Would you take wedding planning advice from someone who’s been to over 200 of them? Yes? GREAT! You’re in the right place. Let’s talk about some simple wedding planning hacks I have learned over the years. These hacks will save you time, money and reduce stress levels significantly. The last thing we want is for you to be stressed. This is the time to feel happy, stress is not welcome here!
Create a separate email address
If you’re one of the beautiful couples that have reached out to me already, chances are you’ve heard this one. An email address that you and your partner use just for the wedding planning process, is a must. It keeps everything in one place, and if you use Gmail, you’ll also get free access to other helpful tools that are shareable between the two of you (hello spreadsheets and to-do lists!). The beauty of this is:
a) nothing can get lost
b) you both have access at any time
c) when your wedding is over, you can simply delete the account and you won’t be bombarded with emails in the future that are no longer relevant.
Invest in a good wedding planning resource
Budgets, timelines, contact details, key decisions, seating, guest lists, suppliers, RSVPs… there’s a lot to manage. Investing in a good-quality wedding planning resource is going to be your saviour! There are many options out there, we always go for a digital option as it can be accessed anywhere and can’t be lost (CAN YOU IMAGINE!). We may be biased but hey, we’re allowed to be – something like The Brides Playbook is affordable and was created by people who do this for a living. It’s helpful and can be yours at the click of a button.
Send out online RSVPs
Have you ever had to manage RSVPs for a major event before? It can be… time-consuming to say the least. Don’t even get us started on postage, return postage, lost mail, people forgetting to put their name on the card, people forgetting altogether! It doesn’t need to be this way. Using an online platform is *very* simple / affordable / efficient. And don’t worry, you can still send out keepsake invitations if you wish, this just makes the RSVP process much simpler for you and your guests.
Choose a weekday
“Whaaaat?! Blasphemy!” we hear you say. But listen, there are so many benefits to choosing to wed on a weekday, and huge savings is just the beginning. Your preferred venue and vendors are more likely to be available, hotels and accommodation are less expensive, you might be able to wed sooner, and it’s a day off work. Woo! But seriously, choosing to marry on a weekday is a fabulous option that opens up many doors to achieving your dream wedding.
Choose with the season
Making both floral and catering based on the season you’re getting married in, as well as your location will help your budget go further. It’s always more cost-effective to choose what’s in season and to choose items that are readily available in the area you’re getting married. Being smart and reducing the transportation costs as well as reducing your logistical costs (i.e. having to outsource transportation) really does help the bottom line – think local florists, stylists, and caterers.
Facebook Marketplace is your friend
Before you go pay full price for certain decorative items, check Facebook Marketplace. You’d be surprised how many wonderful bargains you’ll be able to find in the lead-up to your wedding. Chairs, umbrellas, flowers, veils, dresses, shoes, and welcome signs – these are just a few of the items that are constantly circulating on buy/swap/sell pages. Plus, when your wedding is over, you’ll be able to list for another bride to enjoy (and maybe get some cashback too!). Win-win! (NB: this is not to be relied on! Give yourself a timeline and if it hasn’t popped up on FB Marketplace, it’s time to look elsewhere)
Print one menu per table or per 6 people
Simple really, but cutting down on your printing costs is easy when you’re only printing one menu per table (or 6 people) instead of one per each individual guest.
Skip dessert
Now we LOVE a dessert, absolutely love it. But if you’ve spent the day serving up drinks, cocktails, canapes, dinner, and you’re having cake… do you really need dessert? In my experience, most people are full by this stage and are more interested in the dance floor than they are sweets.
There are many ways to make your life easier and the planning process less complicated, and good news – that’s why we’re here. If you have any questions or need someone to bounce some ideas off, give us a buzz. We’re really funny / nice / smart / modest.
Kerstyn x
WEDDING PLANNING | WEDDING COORDINATION | WEDDING MC | MASTER OF CEREMONIES | HIRE A BRIDESMAID
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