Ensure your special day goes without a hitch with our foolproof advice. From venues to the guest list, we’ve got the wedding planning tips to ensure your big day is glitch free.
You might have summer in your mind as the ideal wedding date, but don’t think that means you have to wait two years before you start planning. The earlier you get onto it, the easier, and less stressful it will be as your day approaches. Having a clear plan before you start will help you keep on top of everything and be sure that you don’t forget something important. Insurance, rough guest list numbers and the budget should always be your first three things.
Don’t spend anything until you’ve set a realistic budget that won’t stretch you too far. It’s a common mistake to forget all the little extras, too – for the budget to work, you need to factor in every detail. Don’t forget to account for additional costs like dress alterations, gifts and beauty expenses. These can all add up!
Although it’s your big day, your friends and family will be more than willing to help and will want to be involved in the planning. By getting help from people you trust, you’re more likely to feel that you can be honest if things aren’t exactly as you want them!
Sorting the guest list early is important so you can then focus on finding the perfect venue that will cater for your chosen number of guests. Costs per head will most likely be your biggest expense, so don’t be guilt–tripped into inviting people you don’t want to come. It’s the biggest and hardest decision in the whole planning process, but it has to be yours and your h2b’s decision only.
You may not be a fan of where you currently live, or want to wed where you grew up, but make sure you don’t stray too far from the majority of your guest list, as fewer people will be likely to attend. It will also affect the timings of your day – you can’t expect guests in Liverpool to get to Somerset by 11am, for example. This is especially important if you’re planning a wedding abroad. To be safe, expect that many people won’t be able to make it.
Plan a Bachelorette Party Vacation
It’s always exciting when your best friend, sister, cousin, or that one long-lost friend from your childhood summer camp asks you to be the maid of honor at her wedding. However, with the title comes responsibilities, including setting up the bachelorette party—even if the bride insists it be held in another country.
Setting up a party for a crowd can always be stressful, but throw in a blushing bride-to-be who may go full bridezilla at any moment, six bridesmaids, and long-haul flights and you’re facing stress levels that would make even the most seasoned travelers twitch. Luckily, with a little advance planning, some serious organizational wizardry, and this guide, anyone can plan a bachelorette party whether you’re headed to Turks and Caicos or Turkey.
Before booking your trip, have a heart-to-heart conversation with the bachelorette about her interests, desires, expectations, and personal style. Does she want a quiet girls’ weekend or is she expecting a big city throwdown? Does she want a packed agenda or lots of downtime by the pool? Having these answers far in advance can help you pick a location and avoid disappointment.
Choose your destination.
If you are headed out of the country for your bachelorette party, you will need plenty of time to plan in advance. Pick your destination early enough so everyone has time to purchase tickets, arrange vacation days and child care, and, if necessary, get a passport.
When choosing an international destination, take into consideration travel time, jet lag, and preferences. While a weekend trip to Paris sounds incredible, is it worth spending eight hours on a plane? Or do you prefer something closer with European flair, like Montreal? Are you an expert planner or do you want to keep logistics to a minimum? Will an all-inclusive resort or even a cruise make sense or do you prefer to set your own agenda and activities? Personally I found this to be the perfect bachelorette party idea.
Whether you opt for St. Bart’s, London, or Tulum, keep in mind that big cities and resorts have the most options for bachelorette activities, but those who prefer quieter weekends may find better prices in smaller towns.
Traditionally, guests and the bride-to-be cover their own travel expenses. Once the bachelorette weekend kicks off, though, guests typically chip in to cover costs for the bride. This is where all-inclusive resorts can be a boon as guests simply divide the cost equally. At other resorts or hotels, or when planning activities for the group, ask for group discounts. The worst they can say is no! If you want to stick to a budget, consider traveling during the off-season (Mexico in summer is still lovely) or going midweek.
Bridget Rossi says
March 3, 2011 at 6:29 amI hope you get your red ring problem solved soon, but I think that in addition of researching it over the internet, it would be better to go to a dermatologist instead for an in-depth check-up on that itch, and you should also ask at the jewelry store where you bought it in the past to ask why you've been itchy for the past 17 years.
I also had my custom wedding ring with me that my husband bought at the jewelry stores (Indianapolis) for many years now (Got married in Indianapolis, and the ring was the bomb!), and luckily, there's no itch or whatsoever.