SMASH THAT WEDDING BOX!When ever I start working with a new couple I try to help them find a way to plan the wedding of their dreams. There really isn't a manual or a formula that can be followed to acheive this, and make it truely personal. It's really a combination of several different things like: listening, observation, intuition, mind-reading (well not really, but it seems like it some times) creativity, and fearlessness. Yes I said it: FEARLESSNESS. Being willing to buck the "trend" that is being sold to engaged couples, at a huge premium, takes a lot of guts. If you really wanna WOW your guests, and have a blast on your BIG day: BE CREATIVE & BE YOURSELF. Well maybe not your yoga pant, tee shirt wearing self (unless you are having your wedding during a yoga retreat: totally fun and personal), but the very best version of the life living, fun loving, energetic, fun self that you are.
Use the "KISS" method: "Keep it simple stupid." Simplify your thinking, a wedding is just a big party (with a very important life altering ceremony thrown into the mix). Make sure that this is the best party that you have ever been to. The party of your dreams. Every aspect of your wedding, from invitations, to get-away car should represent YOU! Your likes, hobbies, and lives should be so evident during your day that the guests have no choice but to learn something new, or at the very least see you throughout every part of the day. Trust me, your guests will be saying, "that was the best, and most personal wedding we have ever been to!"
Personal doesn't always = expensive! My clients are often shocked to find out that having a wedding that they actually want to go to doesn't have to break the bank. I don't believe that you need to be on the verge of bankruptcy by the time you get down the aisle for your wedding to be considered a success. If you can unlock and release your mind from that pre-packaged wedding concept, or the wedding that you think you are supposed to have, you may actually surprise yourself and end up with the wedding that you always wanted.
HIRE HELP! Alright here it comes, the shameless plug for services you don't think you want or need...But the reality is, hiring a professional to help handle the planning process can actually SAVE you money, and not to mention stress and headaches. The goal of planning a wedding is to actually GET MARRIED! Surprise, I know, but how many couples do you know that almost didn't make it through to the actual event because the stress of planning was too much to bear? You LOVE eachother now, and want to love eachother as much, if not more when you get down the aisle. AS for the whole money thing: a good event planner will save you time, energy and money. As a rule I try to save my clients money in other areas so that my fees don't totally KILL the wedding budget. Sometimes it takes me giving them affordable options that more than meet their expectations, and are necessarily something they would have thought of on their own.
HAVE FUN! To restate the obvious and recap a portion of the previous paragraph, have fun during the process. The six months, year or whatever leading up to the wedding is the time you will remember more vividly than the wedding day itself. Sad but true. The wedding day is a blur of chaos, exstacy, and fun. The details of which you will have to piece together through photographs, video, and guest commentary. But the pre-wedding drama will be gleamingly clear if it exists. So make sure that you do everything you can to take care of yourself and your relationship. Everything you do should reinforce the love you feel for your fiance. A fun and peaceful planning process will help to strengthen the foundation of your married relationship, helping you to weather life's storms should they come.