How to plan a wedding: Mistakes to avoid

Stress-free wedding planning with ididjeridoo was originally posted by ididjeridoo on Flickr and is reused here under the terms and conditions of the Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0) Creative Commons license

If you really want to prepare the perfect wedding and make it an occasion to remember for life, it would be a good idea to start with making a list of any possible mistakes that you would like to avoid at all costs.

Although some future brides and grooms would be skeptical of this approach, it can be very effective in literally saving them from embarrassing moments that they would rather forget than remember.

Therefore, in order to make your wedding day one to remember, the following list of mistakes to avoid can help you in identifying any possible areas of trouble, before it’s too late.

Don't let stress take over you

If you are stressed on your wedding day, your guests will definitely notice it. After all, the majority of them are people who know you well.

Any sign of anxiety, stress, fear, or similar emotion can be easily spread to wedding guests and spoil the event.

Don't be too relaxed

Your wedding day is the happiest day of your life. However, this is not an excuse to let yourself completely unwind and leave everything to luck. You need sound organization and discipline to meet the schedule and deadlines of your event.

Don't be late

Actually, leaving the groom waiting in the church is a traditional custom in many parts of the world. Your guests will have time to know each other better while waiting. On the negative side, the whole schedule will be delayed and the event will finish later than expected.

Don't drink too much alcohol

Sealing the event of your wedding by drinking fine champagne is a common habit between newlyweds. There is nothing wrong with that. Be careful though, not to overdo it. Getting drunk can make you lose contact with reality and behave in a way that you will regret or even be ashamed of later.

Don't hire an amateur photographer

Your cousin could be a keen amateur photographer boasting about his skill of taking great photographs. Don't make the mistake of hiring him instead of a professional photographer, as he could miss some of the most important moments of the wedding ceremony because of inexperience.

Don't serve your guests complicated, exotic food

It sounds like a great idea to serve your guests exotic gourmet food. However, putting this idea in practice would cause problems, such as having to take care of guests' personal tastes and likes or dislikes of specific dishes, etc. Don't make the food that you are going to serve more complicated than it should be. Following tradition is usually a safe bet.

Don't move the wedding cake once it's set on the table

Believe it or not, moving the wedding cake is one of the most typical wedding mistakes to avoid. Your wedding cake holds a central place in the wedding event and you can't have a second one. So once it is set, don't touch it or let others go near it.

Don't hire musicians just because they are cheap

The skill of a music band can make or break a wedding celebration. Experienced and skilled musicians may be more expensive to hire but they can guarantee an excellent evening of celebration, dance and fun for everyone.

Don't leave too much to do on the last day

As you reach the day of the wedding, you may get the illusion that you are ahead of schedule, and you can relax and leave things to do on the last day. This is a safe path to chaos and disaster. The day before the event, you will be surrounded by relatives and friends, and you won't have the time to make any late arrangements.

Don't forget to plan ahead for bad weather when you have an outdoor wedding

Holding an outdoor wedding can be a life-long dream. However, bad weather can spoil the dream and turn it into a nightmare if not taken into account.

Further reading:

The 50 mistakes brides always make

5 mistakes to avoid while planning an outdoor nuptials

All the mistakes brides make when shopping for a wedding dress-and how to avoid them

22 Common Wedding Planning Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

15 Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid Before Your Big Day