and the reception. Leave time for speeches to run a little longer, a fun conversation with a friend from out of town or a little room for two to sneak away. These breaks give you the best opportunity to create memories without constantly looking at the clock.
Consider carefully what parts of your day are truly important and which can be shortened or omitted without missing anything. This way, you can create a relaxed schedule that's good for you and your guests and keeps the focus on the most important moments.
Make your wedding an unforgettable experience with the KRUU Photo Booth!
The KRUU Photo Booth helps you connect with your guests and create unique memories that last a lifetime.
Check one thing off your list by booking your photo booth today!