Many people, over my many years of wedding planning/consulting have asked me if it’s possible to do a wedding yourself and not want to kill someone before the big day. My answer, of course, is yes. But what does it take to have a beautiful wedding and still have a happy couple that is truly happy? Read on. There is more to it than just picking a date. You also have to be concerned with finding great cheap wedding favors.
First things first – you need to know, realistically, what you can and can’t do. If you have people helping you, it becomes much easier. But to help, you must have a wedding book where you list everything that has to be accomplished and any notes, receipts or issues along the way. This will help determine what you can do yourself and what has to be delegated. And most importantly, whoever helps must be responsible and mature, knowing that you will still make the final decisions on important matters. Honestly, you need a few very humble, dependable gophers and you should be able to pull off a gorgeous wedding without a hitch. And you can repay them by letting them eat a few of your delicious edible wedding favors.
If you are having your wedding at an established venue, then there will be a reception coordinator assigned to you. If you are not having it at such a place, then someone has to be assigned to be this person. Over the course of your wedding day (and before) they will update you on what is happening, coordinate the flow of the reception, work with the DJ and/or the band, check on the food, and the list goes on and on. If you don’t have someone that can do this, then please get married somewhere that will help with this. And maybe they can also give you some information on some great personalized wedding favors.
The second area that you will need help on is planning your honeymoon. I know that many couples do this themselves, but I always ask them why? A travel agent does not cost you anymore money and they take all the guesswork out of where you’re going, what it’s like and if it’s the right destination for you. Do your homework. Get referrals from family and friends and then sit back and let them do the work.
Other than those two areas, everything else is usually finished by the day of the big event. If you are not using a planner or consultant, just make sure you are very organized and have everything dated and planned out far in advance. Then nothing will spring on you last minute.
Florist – Depending on your choice of flowers, you may need a florist. If you choose live flowers and use them in abundance for your wedding, hire a florist. Live flowers can sometimes be difficult to handle and preserve for the hours that it takes for you to walk down the aisle. If you are going to spend that much money on them, spend a little extra on a florist. However, if you are going to go with silk flowers, you can buy prepared arrangements from some stores, or a couple months before your wedding take a free/inexpensive flower arrangement class from a craft store (such as Michael’s Arts and Crafts).
Music – The decision to get help in this area depends on your budget, your choice of music, and your location. If you are low on funds, select or make CDs and have someone in your family DJ and oversee the music. You can also save money by getting a soloist (instrumental or vocal) instead of a band. If you have the budget, go all out for your band, but make sure that the location allows it. Also, make sure you have room. You would not want to pay the money for the band, but not have enough room for you and your guest to dance the night way.
Travel Agent/Honeymoon – There are great benefits to using a travel agent – property contacts, travel discounts, insight into the location, payment plans. Even though there are great benefits with going with a travel agent, sometimes the extra fees can be put to better use on the honeymoon. Here are a couple of travel sites that have package and a la carte plans: