7 Commonly Overlooked Aspects of Wedding Planning
Wedding planning is just as exciting as it is stressful. There are so many things to think about, from who to invite, what to wear, and even whether or not you want a matching wedding ring set for you and your partner. If you have the pre-wedding jitters, you’re not alone. Here are seven commonly overlooked aspects of wedding planning to keep in mind before the big day.
1. Wedding and Engagement Ring Logistics
By the time you’re walking down the aisle, that’s when you realize you may not be sure what to do with the wedding bands on the engagement ring. There are actually a couple of different options for what you might want to do, so it’s not as cut and dry as it seems.
The most popular option and the traditional route to go for the day of the wedding is to wear the wedding band first. Your soon-to-be spouse will slip the wedding band on your left hand’s ring finger since it’s closest to the heart.
To ensure the wedding band goes on smoothly, many people will temporarily move their engagement ring to their right hand until after the ceremony. Other options are for you to leave your engagement ring on your left hand while your partner places your new wedding band on top.
Alternatively, you don’t have to wear the engagement rings at all during the ceremony and only worry about exchanging wedding bands.
2. The Wedding Planner
If you haven’t considered hiring a wedding planner, do it. It’ll save you so much time, stress and effort in the long run. Hiring a wedding planner will help you from the very beginning to coordinate the events and work with vendors who they have a relationship with.
Your wedding planner can help advise you on any questions or concerns you have, from how to wear your engagement ring on the day of the wedding to what floral arrangement would work best with your wedding theme. They do this for a living, so they’re experts on all things wedding.
Even if you may not have the budget to hire a wedding planner to help you through the entire wedding, you will for sure want to get a day-of coordinator at the very least. That way, you can concentrate on getting married, and they’ll help with making sure the event runs with no issues behind-the-scenes.
According to Emily Sullivan, a wedding planner and owner of Emily Sullivan Events, you’ll want to assign a first point of contact other than you and your partner on the day of the wedding to coordinate with the wedding planner and day-of coordinator. You’ll be too busy with your actual wedding, so it’s best that you offer the point of contact role to a trusted family member or best friend.
3. Pre- and Post-Wedding Events
You’re probably thinking so much about the big day that you don’t want to forget about the other events before and after the wedding. You’ll want to plan a dinner rehearsal to do a run-through with your bridal party and groomsmen to see how the actual ceremony will go. You’ll also want to plan a post-wedding brunch and decide if you want it to be just for your closest family and friends or the entire wedding party.
4. Your Wedding’s Kid Policy
Before you start sending out the wedding invitations, decide early on if you want to allow people to bring their kids to your wedding. What is the minimum age you’ll be comfortable with at your wedding? Do you not want toddlers running around but are okay with your cousin’s preteen attending? Do you want a no-kids-at-all policy in place so that it’s fair to everyone and only adults can attend? It’s something to discuss with your partner depending on the dynamic of your relationships with your loved ones and their children.
5. Working the Room
All of your guests are there to share in the festivities. They’ve contributed to your registry or have envelopes with checks they’re ready to give to you and your spouse.
There are many reasons to thank your guests for them being able to partake in your special day. Be sure to make a plan with your spouse as to how you two will be working the room. It may be easiest to go table by table and take photos with each of the guests individually if it’s a more intimate wedding or in small groups if it’s a larger wedding.
6. Forgetting to Take a Break
That being said, working the room can be really tiring on both of you, especially if one of you is wearing high heels. It’s important for you two to take a break. In between the ceremony and cocktail hour of your wedding, ask your wedding planner to help build in a break for you and your spouse.
That way, you two can have a private moment for just yourselves to eat, drink, sit down and take in the moment since you two will likely have to be extra social during the reception with your guests.
7. Expect the Unexpected
Even the most experienced wedding planners cannot anticipate everything. If you’re the kind of person who wants everything planned to a tee, keep in mind that people are people, and the unexpected is inevitable. That’s why it’s essential to have a reliable partner by your side to assist with planning your dream wedding. Consider seeking professional help from a trusted wedding planner or services like sandcastlecaterers.com, where experts can provide valuable guidance and support to ensure your special day goes as smoothly as possible, handling any unforeseen challenges that may arise with grace and efficiency. With their expertise, you can rest assured that your wedding will be a memorable and joyous celebration.