It’s not surprising that wedding planning can be one of the most stressful, overwhelming and confusing things you’ll ever have to do in your life.
There’s so many things to consider – both certain and uncertainties – as well as having a back-up plan (or two!) in case of bad weather or other things that are out of your control.
That’s why we’ve created this blog post to address some of the FAQ’s surrounding all things wedding planning – read on to find out more, and let us address some of your concerns!
What About… Invitations, RSVP’s and a Gift Registry?
1. When’s the best time to send out our invitations?
Assuming you sent out some save the dates 6 months to a year in advance, the best time to send out invitations with all the details is usually around 12 - 16 weeks before the wedding date – but, for out-of-town weddings, it can be beneficial to send then more than 12 weeks in advance, in order to allow guests to have more time to make any necessary preparations.
2. When should I send out the RSVP’s?
Usually, RSVP’s are sent out around 6-8, or more, weeks before the wedding date – as many caterers require at least 30 days’ notice of table numbers, and so this ensures that there is no rushing and reduces stress leading up to the big day.
3. Should I have a Gift Registry?
Nowadays, wedding couples often ask for financial contributions towards a house, honeymoon or other special events in their life – but it is also becoming increasingly common to ask for donations to charities instead. However, if you are still opting to go for the traditional route, Amazon allows you to create a ‘wish list’ – of which can easily be sent out and shared to your guests to help them with present ideas. Or you can use sites like myregistry.com that allows you to create a list of all sorts of products from different sites.
How to Navigate Getting Ready
1. When should I (and my bridal party) start getting ready?
Depending on the number of your bridal party, it is commonplace to start getting ready around 4 to 5 hours before your ceremony is due to begin – this allows ample time for hair, make-up and any last minute dress alterations, whilst still allowing you to have some fun!
2. Should all of my bridesmaids/ wedding party arrive at the same time for hair and make-up?
We recommend that yes, they do – that way, if someone is running late, then the assistants can just move onto the next person, and come back to them once they’ve arrived. In addition, this allows you to spend most of the morning relaxing and having fun with your friends!
3. Should we get ready at home, or at the wedding venue itself?
This can vary, depending on the person, your budget and own preferences: but most brides opt to get ready at the venue itself. This helps to reduce stress around timings, as well as avoid any potential hair and make-up issues when on the way to the ceremony – especially if it’s a windy, wet day!
The Ceremony Itself
1. How will the bridal party process in during the ceremony?
This depends entirely on the wedding couple’s preferences; two common combinations are: the bridesmaids walk in independently ahead on you, the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in together. There’s usually plenty of wiggle room, depending on your ceremony style and venue, so feel free to collaborate with your party to see if they have ideas!
2. What are ushers, and do we need to have them at our ceremony?
Ushers are assistants that wait by the doors of the venue, to greet and direct guests to their seats: they’re there to make sure that things run smoothly for you! In the case of churches, most require you to have an usher – but for most other venues, it’s completely up to you! Make sure to weigh the benefits of having an usher with how strict your venue is on timings and how strict (and talkative!) your guests are!
3. Should we ask the officiant to step out of the way for our ‘ceremony kiss’ photo?
Yes, yes, yes – a hundred times over! Most officiants will automatically move out of the way: but it won’t hurt to remind them – don’t worry, they won’t find you rude. Not only does this avoid any awkward, background interruptions – but it also makes sure that this special moment is free of any distractions. After all, you’re paying for these beautiful photos!