Common Wedding Concerns and How to Solve Them
By Barbara Vanni, BWeddings | Feature Photo by Lauren Sims Photography
From the initial high of saying “yes” to a life of love with your person to concerns about sticking to your budget, finding a great venue and coping with the stress of a big life event, wedding planning can feel like your emotions are taking you on a roller coaster. During all of our years in the wedding industry, we here at BWeddings have seen it all!
To help support couples during their planning process and prepare for one of their best days, we’ve created this guide to understanding common wedding concerns. Everyone is unique and may work through this exciting process in their own way, but we hope these tips will keep you feel more confident as you move forward.
TIMING GLITCHES
As you may discover on your wedding day, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the getting-ready photos and lose track of time, forget something at your hotel or not build enough time in to eat a snack.
You can avoid timing glitches and the stress that they can cause you and your guests by working with your day-of coordinator to build a realistic itinerary for your day. They’ll be equipped to communicate with your makeup artist, hairstylist and photographer to ensure your vendors are on the same page. They’ll build in time for snacks, extra photos and can make sure that you have time for a quiet moment with your best friend if your nerves start acting up.
MISPLACING ITEMS
Trust us, at the end of the night, the last things you’ll want on your mind are where your guestbook is or how you’ll store your leftover cake. Do yourself a favor and make a plan for the special items (like your bridal bouquet, guestbook, cards, gifts and cake top) that you want kept safe after your wedding. Whether you ask a close family member or your planner to take care of these items, you can relax knowing they won’t be thrown away or misplaced.
NOT GETTING THE PHOTOS YOU WANTED
Whether it’s the getting-ready portion, specific arrangements of friends or family or close-up wedding portraits, there’s no regret like not capturing the photos you wanted at your wedding. The good news is that this problem is easily avoided with a little forethought.
We always recommend listing all the photos you want and discussing them with your photographer before the event day. Think through where you want to capture these photos and ask your photographer how familiar they are with your venue. Giving your photographer plenty of time to visit the venue can result in them suggesting optimal photo locations and timelines for ideal lighting. You can communicate your wish list with your photographer but also remember that some of the best photos are taken spur-of-the-moment and become treasured candids.
WEATHER FORECASTING
With weddings that incorporate any type of outdoor element, whether it’s the ceremony, cocktail hour, pre-wedding photos or otherwise, there’s always the possibility of dealing with weather complications. Here in Chicago, we enjoy lots of days of sun year-round, but there’s always a chance that you could see significant snowfall in winter or that a heat-wave could arrive just in time for your outdoor ceremony in July.
Work with your planner or coordinator to create a backup plan you’ll be happy with, no matter the forecast. They will communicate this with vendors so that the entire day-of team is ready to implement the plan with a moment’s notice if needed.
PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT
Your wedding day will undoubtedly involve lots of standing, walking and dancing, but you can take action to prevent pain that might distract you from the fun. We recommend you take special care of yourself mentally and physically in the months and weeks leading up to your wedding. Get lots of sleep, exercise appropriately, eat nutritious meals, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine.
As you prep your day-of bag, throw in an extra pair of comfortable shoes and bring some over-the-counter pain meds. We recommend eating snacks and drinking water throughout the day to give your body a boost.
Our best advice is to work with trusted vendors to anticipate the unexpected and make decisions in your best interest. Planners will spend time getting to know you and your partner and what is most important to you so that whether you are hosting a large black-tie ballroom affair at a five-star hotel or an intimate micro-wedding at your favorite bar, your desires shine through. Ultimately, you’re marrying the love of your life, after all!
About the Author
Barbara Vanni is the owner of Bweddings, a boutique wedding planning firm in Chicago. Vanni was born and raised in Italy and grew up surrounded by design and beauty thanks to her parents’ businesses. After moving to Miami and then Toronto, Vanni obtained her international certification as a wedding planner from the highly renowned Wedding Planner Institute of Canada (WPIC) and founded Bweddings in 2014. Barbara’s experiences working with different cultures and becoming an ordained minister by the American Marriage Ministries have shaped her polished and unique personal style. Barbara’s vision for each couple is to plan a wedding that is every bit as unique as they are.
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