PLANNING YOUR PERFECT WEDDING

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Are you looking to plan a perfect wedding? Think it’s an impossible task? Fear not. We have been covering weddings for over 17 years now and over that time, as you can imagine, we’ve seen a few things and can help you plan better. We’ve noticed that those weddings that run smoothly all have a common theme. While those that don’t are usually for a handful of the same reasons. More than likely this is your first time planning a wedding, and you’re probably thinking ‘where do I start?’ That’s where these tips come in for you. As seasoned photographers, we've seen what stresses many out and discovered what they would have changed in hindsight. So, you don’t have to learn the hard way, as we are sharing with you our essential wedding planning tips that will guarantee you’ll enjoy your wedding planning and the wedding day itself.

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Plan Ahead

We’ve seen some couples that are super organised, and have been able to plan perfect weddings in few weeks! That being said, giving yourself time to plan will ease the pressure levels. Most take between 6 months to a year which allows time also to save for those special treats you’ve dreamed of having. when couples plan their wedding on average 6-12 months ahead, they’re the least stressful and best planned weddings. Things to consider planning can include simple, but essential things such as; what style will your wedding be: traditional or relaxed and informal? What colours will you choose? Soft tones or or bold colours? 
 

Keep A Notebook. Seriously!
Many get so wrapped up in the planning stages that they actually miss it once the wedding is over! So keep jotting down all the ideas that pop up along the way. Take plenty of photos of the venues you’ve visited, dresses you tried on, cakes you tried etc. Then you can look back over these on your first anniversary to relive the fun you had.

Delegate!

Do you really need to do everything yourself? Friends and family would love to help out, especially on the wedding day. Plan and delegate as much as possible, especially for the forgotten things like: Who will have the instructions for how to tie the men’s cravats or knows the etiquette for which side the button holes or women’s corsages go? Who’ll make sure that the house is locked up before you leave for the wedding? Who is the emergency contact should something need urgent attention?
 

Be Present In Each Moment

While your wedding planning will take some time, your wedding day will go by so very quickly! So I always advise couples to take time to savor the day. Plan a 10 min break during the day / evening so you can both step back and talk to each other about how much you’re both enjoying the day. Or as one couple said: “Just try and take times out during the day where you put the focus on each other and forget and ignore everyone else around you. Like when you are taking photos, when you are seated at the reception Plus do plan all the bits that are important to you beforehand as it won’t stop you worrying on the day, but it will reduce it.” If it matters to you, do a quick run through the guests especially those that you would like to take pictures with as they are seated at the reception. 

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Do A Dummy Run

A good idea is to provide accurate online or printed driving instructions for all guests to know the recommended route to and from venues. Consider doing a dry run for shoes so that you don’t have to deal with a shoe which doesn’t fit well. You’ll be on your feet for several hours, do you really want to be wearing a brand new pair of shoes and end up with blisters? Be prepared by packing a neutral pair of shoes in case a heel breaks or, with the best planning in the world, you still feel uncomfortable in your footwear. Do the exact hair, make-up and nails you intend to do on your wedding day from the same vendors, so you know exactly how long it takes and also if you need to guide your stylist on things you like or dislike. Or better still, if you need to make drastic changes according to your head shape. Also, if possible, go for a simple shoot with your photographers to get acquainted beforehand. There’s nothing more awkward than seeing someone you don’t expect or even like being the same human taking your wedding pictures.

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​Have A Plan B

Most weddings are planned during June through early November when “the weather is at it’s best” (“Yeh right!” until our weather shocks all the excitement out of you. Been there, seen too many instances to count) So, if it does rain, don’t agonise over what could have been, but be prepared to embrace it, as you’re marrying the love of your life and one day of rain is inconsequential compared to the years of happy married life ahead of you both! So although you aim for a perfect wedding, remember and allow for a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t play according to the rules. Why not buy some white umbrellas and make it a part of the photos, as many artistic photos have been taken in the rain! Or try buying multi-coloured umbrellas for the bridal party and plan for a splash of colour! If your wedding is in open air space, book a venue that has indoor space just to be on a safe side

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Trust Your Suppliers

While this may be your first wedding planning adventure, it won’t be for your professionals. So don’t stress if things start to go wrong, let the professionals handle it for you as they’ve likely dealt with more bad weather, stressed guests, straying scheduling etc. than you will ever need to know about. They are the best way to get things back on track, as their priority will be caring for you and making sure you enjoy the day as much as possible and on the photographers side, we actually love taking the best photographs and videos ever taken. We go out each day looking forward to our best work yet so relax and trust us to have your back and the inconsistencies. Also, if you’re undecided whether to book a professional photographer to record your wedding, or instead ask a friend with a camera to do the job, I promise you Professional is the best choice no matter how cool looking the pictures from your birthday party they took looked, it’s not worth the leap of faith and its not to be compared with your big day abeg!

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Make Sure You Eat And Drink

You’ll get so hyped up wanting everyone to enjoy the day that you can easily forget to look after yourself, or be afraid that you’ll miss something if you stop to have something to eat and drink. Don’t try to be everywhere at once, you not only want to plan a perfect wedding, you also want to remember it for all the right reasons. Aim to enjoy the moments around you and let your photographer and videographer capture those other moments for you to look back over after the wedding. Always remind yourself to smile. SMILE SMILE SMILE, our cameras love you.

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Assign Duties

Remember to be kind, thoughtful, and polite. Remember to thank them when they have taken their time and effort for you. The function of a bridesmaid is to attend to the needs of the bride. While the majority of the duties fall on the maid of honor, each member of the bridal party should be willing to assist. Whether that means delivering invitations or picking up your shoes from the mall. Ask your bridesmaids to help you and assign them duties as they have time to help. Being organised for your wedding is not just a good thing, it is a critical thing. The organized bride has everything she needs at hand when she needs it. She is not searching for a necessary item that slipped her mind. Be organised, but cut yourself some slack. If some little something goes wrong, you have two choices, laugh it off or ruin the honeymoon screaming and crying. The second option usually doesn’t end well. Life isn’t perfect, but you can be perfectly happy with a little effort.

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