If you haven’t planned a wedding before, you really have no idea about what’s involved. Even once you’re deep into the process, you will no doubt still feel overwhelmed, your head swimming in mood boards, budgets, and partner contracts. Trying to balance all of that is a lot; sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly where you’re at and if you have made smart wedding planning decisions.
According to luxury wedding planner Nicole Natassha Goulding, creative director and founder of Chic By Nicole, when it comes to wedding misses there are a few key ones that routinely top the list. Below, Goulding shares her thoughts on the most common wedding planning fails and the key details which are routinely overlooked by nearlyweds. —Alison McGill
Surprise Delivery Fees
“You always factor in décor charges for your wedding whether it be furniture rentals, linens, tableware or flatware, but one thing most people forget about is the charges that come with delivery and installation of these rental items at your venue,” Goulding says. “If the items need to be delivered at a certain time, to a specific place, then removed at a certain time, there will be extra charges on top of the normal rate which can total up to more than 20 to 30% of your rental charges.”
Skipping Videography
“A videographer sometimes sidelined by couples due to cost, but this is one wedding vendor I think should never be dropped,” Goulding shares. “The great thing with video is it allows you to see a snapshot of your day in small, meaningful fragments, including moments you likely missed while enjoying your day. The story told by video is very different to photography; they are both wonderful and also complimentary. In my mind, you can’t have one without the other.”
Tuned Out Timelines
“Nobody wants a wedding to run late, but if you don’t have realistic timelines set out for the day, beginning in the morning of the event, you will have difficulty keeping things on track,” Goulding cautions. “Couples often underestimate how long certain portions of the day will take. A great example is first look photos—you need to be ready significantly earlier than the ceremony time to fit those in. When we plan events, we always build in time buffers to accommodate things that happen pre-wedding like photography, having breakfast and glam time. It’s always better to be early and prepared than to be late!”
An Underwhelming Guest Experience
“Investing in being a great host is an important part of wedding planning because you always want to avoid any issues of guest dissatisfaction,” Goulding says. “Some things to keep top of mind include putting all relevant event info on your wedding website or invitations, not leaving too long of a gap between events like the wedding ceremony and cocktail reception, planning enough food and drink, and including dynamic entertainment during the party.”
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