10 Things You Might Forget When Planning a Wedding

Planning a wedding is a pretty big administrative task and there is a LOT to remember along the way. Therefore it’s totally natural to forget a couple of things here and there. The big, beautiful things we’ve no doubt you’ve got covered – your outfits, the venue, creating your wedding website etc. But there are a whole load of other (more practical) details which might not be so obvious and that many couples could end up forgetting until much later on in their planning journey. Here are some of the most common things that couples forget when planning a wedding – have a read and then make a list!

1. Plan a contingency into your budget

It’s easy(ish) to work out your budget: you’ve got X-amount in savings, your families are contributing X-amount and you’ve got X-amount of months to put a portion of your monthly earnings aside...wonderful. We hear time and time again how wedding costs start to escalate quite quickly, with fees coming in that you hadn’t even considered! Our advice is to keep 10% of your overall budget tucked away for unexpected expenses. It’s also worth noting that some vendors and service providers charge extra for trials and treatments and require a deposit to confirm a booking. Just make sure you have determined as many elements as possible in your budget plan and that you have money available when you’re ready to book your wedding dream team.

2. Create a separate wedding email address

A simple but oh so important tip – before you start contacting vendors or sending out invitations, set up a dedicated wedding email address. This way your personal (or work) inbox won’t get overwhelmed with wedmin! Plus, you can organise your emails into relevant folders, and keep all correspondence in one place.

3. Create a vendor contact sheet

This is a super important step in order to stay on top of your planning. Create a Google sheet and add everyone’s contact details as you go along, including key members of your wedding party. Keep all important documents such as contracts, insurance etc in a Drive folder too. Share this with your partner and hand it over to your planner / coordinator or whoever is helping you on the day. This is to ensure they have everything and everyone they need so you can relax and enjoy your big day.

4. Consider your wedding date

We know how exciting it is to find the perfect venue and excitedly book a date in the future thinking that’s one thing sorted. But before you sign on the dotted line just take some time to research what’s happening on that date. Is it anyone’s birthday? Are there any major events scheduled for then? Both locally and on a grander scale. We’re guessing you probably wouldn't want your wedding day to clash with a World Cup final!

5. Find out when and where the sun sets

Have a chat to your photographer about photo opportunities on the wedding day. The world-famous ‘golden hour’ doesn’t last long so make sure you plan a bit of time to head off while the sun is setting to capture some magical couples’ portraits. If you're getting married in winter remember that there is considerably less daylight during this season. Our advice is to plan your ceremony earlier in the day to make the most of the daylight for confetti, group photos etc.

6. Allow for alterations

You’ve picked your dress / suit which is another thing ticked off the list (woohoo!) but don’t forget to allow time, and budget, for any alterations that might need doing. Seamstresses and tailors are highly skilled people so will come at a cost. Plus it’s important that you look and feel your best on such a big day, so these little tweaks are always worth making time for.

7. Have an emergency kit

Sometimes things might not go exactly to plan which is why it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit packed and in the safe hands of one of your wedding party! This could include plasters, a spare pair of (comfortable) shoes, safety pins, a needle and thread, wipes, mints, deodorant – basically anything you might need while getting ready and throughout the day. Hopefully you won’t need any of it but you will be rest assured knowing that it's on standby, just in case.

8. Remember to feed your vendors

Some vendors will have this written into their contract, especially the ones that are with you for an extended amount of time such as photographers and musicians. They are working long hours and weddings can be extremely tiring so factor them in when it comes to food and refreshments throughout the day. Mention them to your caterer – they may have a specific menu for this very reason, but if not just remember to include them when submitting your final numbers.

9. Prepare for the weather, all weather

Depending where in the world you are getting married the weather may vary dramatically. Summer in Australia can be swelteringly hot whilst there's a high chance you might get rain in Britain. Talk to your venue about weather appropriate options such as an indoor ceremony area, outdoor heating for the evening, or cover from the sun during the peak of the day. No doubt you’ll end up downloading five different weather apps and be checking them religiously on the run up to the big day! Remember though they’re not always accurate so be prepared for a couple of different scenarios…you just never know!

10. Transport

If your ceremony location is different to your reception, or you have guests staying in various accommodations in the local area, it’s a good idea to organise some transport for the wedding day. Once confirmed, communicate this information through your wedding website. Set pick up times / locations so they know well in advance and confirm how and when they will be able to head back ‘home’ at the end of the evening.

If you had already considered all of these points, then you’re doing pretty well on the wedding planning front! There are other things to remember that might be personal to you such as creating a wedding playlist or considering elderly / disabled guests. The key is to try and foresee all eventualities as early as possible so that you don’t get caught out later down the line.