By WPIC Co-founders, Danielle Andrews and Tracey Manailescu
Written for Today’s Bride Magazine
Set a Budget:
It doesn’t matter if you have unlimited funds to spend on your wedding, or if you need to keep a tighter rein on it. Everyone should have an amount in their minds that both parties agree on. We can’t control how much you spend or what you spend it on. That is ultimately your decision.
As your wedding planner, we will remind you when you are getting close to your specified budget and offer suggestions on how best to keep it in check. You can then decide if you want to scale back or spend the new amount which will ultimately increase your budget. Your guest list has a lot to do with the budget.
If you are dreaming of luxury tabletops and florals galore but are finding it hard to stay within your budget, the best solution is to reduce the number of guests to accommodate these dreams.
The fewer tables that you have to add your upgraded linens, candelabras, and overflowing floral centerpieces ultimately saves you money. Also, and most importantly, a smaller guest list gives you more time to spend with everyone you care about.
Hire Professionals:
We are so happy to work with all the amazing couples that we do. We aim to make your wedding day go off without any major bumps or glitches so you can enjoy it to the fullest. Therefore, it is extremely important that your wedding team is compiled of professionals. Chances are when a problem or concern arises, we have seen it before, dealt with it before, and know how to fix it. This is not the time to take a chance on Aunt Sally’s crumble cake for 120 of your closest friends and family, or Uncle Marco and his brand new DSLR camera to capture your entire wedding day. This is why a lot of venues in the city will require each wedding vendor to carry their own business insurance (liability and E & O). Let your guests be guests and enjoy your special day to the fullest.
Book Your Must-Have Wedding Pros First:
Wedding ceremony locations, venues and suppliers are getting booked up faster than ever before. If there are certain companies that you really want to have a part of your wedding day, then make sure they get hired right away. They are not confirmed until a signed contract has been made.
Do Not Procrastinate Working on Your Seating Chart:
Couples never realize just how long this takes, and how frustrating this task is. This is a job that only you and those very close to you, can manage as family and friend dynamics come into play.
DIY’ing or DIT’ing? (Do-it-Yourself, or Do-it-Together?)
Are you sure about that? Have you ever looked at DIY fails? Please test out anything that you want to be doing for the wedding at least two months before, so in case it doesn’t look or feel how you wanted it to, you have time to order it, do something else instead, or hire someone to do it for you.
Get Wedding Liability Insurance:
We strongly recommend that every couple gets this for their wedding. This is a specialty policy that covers injuries or accidents to you, your guests or the wedding team that occur during the ceremony or reception. Venues are requiring it more than ever before as it also protects the venue from damage that can occur.
Your DJ Can Make or Break the Dance Floor:
Ultimately the party starts and ends with them. Check references and trust us when we say they are worth the investment. No one wants their dancefloor empty and the reception to end early. A professional DJ is licensed and insured (and will also have backup equipment in case things go awry). He/she will read the crowd and change the music accordingly. In your meetings with the DJ prior to the wedding he/she will ask about what type of music you and your friends listen to and if there are cultural must-haves, as well as the ages of the guests.
Keep Speeches and the Timeline on Track:
Speeches can be the best or the worst part of a wedding reception. We recommend keeping the speeches 3-5 minutes each.
P.S. Parents don’t count for speech time patrol. You are their babies.
P.P. S. We STRONGLY advise against having an open mike as this almost never goes over well. Hire a Planner We feel that this is your best tip of the bunch. There are so many things that need to be investigated. Let a professional break down the tasks and guide you through this wonderful and exciting time, so that it stays that way.
This should go without saying, but we are saying it…
Be nice to your vendors!
Treat vendors with respect and kindness. It really goes a long way in the scheme of things.
They are going to be much easier to work with over the course of the planning process and wedding day when there is mutual respect.
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