{Blunders to Steer Clear Of} Offering to Cover Wedding Related Expenses

We’re back today with a continuation of our series on: Blunders to Steer Clear of After Getting Engaged.

Today we evaluate a mistake that is huge.  Staying within your wedding budget is difficult enough.  If a bridesmaid agrees to be in your bridal party make sure you don’t assume she understands what her responsibilities are.

This may be her first time participating in a wedding.  She may accept your invitation if she is under the impression that you are covering her costs.Creative way to ask your BFF to be in your wedding. (if you have not seen these you need to check them out.) Put your own spin on asking your girlfriends the oh-so important question. Will you Be My Bridesmaid?

Don’t Go There

Don’t offer to pay for something you can’t afford. You may have the very best motives but you have your own budget to consider. Being asked to be a part of the wedding party is an honor.  Be clear about your expectations and her level of commitment. Lay out what her responsibilities are as your bridesmaid.

Money talks are a somewhat complicated subject to address.  Talk to her and be honest.  Let her know she’s one of your top choices but you understand if she has other commitments that make it difficult for her to take part.

While you may not be obligated to pay, you should be considerate of how your decisions will affect your bridal party. At the very least, make their financial obligations clear as soon as possible and try to make choices that don’t place too much burden on them.

Enhanced by Zemanta

{Blunders to Steer Clear Of} Are You Leaving Him Out?

A continuation of our series: Blunders To Steer Clear Of After Getting Engaged

Mistake #3 – Leaving  Your Groom Out of the Planning Process

Get Your Groom Involved in the Wedding Planning

The days of solo wedding planning are behind us.  Not only are mothers and daughters concerned with the wedding plans but so are many of modern-day grooms.  Don’t assume he doesn’t want to help. Get him involved.  Don’t leave him out.   After all, it’s important for both of you to feel connected to this process.

If you’re one of the fortunate brides whose groom wants to be involved in every decision then consider yourself lucky.  Give him his list and treat yourself to a day at the spa.

If you’d like more input then consider these tips.

Let Him Choose

Right at the very start of the planning stages, find out which parts of the planning he wants to be in charge of.   This will allow him to choose what interests him (like finding the right DJ over selecting wedding favors).

 

 

 

Narrow Down His Choices

Yes, I’ll say it.  Men have short attention spans.  Once you’ve narrowed it down give him a short list of options for each stage of the planning process.  Get his opinion from these lists.  Keep your wedding planning conversations with him brief. An hour of debating lavender and gray or hot pink and teal will have his eyes glazing over.

 

 

 His Ideas Count

You wanted him involved, so be prepared when he gives you an honest opinion. Let him know his suggestions matter and are important to you.   Marriage requires compromise.  Be willing to listen and don’t reject his opinions.

 

 

 

Good Negotiator?

Let him take on some of the vendors.  Let him choose the ones that appeal to him.  He may be interested in finding the right DJ, even setting up wedding day transportation. Ask him to work out the prices with vendors, and see what kinds of “extras” he can manage to get included in your packages.

 

 

Honeymoon Planning

Your guy probably already has a plan for your honeymoon.  Almost all grooms are eager to have a direct say in this part of the wedding planning.  So, make a few suggestions but let him come up with options for that too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make it easy for him to participate. In wedding planning, no task is unimportant.  Keep things organized in a way both of you can easily make decisions.

You never know, maybe he’ll even blow your socks off by throwing you a few wedding planning tips.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

{Blunders to Steer Clear Of} Wedding Overload

Today we’re back with a continuation of our series, Blunders To Steer Clear Of After Getting Engaged

Mistake number two:  – Taking On Too Much, Too Fast

Hooray, it’s happened! He proposed, you said Yes! You get to start planning the wedding of your dreams.

Pull out that dream wedding album you started when you were a little girl.  You documented your ideas, designs and dreams for your big day in one little book that you’ve kept tucked under your bed since then. You’ve most likely hit the ground running and you want the whole world to know you’re engaged!  You obsessively search blogs, magazines and Google things for your wedding until your brain feels like it’s going to explode!

Continue reading “{Blunders to Steer Clear Of} Wedding Overload”