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Your wedding day is easily one of the most important days in your life. And while many brides have been dreaming of the occasion since childhood, those dreams do not always come to fruition when the groom's wishes are taken into account, as well as the flexibility needed when it comes to your date and location. Emotions will be on high, thus compromising will not be easy, but we tapped the expert advice of planner-to-the-stars Bryan Rafanelli for a few ways you can make the process enjoyable if you need to be flexible with some of your wishes.
Have a few dates and locations in mind while planning.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket," advises Rafanelli. It's hard to stay flexible if you have been planning your dream day in your head even before you met your dream man, but your wedding is more likely to go off without a hitch if you are open to a few options and possibilities.
Expect to book your location a year in advance,
Almost every great venue books up quickly, so give yourselves a year in order to get your favorite location. Not to fret, though, says Rafanelli: "Don't let this get you down if you're eager to get married in a shorter timeframe. Six months out is when the venue holds are released and unfortunately, but fortunate for you the cancellations roll in."
August and September are the most popular months for weddings, so you should consider other times of year for more availability.
If you're looking to book a wedding for late summer/early fall, your thinking is the same as a slew of other couples all over the country. It's unexpected, but Rafanelli suggests tying the knot in January. "We're excited for an upcoming January wedding. We love winter weddings, think fur, fire and winter white!" Chic, no?
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Remember that this day is a celebration of you and your fiancé first and foremost.
"It is always important to take parents' opinions into account and try to make everyone happy," says Rafanelli. He continues, "You can make them feel included by sharing information every month or so with them i.e. design ideas, entertainment selections, speech requests, RSVPs as they start rolling in etc. Ultimately, everyone should remember this is a day about you 'the couple' and the commitment you are making to each other."
If there is a conflicting wedding within your circle: talk about it.
This is a tricky situation, but not one that any couple needs to stress over. Rafanelli suggests speaking with your fiancé about it, including these questions: "Does it make sense to change your date and how many people are affected by it? If you can make another date work then why not change the date?" Any wedding is a joyous celebration and if you can help your friends or family in any way by adjusting (as you will now know firsthand the obstacles that come with planning a wedding), it will only make the celebrations even merrier.