Timing, as they say, is everything. This statement is especially true when it comes to weddings. In fact, most of the wedding planning mistakes I see have to do with timing! Want to make sure you avoid these wedding timing mistakes? Here’s what to do instead:
Episode breakdown
1. Booking suppliers too soon
I bet you didn’t think it was possible to book your wedding suppliers too soon!
Here are two instances where too soon could be a problem:
- Choosing suppliers without having a clue about your wedding style: Your wedding style will determine the type of venue you choose, your dress, the type of flowers and so much more. Don’t skip this step – in Episode 33 of the podcast we spoke about exactly how to choose your wedding style and theme.
- Buying your wedding dress at the start of a three year engagement means there is a higher chance that your dress will be out of style and may not fit you properly.
2. Waiting too long to book suppliers
Too soon is a problem, but waiting too long will mean you could lose out on working with your dream wedding suppliers. Stop procrastinating and get booking!
This is especially important if you are getting married during peak wedding season (the summer months) or on a popular wedding date (Bank Holidays and weekends).
3. Sending Save The Dates before finding your wedding venue
There is a bit of a ‘chicken or egg’ situation at play. Do you create a guest list and invite your friends and family before selecting a wedding venue that can accommodate everyone? Or do you choose a wedding venue and only invite the amount of guests that can fit into the venue?
While there’s no precise way to go about it, the least stressful option is to first find a wedding venue that fits into your budget and then send out save the dates.
Type A brides could be one step ahead with a provisional guest list before securing the wedding venue so you know if it will have space for those you want to invite.
4. Waiting till the last minute to book a videographer
So many couples think that having a wedding video is a luxury they cannot afford.
Worst case scenario: you wait too long and can’t find a videographer who is available on your wedding day.
In fact, this accounts for the number one wedding planning regret that couples have! Not having a wedding video to relive your memories, what could be sadder.
5. Mistiming your wedding invitations and Save the Dates
If you give guests too much time to respond, they may put your invitation aside and forget to RSVP. If you don’t give them enough time, you’ll start to put too much pressure on yourself and your timeline. This is what we recommend: send your invitations six weeks before the Big Day. Then ask guests to RSVP two weeks before. This will give them four weeks to receive the invitation and respond promptly. It also gives you time to follow up with anybody who hasn’t responded yet.
Here’s a suggested timeline with some date examples:
Wedding date: 16th September 2024
The date you need to give a final headcount to suppliers: 9th September 2024
RSVP date on the invitation: 1st September 2024
Invitations get sent out: 5th August 2024
6. Focusing too much on the smaller details
The smaller details are important, but they are not urgent. Knowing your reception table shapes or the exact wine you’d like to serve are examples of decisions that will come later.
You want to make sure you’re booking the main suppliers first and saving these details for later.
In episode 30 we listed the suppliers you should book first, before you start focusing on the details.
BONUS: time the festivities of your wedding day perfectly (episode 11).
