The cost of weddings has skyrocketed over the past decade, with the number of weddings with million dollar budgets doubling just between 2011 and 2012. You may feel that you need a budget in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the perfect wedding, but in fact, the “perfect” wedding will vary with every bride. Here are a few tips to help you in your early planning process so that you can achieve your own kind of “perfect” on your wedding day.
Delegate
With hundreds of details going into planning a large event (especially a wedding) it’s easy for some to fall through the cracks. Planning in advance with trusted friends and family and assigning tasks to them can take some of the load off of your shoulders. Do you have a friend who is a DJ? Ask them about helping find a sound system and rent a dance floor. Do you want a backyard party or reception at your house? Make keys for family members and walk them through the day’s activities and let them know what your needs are.
Don’t Forget the Furniture
In the excitement of your planning, it can be easy to forget the small details, such as table rentals, linen rentals, and other party equipment. However, the furniture adds to the theme of your reception as much as the table decor and wedding invitations, so you should consult with a trusted rental company to find chair and table rentals that match your aesthetic tastes. Keep in mind that the rental can include table cloths, table runners, sashes, and chair covers, allowing you to make your own artistic mark on your big day. You can also ask about trends in event decor, such as LED furniture, which adds a modern, fun flair to any event.
Build your Theme around your Venue
Outdoor weddings are increasingly popular across the United States, and nearly a quarter of all people tie the knot in destination weddings. If you’re planning to have a wedding ceremony and/or reception out doors, be sure to plan for overhead covering if there is rain or some unexpected change in the weather. Tent rentals (particularly sailcloth tents) are available through rental companies and can add a degree of elegance to your wedding. The sides can also be rolled down and discreet heaters can be brought in in the event of unexpected chilly weather.
Destination weddings can provide an unforgettable ambiance and setting for your big day, but planning a long-distance wedding always presents extra challenges. Coordinating with a rental company near the wedding location will reduce stress on the big day. Planning to have friends or members of the bridal party arrive a few days early to coordinate the smaller details, such as table rentals or party accessories, can help everything run more smoothly when guests begin to arrive.
As you plan for your wedding day, it can be easy to become swamped in the details of place settings and dance music. However, your big day should be about celebration and enjoyment with the ones you love. With a little extra prep in advance, you can spend your wedding day thinking less about logistics and more about love.