Friends of mine are getting married. They are the only couple in my friendship group currently planning their nuptials and it’s wildly intimidating.
I’m watching their preparation with wonder. The expenses and the detail and the expenses and the planning (and did I mention the expenses?) seem extremely out-of-reach for someone in my position and with my organisation level.
To take the pressure off people like me – who are more likely to spend absolutely all of the money because of sheer lack of preparation and planning and decisions like: “don’t the wooden seats look pretty? let’s go for those” – it’s important to know the most common mistakes we make when preparing to tie the knot. It might save some time and money exactly when you need to in life.
Here goes:
Don’t empty your savings account
I know how this temptation might start. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment and you want the best of everything. It doesn’t matter if you use every last cent in your savings account, or if you’re digging into important plans for the future, this is a day you’re prepared to spend it all on (and you will make up that money somehow in this thing called the future).
But, just… don’t.
Having savings is important for any woman in a relationship. Savings are there to catch her if (God forbid) something goes wrong. And it’s a rather necessary component for all the events that just might occur after the “most-important-day-in-your-life”. For example honeymooning, and house buying, and more travel, and one day babies. Don’t spend it all, you’ll need it.
Spending too much time online
The internet is overwhelming. Pinterest can be like your meanest, most manipulative friend, whispering in your ear that nothing is actually good enough and don’t you see how many other options there are – and how well other people manage to do this wedding thing?
All of a sudden your choice in chairs seems utterly silly beside the sweet rustic steel options, or what about the beaded cane and cushioned idea?
Obviously, research into the details of your wedding is important in both finding what works best for you, but also in saving money. Just don’t dive too deep. Your head will spin and you will end up more confused, overwhelmed and most probably in-debt than ever. Make decisions instinctively and stick with them. Don’t look back!
Getting too many people involved
That thing about the internet being overwhelming? Family members and friends and your senile neighbour down the road who has been pestering you ever since she saw that sparkly engagement ring, can also be extremely overwhelming. You don’t need everyone’s opinion.
It is your day. Your moment with your love. The decisions are down to the both of you. No one else.
This is not to say people won’t think that you need their opinion. Oh, they will give it to you. But just breezily block it out (maybe hum to yourself or count backwards from 10 in your head?) smile and nod and just continue doing whatever you’d like to do regardless. They’ll forget about all their suggestions when they see the champagne and the food. And you will have the day you really wanted.
Top Comments
Nope. The biggest mistake is not making the groom take an equal share of the work. It's not your day at all, it belongs to the groom too.
You missed the most important thing. Have the before marriage sessions. The rest of your life together is more important than a wedding