Weddings are GO again – and we’re as excited about it as you are!  Brides up and down the country are going to be in a frenzy of planning as things return to some kind of normal.  With this in mind the team at Clevedon Hall have put their heads together to draw up a list of the most common planning pitfalls that couples fall into when they get too carried away.  Unless you are Zsa Zsa Gabor (married nine times) or Elizabeth Taylor (eight times) you won’t have had much practice tying the knot.  We’ve helped organise a huge number of nuptials so allow us to share our experience!

You blow the budget

Talking about money is not very romantic - but nor is finding yourself overdrawn and with maxxed out credit cards six months before the big day and a list of suppliers still to pay!  It’s essential to have honest conversations with your partner and parents about what you can realistically afford before you start getting too carried away.  It’s a great idea to hold back 10-15% of your budget as a contingency to cover for last minute surprises or unexpected expenditure.  We also suggest you break down your requirements into “must have” and “nice to have”.  There are certain essentials, like a venue and a dress, that you can’t do without.  List these, and put a maximum figure next to them.  Once you’ve done that (and leaving a budget for contingencies) you can start thinking about a chocolate fountain, a magician or fireworks.

You let the guest list get out of hand

It’s your big day but it’s easy to give in to relatives who insist on inviting their friends or distant relatives you barely know.  You need to set some boundaries otherwise the costs and stress are going to mount up fast.  Relatives who are contributing financially obviously have some say but maybe limit them to ten invites and no more.  Other relatives might just have to accept that the final decision on numbers and couples is yours alone!

You pay too much attention to tradition

Over countless years weddings have gathered up a mass of traditions, superstitions and customs.  The truth is you are free to pick and choose which you want to include and which you’d rather ignore – wearing white, tossing your bouquet, not seeing your partner before you get to the altar….they’re all optional.  It’s your day, your way, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!

You don’t have a wet weather plan  

If you are having a summer wedding and want to hold key moments of your big day outdoors (the ceremony, drinks reception, photographs, a barbecues in the evening) make sure you have a plan B in case the heavens open or a gale gets up – otherwise you are just tempting fate. 

You let Pinterest mess with your head

It’s a great source of style inspiration and useful tips but once you’ve settled on a theme, ordered the dress, booked the cake and decided on your flowers Pinterest is no longer your friend!  It’ll only get you questioning your choices and cause sleepless nights - give your scrolling finger a rest!

You think you don’t need a Videographer

One of the most common regrets we hear from couples after their big day is that they didn’t go the extra mile and capture it on video.  Photos are wonderful but there are some moments, like the speeches, the vows, the first dance, the bouquet toss, that are all about sound and movement.  The day goes past so fast that you’ll definitely wish you’d invested a bit more and had an easy way to press rewind.

You micromanage your suppliers

It’s only natural that you want everything to be perfect but your suppliers are pros – trust their expertise, experience and judgement.  They want everything to be perfect too as their business depends on the quality of their work and service, plus they’ll take great personal pride in doing a great job.  All you have to do is choose them carefully, brief them properly, then let them get on with it.  Ask questions but if you want them to give their best give them some creative freedom. 

You don’t pay sufficient attention to the legals

Tying the knot is not just about romance, celebration and making magical memories – there’s are also some boring, but important, legal things that need squaring away. For instance, celebrant ceremonies are not legal in England and Wales so you will need to register your intent to marry with the registry office and book your appointment to sign the legal documents.  If you are having a destination wedding in some far flung corner of the globe make sure it will be legally valid in the UK.  Even if you are getting married in church, in the UK, you need to register it within a week of the ceremony or you could face a £1,000 fine!

We’re here to help

There’s so much to think about when planning your wedding that it’s super easy to do things that, with hindsight, you regret.  We hope this post helps you avoid some of the most common pitfalls but the best thing is to talk all your plans through with our experienced team – their experience and knowledge will help create an event that goes off beautifully.