5 Tips for Stress Free Wedding Planning
Weddings are supposed to be fun! Usually, though, they can become overwhelming and stressful for couples as they try to take on planning the biggest event of their lives on their own, on top of not really knowing what will be the best choices to make.
So with 12 years wedding experience, we’re here to help! These are a few of our tips to help you plan your big day with less stress!
1. Hire a wedding planner
You both should be ENJOYING your wedding day, not running around trying to do a hundred things at once!
You both (and your moms!) should be able to sit back on your special day and enjoy the moments before the ceremony instead of rushing around setting up the ceremony site, putting the flowers together, placing the weddings chairs just so, and being hounded by your wedding vendors for “what comes next?”.
Your wedding planner will take aaaaaall of that off of your plate and will be the go-to person for any questions your guests or vendors might have!
And if something goes wrong, it’s their job to amend the situation so that you can continue enjoying your day instead of stressing out about things that ultimately don’t even matter.
2. Schedule more time than you think you need for your wedding day timeline
Guess what? With us as your wedding photographers, you don’t even have to make your wedding day timeline! We create one FOR YOU and then we merge it with all the reception things your planner has with our timeline to make the Ultimate Wedding Timeline for ya!
You’ve probably never been married before so how are you supposed to know how much time you need to set aside for photos?
Many couples express after the wedding “It went by so quickly, I wasn’t expecting that!” I’ve photographed over 500 weddings so I like to think I know a thing or two about how much time is needed for each portion of the day (-;
One of my brides wanted to be at her church by 11:00am for photos, but she had scheduled her hair and makeup for 9:00am. I explained to her about hair and makeup usually going over which can then push everything back by another hour or two, then of course, traffic on the way since it was a Saturday! We decided that 6:30am was a much better time frame for her to get dolled up (-:
Plus, if she’s running right on time, this means she can get dressed earlier which = MORE PHOTOS! Who doesn’t want that?
3. Choose the right photographer
Speaking of photos…make sure you choose the right photographer. Yes, yes, of course Im biased on this one, but it truly is super important.
If you hire a photographer but you don’t like them as a person…well, that’s going to show in your photos. Your photographer is pretty much with you the entire wedding day and if they make you feel awkward or uncomfortable, it will show!
Never hire a photographer based on their price alone, or any vendor for that matter. Choose people you like and trust who you WANT at your wedding.
4. Choose ceremony & reception locations that are close together, if not at the same place
While ideal, you can’t always have your ceremony & reception at the same location. You want to get married in the church you grew up in but really want your reception at that 100 year old estate in the next town.
Think about this: some of your guests will be visiting from out of town and they may not have a car to drive 45 minutes away. There will be traffic (that you can get stuck in). It takes away from your photography time. If you really can’t have your ceremony & reception at the same location, try to pick places that are 10-15 minutes away from each other instead. This will cause less stress for not only you, but for your guests…and vendors!
Then, having a skilled MC at a wedding is crucial for ensuring a smooth and well-organized event that keeps guests engaged and creates a memorable experience. Nathan Cassar is an award winning master of ceremonies in Sydney.
5. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
Did your florist use a modern rose instead of an english garden rose? Guess what? You’re the only one who knows that. And it’s ok.
Don’t get me wrong, if the english garden rose cost you more, let them know after the wedding because it’s already been done and there isn’t anything you can do about it.
It doesn’t mean the day went to shit though (-: Things go wrong at every single wedding.
From all the over 500 weddings I’ve photographed and things have gone wrong, the day was still beautiful and the couple was still madly in love and in the end, they both said “I Do”.
So don’t sweat the small stuff! Remember why you’re doing this: to get married!
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
Ready to book your wedding with us? Get in touch here!
