10 Tips for Avoiding Common Wedding Mistakes

Congrats to all of our recently engaged couples! This is a very exciting time in your life but we all know planning a wedding can be stressful since you have to deal with so many decisions and tasks. And of course, everyone is going to be giving you advice, and sometimes it’s hard to know what choices to make. So this week we spoke with Ani Keshishian from L.A. Banquets and captured her top 10 tips that will help you avoid common wedding mistakes.

1. Don’t Start Fudging Your Budget

A little bit here and a little bit there can very quickly add up to a whole lot of something. Particularly at the beginning of the process, if you spend more than you’d planned on a dress, for example, thinking you’d economize down the line, you’re going to be robbing Peter to pay Paul all the way to your wedding date.

You don’t want to end up without enough left to pay the band, and you absolutely do not want to take on a load of debt that’s going to be hanging around until your tenth anniversary. You gave a lot of thought to that budget (we hope). Stick to it.

2. Stay Firm on the Guest List

Make the hard choices about your guest list early, and be firm about them. If you decided that you can only invite plus-ones for your friends who are in long-term relationships, then don’t allow one of your girl friends to bring along a guy she just met last week. The same goes for children; if your choice is to have an adults-only wedding, then help a couple find a babysitter but don’t let them bring their four-year-old twins.

In both cases you’re asking for a lot of hurt feelings from guests who weren’t accorded the same leeway. You may, of course, reserve the option of changing your mind when you see how things are going, but whatever rules you change, change them for everyone.

3. Monitor RSVPs

Speaking about that guest list, know the maximum capacity of your venue and don’t invite more than 10 percent more people than it can hold (or that you’re budgeted for.) A rule of thumb is that 20 percent of the people you invite will not be able to attend, but you could be surprised by a high acceptance rate.

If regrets begin running higher than anticipated, you can add to the invitees, though you’ve got to do it tactfully so people aren’t painfully aware that they were on the B list. That’s why you’ve got to monitor the RSVPs and immediately contact people who haven’t replied by your deadline.

Nothing about guest lists is an exact science, though. There are always a few people who won’t be able to come at the last minute even if they’ve planned on it, and there may also be people whose plans change and are able to come after they’ve told you they can’t. Be prepared to roll with the punches.

4. Pay Attention to Postage

Because they usually exceed the one-ounce limit, most wedding invitations take extra postage. Regardless of weight, square and oversized envelopes cost more to mail because they don’t conform to standard postal equipment. It’s important to take a sample invitation to the post office and have it weighed before you buy stamps.

5. Double Check Requirements and Restrictions

If you’re being married in a church or house of worship, check to see what special requirements or restrictions may apply regarding attire, music, decorations, and writing your own vows. Do this before you order your wedding dress, because you may need to wear something that covers your shoulders.

6. Make Sure Your Paperwork Is in Order

California marriage licenses are good for 60 days, so don’t get yours too early. Some churches may require documents that you’ll have to search around to find. Venues like beaches and parks will probably require permits. Honeymoon travel may require passports or visas. Boarding your pets may require health documents from the vet.

7. Write Everything Down

Even stuff you’re sure you won’t forget. There comes a point in the planning process when your head is just so full that you can’t possibly remember everything. Keep a dedicated wedding notebook (electronic or otherwise) to write down every single thing that occurs to you; having everything in one place will make it infinitely easier than having to paw through odd pieces of paper and old text messages.

8. Don’t Do Anything Drastic

If you were thinking of cutting eight inches off your hair, do it far in advance. If you love it, you can get a trim before the wedding; if you hate it, there will be time for it to grow out a bit. Beware of facials that could leave you blotchy or worse. If you’re going to the beach, cover up so you don’t get tan lines that will show when you wear your wedding dress. Men also need to plan. If you plan to shave off facial hair you’ve had for a while, do it far enough in advance so that you’re not left with a reverse shadow on your face.

9. Listen to Your Wedding Planner

A good wedding planner can help you plan the perfect wedding and fix any problems that come up along the way. There’s nothing he or she hasn’t been through before. Even if you disagree about something, you will at least have the benefit of a knowledgeable person’s experience when you make up your mind. For example, at L.A. Banquets, they offer a team of event planners to help you plan your special day! 

10. Relax and Enjoy the Process

Nothing is worth going crazy over. Your relationship as a soon-to-be-married couple and your relationship with your own and each other’s families may be put through some tests, but keep your eyes on the prize. This whole thing is about starting a life together, not just one day and a cake.

Thank you Ani and the L.A. Banquets team for the great tips and advice to help all of our engaged couples organize a memorable, mistake-free wedding. We hope you found this list helpful! Share with us the tip that was most helpful for you by adding your comment below!