Don't Get Caught Wedding Planning Unprepared
By Marsha Pruitt
Every bride wants the perfect wedding but most don’t properly prepare.I remember as a teenager trying to get my learner’s permit as a prerequisite for a driver’s license.I really wanted to succeed in getting my license and was ready to put some effort into getting it.
I studied the book published by the DMV in preparation for the written test.I had no problem passing the eye exam but was nervous about the written exam.Fortunately, I passed. All that was left was the driving exam.
Brides don’t seem to invest much time in studying for the “wedding preparation exam.” They take their dream as an eight year old girl and portray it as their wedding fantasy in adulthood.Not that it’s wrong, but I’m just amazed that a 28 year old woman (average age of a 2010 bride) would take the advice of an eight year old (even if she was the girl) without some introspection and research.
Once you have the ring, it’s time to get out the wedding manual and start studying to avoid “failing” the bridal exam.Clear your mind.Put away any preconception, and investigate wedding themes.
Tear out magazine pictures and start a file of your favorite wedding ideas.Take the pictures and group by similarities and then ask yourself, “ten years from now, which of these would evoke the fondest memories?”The answer is likely your best choice for a wedding theme.
The combined time I spent studying for the written and driving exams is much more than most brides invest before making major commitments for their wedding day.This is one of the biggest wedding day mistakes you can make!
If, with my driver’s license in hand, I can’t afford the new car I always wanted, you would advise against the purchase.It wouldn’t be prudent.
Yet, with wedding ring in hand, many brides make wedding commitments before considering the budget.That’s why some brides call me in a panic after two hundred RSVPs when she can only afford to feed forty people. Some brides overspend on the dress only to discover that she cannot afford the wedding to go with it.
Smart wedding decisions are made, first, within the context of a realistic budget, allowing for tradeoffs and compromise that won’t ruin the biggest day of one’s life! With a budget in place you are now armed for decisive action, minimal stress and the best possible wedding day outcome.
Marsha Pruitt, the founder of The Event Host,
is a custom event planning and design specialist who delights in
fabulous weddings large and small. She is the First Vice President of
the National Association of Wedding Professional.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Share your engagement or wedding stories with our readers. Email editor@qcitybride.com