Cedar Springs (venue); Elevated Events by Tosha (wedding planner) (Photo courtesy Cindy Nguyen Photography)
‘Til Lists Do Us Part
Cedar Springs (venue); Elevated Events by Tosha (wedding planner) (Photo courtesy Cindy Nguyen Photography)
Getting married is easily one of the greatest things that can happen to anyone. However, planning a wedding can spiral into a terrible hassle. Questions and concerns may swirl. What am I supposed to do? Who can I call? Will I be able to pull this off? The next thing you know, you’re crying into a quart of chocolate ice cream at 3 in the morning.
Do not fear, though. With the proper resources and a to-do list, it’s possible to create a wonderful and memorable wedding without destroying your mental health.
Yet, it’s critical to watch out for the common pitfalls of wedding planning. Tosha Chavez, a wedding planner from Elevated Events by Tosha, says that “a lot of people have a tough time putting together the timeline” for their wedding. That’s why there is a 12-month to-do timeline list below. It reviews all the necessary elements for a great wedding and shows when they need to be completed.
When it comes to timelines, Chavez says that couples must “start with a budget, before any other wedding planning. It’s really important to consider what your total cost is going to be.” It’s vital to know the resources that can go into your big day.
Another wedding planner, Chloe Hix from CME Experience, agrees with Chavez. “The big thing before you should start planning any kind of event is making sure that you know what your overall fund is and how many guests you want to invite,” Hix says.
Your wedding should be one of the best days of your lives — so plan it thoughtfully, design intentionally and then sit back and enjoy it.”
~ Taylor Rychener,
Bixby + Pine
It’s also very important, according to wedding planner Holly Rohrbacher from Holly Rohrbacher Events, “to assemble a team that you can trust, so that when it comes down to your wedding day, you can relax and know that you’re in good hands.” Surround yourself with people you can trust and rely on.
Elevated Events by Tosha (Photo courtesy Cindy Nguyen Photography)
Keep in mind that those close to you can create a secondary pitfall in the wedding planning process. Hix shares that interpersonal and family dynamics can be challenging during this period. “It comes down to trying to please everyone,” she says. Often, friends and family members have their own ideas about what a wedding should look like, and couples want to make them happy.
However, Rohrbacher believes in the importance of couples having the wedding that they want. She says, “Follow your heart when it comes to wedding planning, too. You probably have ideas that may or may not be different than your mother-in-law’s, your mom’s, your wedding planner’s or your best friend’s. I think the deal would be to just follow your own instincts and your heart and your plan. Stick to your guns. If your vision is different than the people around you, you’re the one that ultimately is going to live with it for the rest of your life, and so it should be what you want it to be.”
Bixby + Pine (Photo courtesy Levi Hrizco)
Chavez also says, “Don’t feel like you need to stick to traditions in weddings. For example, if you don’t think a garter toss or a bouquet toss is a genuine representation of you as a couple, then there are plenty of alternatives and other items that we can fit into the day and have instead.” After all, it is your day. Do what you want.
“I recommend tailoring your wedding with personal items that really share you two as a couple and what it means to be in that relationship,” Chavez says. That’s because “this day is about you guys as a couple.” It doesn’t matter what others think the wedding should look like. Do what makes you comfortable and happy.
Taylor Rychener, a Bixby + Pine wedding planner, adds, “Plan and design something that is unique and authentic to you two as individuals and as a couple. … Don’t do things because you have to. Don’t partake in something ‘because it’s tradition.’ Don’t eat cake if you want to eat ice cream. Make your day so uniquely you, that it wouldn’t make sense for someone else to have your wedding.”
Even if the wedding doesn’t go the way you would like, though, know that it will still be a magical moment. “The most important thing to remember is that it’s about the two of (you) getting married and becoming one,” Hix says. “At the end of the day, there will be a few things that might not be exactly how you envisioned, or something could go wrong. But, the important thing is that (you) get married.” In the end, the wedding will be special, because it celebrates something so important and special.
“Your wedding should be one of the best days of your lives — so plan it thoughtfully, design intentionally and then sit back and enjoy it,” Rychener advises.
With these handy lists and ideas in your figurative pockets, you are on your way to success. Don’t panic. Enjoy the journey, and may your wedding day be as bright and beautiful as your future.
Now, let’s get started.
Holly Rohrbacher Events
To-Do List Timeline
This is a yearlong to-do list for your wedding, broken down by the month when the items should be completed. It’s compiled based on insights from Brides and Glamour magazines and Heather Chesky Photography.
Mary Beth Barrett is an undergraduate student at Northwest University in Kirkland, studying English. When not in class, she can be found working in Student Services or reading a good book. She is currently...
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