10 Things You Might Forget When Planning a Wedding

Planning a wedding is a pretty big administrative task, and there is a LOT to remember along the way. Therefore, it’s totally natural to forget a couple of things here and there. We’ve no doubt you’ve got the big, beautiful things – your outfits, the venue, creating your wedding website, etc. covered. Still, there are a whole load of other (more practical) details that might not be so obvious that many couples could end up forgetting until much later in their planning journey. Here are some of the most common things that couples forget when planning a wedding – have a read and then make a list!

1. Plan a contingency into your budget

It’s easy(ish) to work out your wedding budget: you’ve got X-amount in savings, your families are contributing X-amount, and you’ve got X-amount of months to put a portion of your monthly earnings aside…sounds straightforward, right? Well, something we hear time and time again is how wedding day costs can start to escalate quite quickly, with fees coming in that you hadn’t even considered! Our advice is to keep 10% of your overall budget tucked away for these unexpected expenses. It’s also worth noting that some vendors and service providers charge extra for trials and treatments and require a deposit to confirm a booking. Therefore, just make sure you have factored in as many elements as possible in your budget plan and have money available when you’re ready to book your wedding dream team.

2. Create a separate wedding email address

A simple but oh-so-important tip: before you start contacting vendors or sending out invitations, set up a dedicated wedding email address. This way, your personal (or work) inbox won’t get overwhelmed with wedmin! Plus, you can organise your emails into relevant folders and keep all important correspondence, such as your marriage license and vendor contracts, filed away safely.

3. Create a vendor contact sheet

This is a super important step to stay on top of your planning. Create a Google sheet and add everyone’s contact details as you go along, including key members of your wedding party. We would also recommend keeping all necessary documents, such as contracts, insurance, etc, in a Drive folder too. Share this with your partner and hand it over to your wedding planner/coordinator or a designated person helping you on the day. This is to ensure they have everything and everyone they need so you can let go, relax, and enjoy your big day.

4. Consider your wedding date

We know how exciting it is to find the perfect venue and excitedly book a date in the future, thinking that’s one thing sorted. But before you sign on the dotted line, just take some time to research what’s happening on that date. Is it anyone’s birthday? Are there any significant events scheduled for then? Both locally and on a grander scale, we’re guessing you probably wouldn’t want your wedding day to clash with a World Cup final!

5. Find out when and where the sun sets

Find some time to chat with your wedding photographer about photo opportunities on the wedding day. The world-famous ‘golden hour’ doesn’t last long, so make sure you plan a bit of time to head off while the sun is setting to capture those magical couples’ portraits. If you’re getting married in winter, remember that there is considerably less daylight during this season. With this in mind, we advise planning your ceremony earlier in the day to make the most of the daylight for confetti, family photos, etc.

6. Allow for alterations

You’ve picked your wedding dress or suit, which is another thing ticked off the list (woohoo!) But don’t forget to allow time and budget for any alterations that might need doing. Seamstresses and tailors are highly skilled people, so they will come at a cost. Plus, it’s important that you look and feel your best on such a big day, so these little tweaks to your wedding gown are always worth making time for.

7. Have an emergency kit

Sometimes, things might not go exactly as planned, so it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit packed in your overnight bag and in the safe hands of one of your bridal party! This could include plasters, a spare pair of (comfortable) shoes, safety pins, a needle and thread, wipes, mints, deodorant – basically anything you might need while getting ready and for throughout the day and night so you can comfortably spend all night long on the dance floor! Hopefully you won’t need any of it, but you will be rest assured knowing that it’s on standby, just in case.

8. Remember to feed your wedding vendors

Some vendors will have catering and drinks written into their contract, especially the ones that are with you for an extended amount of time, such as photographers and musicians. They are working long hours, and weddings can be extremely tiring, so factor them in when it comes to food and refreshments throughout the day. Mention them to your caterer as they may have a specific menu for this very reason, but if not just remember to include them when submitting your final guest count.

9. Prepare for all weather

Depending where in the world you are getting married, the weather may vary dramatically. Summer in Australia can be swelteringly hot, while there’s a high chance you might get rain in the UK. Talk to your venue about weather appropriate options such as an indoor ceremony area, outdoor heating for the evening, or cover from the sun during the peak of the day. No doubt you’ll end up downloading five different weather apps and checking them religiously on the run-up to the big day, but remember they’re not always accurate, so be prepared for a couple of different scenarios. You just never know!

10. Transport

If your ceremony location is different from your reception or you have guests staying in various accommodations in the local area, it’s a good idea to organise some transport for the wedding day. Out of town guests will need more care and attention on the transport front, so include all the details on local taxi companies and transport plans so those guests in particular know where to be and when! Once confirmed, communicate this information through your wedding website. Set pickup times and locations so they know well in advance and confirm how and when they will be able to head back ‘home’ at the end of the evening.

If you've already considered all of these points, you’re doing pretty well on the wedding planning front! There will always be other things to remember that might be personal to you, such as creating a wedding playlist or considering elderly or disabled guests that grooms and brides forget. The key is to try and foresee all eventualities as early as possible so that you don’t get caught out later down the line.