Avoid the most common wedding pitfalls.
Below is a list of 8 wedding mistakes you should avoid.
1.
Return the high heels and go flat.
The majority of brides wish they had worn flat shoes.
You will be on your feet for more than eight hours so you might as well be as comfortable as possible! You may not want your shoes to be "something old", but you definitely don't want them to be your "something new" either.
Break in your shoes weeks in advance to avoid blisters and make sure your footsies will be comfortable on your wedding day.
2.
Beer and Wine is Fine! When it comes time to choose alcohol for your reception, your budget may take precedence over your taste buds and the preferences of your guests.
Keep in mind that you cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try.
Offering a cash bar may seem like a simple solution, but it also opens up another can of worms.
Some guests may not have cash on them while other may have too much cash and not know quite when to say when.
Your guests are there to support you and not just to wet their whistle.
Most everyone will graciously enjoy whatever is in their glass, be it beer or wine or soda or iced tea.
Remember that alcohol is optional, and totally up to you; if someone wants a specific drink badly enough they can wander down the hall or down the street and get it! Tip: If you do opt for a bar (cash or other), request that bartenders do not put out tip jars.
Tell your catering contact ahead of time that you are happy to pay a gratuity up front so long as your guests are not obliged to feed the tip jar.
3.
Prioritize thoughtfully and thoroughly.
Focus your energy and your resources on the things that matter to you most.
When you sit down to make your budget, earmark funds for vendors in the order of importance to you, and not necessarily in order of cost.
The caterer may cost more than the photographer, but if having high quality pictures of your wedding as lasting memories of your big day is more important than the menu for your reception, then plan accordingly.
4.
Trust your DJ.
Resist the urge to micromanage your music.
The DJ gets paid to play the right music at the right time and direct the mood and flow of your party; so let them do their job! It is appropriate to request a handful of favorites to be played along with a short list of annoying 'do-not-play' songs that will cause more eyes to roll than legs to shake.
You don't tell your photographer what brand of film to use and you don't hang around the kitchen telling your caterer to add more salt to the soup-so trust your DJ to do the job that you hired him or her to do.
5.
Take it easy on your wedding night.
Your wedding will be one of the biggest and most important days of your entire life.
You will be physically and mentally exhausted at the end of the day and will need a couple days to recuperate.
Travel arrangements for your honeymoon should be pushed backed a minimum of two days, giving you and your new hubby a little down time to fully recharge your batteries before departing for your honeymoon vacation.
It may seem romantic to leave the reception and head straight for the airport, but traveling will be the last thing you feel like doing after a full day of wedding festivities.
6.
Rest the night before-absolutely NO partying! Common sense would dictate that brides and grooms have no business participating in bachelor or bachelorette parties the night before the wedding! Drinking until the wee hours of the morning will wreak havoc on your ability to focus, interact with guests, hold down your food, and maybe even stand up straight! You don't want to be hung over on your wedding day.
If you must celebrate the end of your single life, do so the weekend before your wedding and NOT the night before.
Tip: It is a good idea to abstain from any sort of social engagements the day before your wedding.
Use this time to tie up and loose ends and rest your body for the big day.
7.
You need a coordinator.
With so many details to consider and so many people involved in your wedding party, it is best not to leave anything to chance.
Having a Wedding Coordinator in charge of organizing your wedding party will take a huge burden off your plate.
If your venue does not provide a coordinator, ask for a recommendation or hire your own.
A single authority figure will streamline operations and allow one person to be in charge of logistics and tend to last minute complications.
You will cut down on confusion and help ensure that your ceremony runs smoothly.
8.
Ask for help (but not TOO much).
Bridesmaids and groomsmen are there to support you lend assistance, so do not be afraid to speak up if you need help.
Be careful not to take advantage of your friends and family by asking them to take on a great deal of responsibilities that you should be handling yourself.
Aside from moral support and showing up to rehearsal dinners on time, your wedding party should not be taking on too many additional duties.
Be considerate and sensitive to your guests.
Show your appreciation and be sure to thank everyone personally for participating in your wedding day.
Be grateful for the help you get, but do not expect everyone to bend over backwards so you don't have to lift a finger.