Newly engaged? Allow these Thierry’s-approved tips for wedding planning help to make the day a dream come true.
Congratulations! You’re engaged! Soon after the thrill of the “big question” subsides comes the realization that the time has come to decide what your special day will look like. While choosing bridesmaids, cake flavors, and the perfect dress are excitement-inducing parts of the process, organizing the actual event can sometimes cause stress due to unforeseen details that a good planner can help you avoid. You'll be glad you have everything squared away for the ceremony and reception first, which will help set the tone for the whole day. Here are a few dos and don'ts to consider when planning your Wedding day.
Do: Hire a planner.
We cannot stress the importance of this enough, especially if the guest list is large. While hiring a planner can be a bit of an investment, having an amazing planner by your side to help with mundane tasks can transform a good wedding into a great one (and make the months leading up to the big day a lot more enjoyable).
Don't: Pick a spot that's extremely far away from your reception.
Keeping your ceremony space close to or at your reception venue is the easiest way to cut costs (on venue rental, transportation, and even photography and videography), simplify your planning and cut down on logistics, like figuring out how your entire wedding party is going to get from the ceremony to the cocktail hour (not to mention all the guests). Book a ceremony venue that's nearby or at the same place as your reception and you'll have more time for things like photos and mingling with your guests at cocktail hour.
Do: Make sure tabletop details are set in stone.
Have you ever been to an event, and you go to the bar, order a champagne but the champagne is served in a wine glass? How could this happen? After months of planning, editing, and revising options, did the glassware run out?
Trust us, this can happen easily without a planner and experienced caterer to oversee everything. Calculating the correct amount of glassware per guest is truly an art that takes years to perfect. Make sure to consider what kinds of cocktails will be served, how long the event is, what the timeline is, as well as whether the reception will be a sit-down event or have multiple food stations for guests to choose from. When those details are a priority, caterers can control quantities and flow of glassware, plates and stemware, assuring these small but quite significant details add to the success of the occasion.
Don’t: Underestimate rising costs due to inflation.
Why do certain things cost so much? It’s imperative to discuss numbers with your planner, caterer, florist and every vendor participating in your wedding. From champagne exporters to beef and cheese distributors, many companies are currently finding themselves having to raise prices to make a profit and pay for labor costs. If you budget for this in advance, there is less chance for unpleasant financial surprises to pop up, making what should be a happy moment jarring and stressful. And that’s something to never say “I do” to.
