Good, Bad, and Ugly of Wedding Planning

A beautiful union of two people shared with friends and family at a wedding are a unique and complicated ritual practiced by millions of people around the world each year. But how much goes into a wedding shocks people!

Never Fear!!!! 

       Working for a place called Kiana Lodge, I have seen a large number of events, good and bad and seen some good and bad things that go into each event. My favorite are weddings, each are so unique and different and express the couple beautifully. Now, seeing so many weddings, I have the added bonus of seeing daily, what not to do for your wedding. How to plan for what suits you best.

      To create your special day, you need to be level headed, calm, and have a plan. That is what every bride who walks through our door and has a successful wedding does.
       Kiana is a great and unique place that hosts weddings two, three even five times a week. We will decorate, set up, tear down, and best of all, we have a great in house catering. But this isn't an advertisement for Kiana. This is my way of showing that I have seen it all when it comes to weddings, good, bad, and unfortunate.

Good

There a so many good things that can come to those who wait. True, but in wedding planning, having a short deadline can put way too much pressure on you and its stress you don't need to add. 

                           What does that mean for wedding planning? 

1. Create a Plan!

Does that seem like advice you here everywhere? I am sure its the first thing your family started to ask after your engagement. The best thing you can do is Plan, Plan Plan is the biggest and most important part of a wedding, but it doesn't have to consume your life,

I suggest a organizational binder, organize your thoughts, and everything you and hubby-to-be need. 

Tabs will be your best friend and keep you organized. Business Cards are great and can be tapped to the front cover of the binder to be easily accessible. A pouch with pen and paper will allow you to write down your thoughts and keep in a safe place, and don't think you have to follow the traditions you see. This is "YOUR" day, so enjoy it for you and your fiance, your guests will find the love you share the most memorable part of the wedding. 

2. Budget, Budget, Budget!

Having a Budget for your wedding is tied with planning for the most important thing you can do with/about your wedding. Though with a budget, some planners will ask you "What can you afford?" this should be phrased "What do you WANT to afford" you may be able to afford a $25,000 wedding, but choose to only spend $13,000. That is great, but stick to it! and don't be afraid of the magic word. "No" say no to what you don't like, don't want. This is "YOUR" Day!

3. Check it

Create a check list of thing you need to do or want to do. There are so many check lists you can get online, I would suggest the knot  where you can customize your checklist to create the wedding perfect for who you are. Back yard wedding? Great, that saves on a venue. Your friend is a minister, mother is a baker. Family friends. 

4. Be Creative

You are allowed to love your pinterest boards and use them to inspire your own wedding. Sometimes, you may see something that inspires you. I want a back yard wedding with an eclectic mix of lanterns and mason jars filled with candles and colored paper to create a soft and romantic glow. 

Pictures are your friend!


5. Find the Perfect Vendors
           I recently read an article on wedding photographers justifying their prices. At first, I though $2000-$3000 for photos of a day, then I thought. No, that makes a lot of sense, and here is why: Professional camera lenses, cameras and travel. The time it takes to edit your photos, some photographers hire a second shooter to help get more angles. All that takes time and money. For the price, its well worth it to have amazing photos of your day. 
          When I get married, I already know who I want as my wedding photographer. Tonie Christine Photography is my favorite wedding photographer, but she doesn't just do weddings, Engagement photo shoots and something I find an brilliant idea for a wedding present for your husband to be, boudoir shoots, and Tonie makes the pictures look tasteful, seductive, and perfect. 

"I am my beloved's and he is mine.." - Bella by Tonie is all about capturing your beauty and confidence for your husband! To book your Bella by Tonie shoot or to host your own Bella Bash, www.toniechristine.com

         This is one of her many brilliant photos that I have seen. Its so cute how she displayed the rings, not in a traditional setting, but it works so well! Knowing this, I already know who I want for my wedding photographer, even if I don't know the groom :)

Wedding planners can also save your life, If you are not creative, or don't want to take the time to be super creative, find that one person who will be. Bixby + Pine who will make your life 1,000 times better. These gals get it done, and they don't just do weddings, food, and treats are also on their radar and their modo "We Get it Done" is so true. They get your wedding set so you don't have to stress. Its worth is to hire planners when you need help. Bonus, My friends and Tonie Christine are Friends with those at Bixby + Pine and the combo is a perfect marriage of glam, style and confidence.
Find the perfect vendor for you by research, ask your friends, they may have secrets like me who they would recommend in a heart beat.

Also, don't hire your best friend to do pictures, they wont get the opportunity to enjoy the wedding with you. 

Bad

1. Drama Drama Drama

  I have seen some pretty dramatic weddings, one where the bride and groom somehow were able to get an ex couple escorting each other down the isle. It didn't blow up thankfully, but there was a shouting match in the brides room before hand. Don't bring it with you, and at the same time. Don't create it. 

Ladies, if you are bridesmaid #7 of 7. Don't think its because she loves you less, its hard to order your friends and put them in a hierarchy. Its an honor to be in the bridal party, so don't make a fuss about your order. Just enjoy your time with the bride. 

2. Timeline

       Having a time table for the days events is a good idea to keep the day or night moving. However, do not freak out when dinner is late, or the ceremony runs long. Everything will smooth over in the end. However, if you are sick from the Bachelorette party the night before, that may derail all your plans. 

Ugly

Working so many weddings, I have seen some true wedding fails. Here are some tips and stories that will help you see, Even when everything falls apart, there is a silver lining. 

1. Miss Communication 

    This award goes to a bride and her family, who didn't plan for desert. Or I should say, they all planned that it wasn't their job to order desert. When it came to setting up the sweets table, the bride asked her father where the deserts were, and he look at his wife who looked at the grooms parents, who looked at the groom, who looked back at his bride. OOPS!!! Luckily, the family was so cool and the bride and groom laughed, took a picture with their empty table, and sent the father of the bride to Costco for cheese cake and cake.  While it wasn't the array of sweets they planned. Their guests were happy and it ended up saving them a few bucks on the food budget. 

2. Sick Baby

      One of the more fun weddings I worked was this large party and fun loving bride and groom who's daughter was about 18 months old. She was an adorable addition to the wedding party, but all the excitement of being in front of 200 people got to her and she (held by a bridesmaid) Threw up and in the background of the wedding, you see this bridesmaid leap from the stage with the sick baby girl. She luckily didn't have any more problems that night, but it will be a ceremony video they will never forget. 

3. Heel Toe, not so dosey doe 

Actual Kiana Wedding Site

      When you tour your venue, check out the ground, grass, gravel, pavement, stone. Each can be different on your feet, shoes and anything else you plan to bring down the isle. I have seen way too many brides, who plan to have their ceremony over looking the water on the grass. 

Beautiful location, and seven bridesmaids with stiletto heels didn't make it down the isle easy, especially after a rainy night. One of the girls got stuck and had to have the groomsmen she walked with pull her foot from the grass. 

The walk down the isle took a bit longer than the party had planned, and magically, after the ceremony, all seven girls became barefoot.