Every wedding has a number of things that could cause a hitch. We bet you can relate with these bridal woes; and if not, you will soon. Thankfully, we are here to prepare you to artfully nib them in the bud.
Budget cuts
So inconvenient how all the nice things require money, isn’t it? Pshh! You need to cut costs, but you don’t want to sacrifice your overall vision for your wedding. The easiest way is to cut down your guest list. Tough, but doable. It will reduce catering costs, invitations, decor, the size of the venue and amount of decor you’ll need. You can also pick an off-peak wedding season or any day besides Saturday (gasp!) if you can wing it.
Photo failures
Professional photographers are priority for most couples, and with good reason. If you make a mistake, you’ll be cringing at your wedding photos for the rest of your life... if you have any to look at. Request to see their previous work and seek personal recommendations from former customers. When you decide, book an engagement/pre-wedding shoot to make a final decision.
Budgeting bridesmaids
Your bridesmaids have brought it up that the dress you want them to wear is too expensive. Before you proclaim sabotage or conspiracy, think about it. It’s a dress they’ll wear for a few hours and never wear again. Let them decide how much is fair to spend and let them present you with options within their budget. Cool?
Dress regret
You found your dress, loved it, bought it. Now you stumble on this marvellous bridal page and you are flooded with buyer’s remorse. Don’t lie, you did a search and clicked on that link. Wrong move. Once you buy a dress, put it away and don’t look at it or any other dress. If you’re really serious though, call the store and see if you can come in for an exchange. This has to be soon after you bought it. If not, get a close family member or friend to look at your dress. You loved it when you bought it so chances are; it’s great and you just need reassurance or a fresh perspective on how to style it.
Killer shoes
Literally, your shoes will kill your feet if you wear the wrong ones. Sky-high stilettos might look fabulous but you don’t want your biggest memory to be your throbbing feet. Heel liners, a lower heel, and perhaps flats later on will keep you comfortable.
No-show guests
Everyone knows that some people just won’t show up, some say 10-20%. Still, err on the side of caution. Assume they’re all going to be there. It’s always better to have extra food and extra seats. Unless you plan to strictly enforce invitations-only entry, there will be unexpected guests.
Kid guests
If you plan to have kids at your wedding, have a play area for them so that the adults don’t have them underfoot. If you do decide that kids are not allowed, be diplomatic. Don’t write it so blatantly on the invites. Tell your friends yourself, and have the parents tell their own guests by mouth.
Vendor disputes
Make sure that all agreements are clear. Have a contract and read it properly. If disagreements do arise, we have this very helpful article about how to handle them {insert link to “when vendors don’t deliver” article}.
Bridezilla behaviour
If your friends are curiously ignoring your calls and your fiancé is looking at you like you just sprouted horns, this is a good time to re-evaluate priorities. Your wedding shouldn’t come at the expense of your relationships. Think about the future.
One-woman show
So your groom isn’t exactly involved. At first you were glad to have the reins but now you want him to show a little interest for heavens’ sake! Don’t fight about it; he’s just not wired to care about colour differences and little bouquets. Find something he IS interested in and let him handle that. Think drinks, music and so on.