The Most Common Wedding Planning Mistakes Brides Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Making mistakes during the wedding planning process is inevitable – after all, most people only tackle the task once in their lives!

Luckily, there are professionals who can help you plan your big day and dodge any serious blunders. We sat down with wedding planners Tara O’Grady and Lisa Garofalo of Bliss Events to get some insight into the most common missteps brides make during the preparations and how you can avoid making the same ones:

Low-balling your budget

There are many common details that couples often forget to factor into their budgets and these oversights can result in thousands of extra dollars being added to the final bill. For example, don’t underestimate the impact of service charges or non-negotiable gratuities. If you’re working with a specific, predetermined amount of money, reach out to a professional wedding planner to prepare a budget for you or at least to review the one that you’ve prepared. A professionally-prepared budget is an eye-opening revelation. The unit costs alone may seem reasonable but when everything is added up, the bottom line can result in eye-popping sticker shock. Some planners will offer this service at a flat or hourly rate.

Burning yourself (and your groom!) out before the wedding

There is an ebb and flow to wedding planning. When you’re first engaged, there’s a flurry of activity that includes countless hours surfing the Web, compiling Pinterest boards, back-to-back venue tours, and vendor meetings after work. After the initial booking of vendors is done, take a break from planning, and enjoy your engagement and each other. Before you know it, the lull will be over and the weeks approaching the wedding will be filled with lots of details that require your attention. Enjoy the process and be careful not to exhaust your partner with too much wedding talk.

Overwhelming your bridal party

Be sensitive to your bridal party’s time and finances. Don’t agree to too many events that your bridal party will be expected to plan, attend or purchase gifts for. There are certain time and financial commitments that come along with being in a bridal party but you don’t want to create bad feelings by asking or assuming too much.

Forgetting the first look

Although you may have planned a leisurely day of hair and makeup with your besties, your day is going to fly by! If you’re planning an on-site ceremony later in the afternoon to be immediately followed by the reception, consider planning a “reveal” before the ceremony. Your planner and/or photographer will suggest the perfect setting to see each other for the first time. This is a heartfelt and intimate moment typically followed by formal photography with your families and bridal parties. Then, after your "I dos" your photography will be taken care of so that you can enjoy the remainder of the day along with your guests.

Overdoing it the night before your wedding

Avoid planning your rehearsal dinner the night before your wedding; if possible plan it two days before. You'll want to feel fresh and well-rested the morning of your wedding so it’s best to avoid entertaining guests the night before.