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You hired a wedding planner and you're doing everything the magazines told you to do to prepare for your big day, but somehow it isn't all coming together exactly as you imagined. Is it possible that you're not listening to the advice your wedding planner or other vendors are giving you? Remember, you hired these professionals because they know their business and the advice they're giving you is based on dealing with clients just like you. Here, the advice brides are most likely to ignore.
Don't Overspend: If a vendor who will be making money off of your wedding tells you that you really can't afford something you say you want, you should listen. That doesn't mean you won't ultimately ignore their advice and decide that you want to spend the extra money anyway — but at least then you're making an educated decision.
Follow Deadlines: Fill out your marriage license paperwork, plan your wedding ceremony and make your DJ playlists within the first few months of planning to get it out of the way. That said, those three things are the single most procrastinated on items for almost every couple. Some brides even try to write their vows in the bridal suite. Why put it off? No procrastination allowed in wedding planning. Your planner didn't give you a deadline for his or her own entertainment.
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Don't Overdecorate: If you have rented a multi-million dollar venue in a beautiful destination for your wedding, you shouldn't have to drop thousands of dollars on additional décor. Yes, you need linens, lighting, and centerpieces, but there are reasonable and less-expensive choices to make. It's up to you in the end, but if you decide to put expensive and elaborate floral centerpieces on every table in an already beautiful venue, you are truly gilding the lily with your own money.
Remember: Your wedding planner and vendors want you to be happy at your wedding, but they also want you to be happy in the months leading up to it. Their goal is to keep you on budget and help you achieve the wedding day you've been envisioning. So why hire one if you're not going to take their advice? After all, they're there to help you.
Owner of Weddings in Vieques, a destination-wedding planning company off the coast of Puerto Rico, Sandy Malone has helped countless couples plan their big day since 2007.