Wedding planning is such an exciting time. There’s so much excitement in selecting your decor and planning all of the details. But, for some – okay, let’s face it all brides and grooms – there are times when wedding planning can be downright stressful. Through the process, it is easy to get lost in the details and become hyper-focused on completing tasks. It’s during these times that simple wedding planning mistakes can be made and create added stress down the road or on your wedding day. Let us walk you through some of the major wedding mistakes and how to best avoid them to eliminate any additional stressors on your big day. 

#01: Don’t Throw Your Budget out the Window

One of the major stressors in life, including marriages, is finances. We always tell our clients the most important part of the wedding planning process is the creation and follow-through of your budget. Creating and maintaining a budget throughout the wedding planning journey is a stressful task. For a lot of couples, they fear discussing their budget honestly. We’ve met with a fair share of couples who have differing opinions of budgets and it can easily become a sensitive topic of discussion. Whoever you are creating a budget with, sit down and talk openly and honestly about the numbers. It needs to be obtainable and comfortable for everyone participating. You don’t want to set a budget that makes you feel uncomfortable or sacrifice things in your day-to-day life. Once your budget is set, be sure to stick to your budget and don’t throw your budget out the window. Be upfront with your vendors when you begin and be realistic about what you can afford. Keep close to your budget and don’t go over. You can still create your dream wedding day by sticking to your budget. 

#02: Keep Trends Balanced 

In today’s modern times, there are so many inspirations at our fingertips. Thanks to influencers, social media platforms, and Pinterest, there are endless options for brides and grooms when it comes to planning. There are hundreds of blogs and ideas out there with upcoming trends. As you plan your wedding, it is more than okay to tie in trends. We love ourselves with a good trendy detail here and there. But, we hate to see our brides look back at their photos and think “Oh, goodness – what was I thinking!” As you browse and select trends for your wedding, think carefully. Stick to a few guidelines such as: keeping it timeless and classic. Try to balance adding details that are trendy with classic and timeless elements. You can create a trendy celebration, but it’s a balancing act – don’t go overboard with staying trendy and new. 

#03: Don’t Let Opinions Get the Best of You

No matter who is helping you plan your wedding, or even if you are tackling it just with your partner, people will have opinions. Family and friends are very excited and downright eager to be a part of the planning process. Whether you include your family in searching for your perfect dress, selecting vendors, or hosting a bridal shower – everyone has their own opinions. Throughout the planning process, it is vital to remember that they are called opinions for a reason. Yes, Aunt Sally may hate the dress you chose – but do you like it? Is this what you’ve envisioned? Or maybe your spouse’s fraternity brothers’ have a raft trip planned for the big day and they want you to reschedule… but what date works best for you and the majority of your loved ones? It is impossible to please everyone or to satisfy everyone’s opinions about your wedding day. There will be people during the planning process who will have opinions about your decisions along the way - and that’s okay. At the end of the day, this is YOUR wedding and you must be confident in the decisions that you make. You are making decisions with your partner about the celebration of your love. That is all that matters. So, take opinions with a grain of salt and don’t fret. Make decisions that are based on you and your fiance's wants and needs and make choices on how you both want to celebrate. 

#04: Live your Life 

We’ve all seen the show Brideszilla or heard people whisper about bridezillas. If this term is new to you, it simply means it’s a bride where planning has consumed their world and has essentially taken over. They are hyper-focused on all of the details and their attitude may get a little “scary” at times. As you go through this process, don’t let wedding planning take over your life. You need to live your life and forget about wedding planning every once and a while. It is not healthy to have your life revolve around your wedding or the planning process. Set aside your planning and remember to enjoy the engagement process. Go on that date, see a movie, and enjoy spending time with people you love. Don’t forget to live your life and live it well. 

#05: Don’t Set Unrealistic Expectations 

At times, we come across couples that may have out-of-this-world expectations. Sometimes, visions cannot be accomplished due to a variety of factors, such as venues, vendors, or your budget. It is important to remember that each working part of your wedding day, including vendors, work extremely hard to make your wedding vision come to life. All of the people included are professionals and have worked in the industry. You want to keep an open line of communication, but also not set unrealistic expectations with your vendors. Vendors want to provide top-of-the-line experiences for you but must stick to the agreement made within your contract. Don’t expect your vendor to go above and beyond their contract and remain respectful even in times of stress. Everyone wants your day to go off without a hitch, but keeping your expectations and visions realistic is key. 

At the end of the day, the most important aspect of your wedding is tying the knot and saying “I do.” You are celebrating to spend your life with your partner. As you go through this process, keep realistic expectations for your wedding and vendors, stick to your budget, don’t let family and friends’ opinions drag you down, make balanced decisions when it comes to selecting trends, and live your life with your fiance. Enjoy this process with your partner, don’t let it overwhelm you and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it is okay to reach out for help. It is never too late to hire a wedding planner or coordinator to support you! Happy planning everyone!

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.