Planning a wedding is really exciting but it can sometimes get a little stressful. Between all that well meaning advice and Pinterest envy, the run up to the happiest day of your life can drive any bride-to-be to go just a little crazy. Here’s some of the most annoying things about wedding planning and some suggestions of how to handle them..
The well-meaning advice
Ok, we know that everyone who’s ever been married has a few words of wisdom or “if I could do it all again I would do X, Y or Z differently” advice but it isn’t necessarily going to be the right thing for your wedding. Just because a horse drawn carriage was a “nightmare” for your cousin as it “took absolutely ages to get to the church and there was horse muck everywhere during the photos” doesn’t mean that will be the same for you if you plan it carefully.
What to do
The best thing to do is smile, nod graciously and then do exactly what you want to do. Speak to your suppliers if you have any concerns, they will put your mind at rest or come up with plan to overcome any potential pit falls. In the end go with your gut or your “if I could do it all again” advice will be not to listen to advice!
Jeremy Harwell Photography
Getting the timings right
There is a lot to fit into one day and trying to piece together a schedule can feel like playing a giant game of Jenga, you try to carefully move one thing and the entire plan comes crashing down. You’ve factored in what you think is more than enough time for photos until your mum gives you a looong list of combinations of family members that must be snapped so now the drinks reception is suddenly four hundred hours long – it’s OK though, you can sit down to eat your wedding breakfast at midnight right??
What to do
Start with the ceremony as this is often a fixed time (especially if you are having a church wedding) and work forwards and backwards from this time. Look at the key elements and check with your suppliers how long is needed for each. Create a schedule and send to all suppliers to ensure everyone agrees. If you and your five bridesmaids need to have your hair and make-up done make sure you block out enough time (and stylists) to make this happen. Get this done as early as possible with extra time built in as there will always be that one bridesmaid who hates her hair/eyebrows/foundation and must have it redone or she won’t go on any photos! other wise this is one of those annoying things about wedding planning
Camera Hannah
Make-up/Hair Trials
You have the image in your head of how you’d like to look on your special day, you’ve taken along photos of Sienna Miller looking gorgeous and Boho with effortless beachy hair and glossy skin so why has the stylist made you look like you’d been tangoed and dragged through a hedge backwards? But no matter how bad the Scouse brow or bird’s nest hair looks you find yourself nodding along saying “yeah, I love it” before bursting into tears in the car on your way home and wondering if you are better doing it yourself with a few YouTube tutorials.
What to do
Be realistic, just because something looks great on a celebrity, it might not suit you and you want to look like you on your wedding day not someone else. Having said that a good hair stylist and make-up artist will make you look the best version of you so chat through your ideas together and maybe try a couple of different looks. If you hate it, tell them. You are paying them to make you look and feel fabulous, if you don’t, tell them and let them put it right. If you still don’t like it, look for another stylist. You’ll regret it if you look back at photos and hate your hair so speak up.
Paper Antler via Instagram; Hair by Claudine Fray
Waiting for RSVP’s
“I just assumed you’d know that I was coming” or “Can I let you know nearer the time if Bob can come, he might have golf that day” are like the sound of nails on a blackboard to a bride and groom who need to let suppliers know final numbers. Closely followed by someone who tells you they are bringing a plus one when they weren’t given a plus one. Arrrrrrrgggghhhh
What to do
Make it as easy as possible to reply, include a stamp addressed postcard or give them a number to text rather than request an official card back in the post. If that fails be annoying, send texts or FaceBook messages to anyone outstanding. Even better set up a group message so they’ll be bombarded with beeps every time someone replies which will prompt them to answer you and leave the group chat as quickly as they can type.
RSVPify.com
We hope that’s helped a little. That was just a handful of road blocks you may encounter on your wedding journey with our advice on how to navigate around (or badge right through) them. Of course there are many many more, so watch this space, next month we are tackling Pinterest and the dreaded Bridesmaid dresses!
Let us know what’s currently getting you fired up about planning your wedding day and we’ll see if we can help to avoid annoying things about wedding planning.
Ciao for now, love Team Thomas
