Most people who plan a wedding are doing it for the first time; it kind of comes with the territory. So if this might be you, pay attention; you’re now in the presence of a person who has planned an incredible wedding on one occasion and is therefore one of the world's foremost experts on the topic. 

Yes, my wedding was perfect; an extravaganza that celebrated our love, which brought together our nearest and dearest in a once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) event that we will cherish for years to come. But planning the day itself wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Although we had it pretty easy, we were shocked again and again by just how many planning tasks there were for even the most minute aspects of the day.

We all expect to book a venue, to find someone to make a delicious cake, and to agonise over which dress is right. But there are too many things that added to the stress of planning the day that completely blindsided us. So, that’s why I’m writing this article; for the couples out there who are taking their first steps in planning their wedding, here are some tasks that you might not expect to see coming.

Save the Dates and Wedding Invites

Now, I’m sure you’re aware that preparing the save the dates and wedding invites are jobs that you’ll have to do, but the kicker with these is that you need to do them a lot sooner than you expect. Save the dates typically need to be in the hands of your prospective guests 6-8 months ahead of the big day, or 8-12 if it’s a destination wedding. Wedding invites, meanwhile, need to be in the post box 8-12 weeks in advance, with an RSVP deadline 4 weeks before your wedding day. 

Gifts for the Bridal Party

We left this one way too late. So much time, money, and effort was spent on making the day perfect for us that we almost completely forgot that it’s traditional to reward those who have been most instrumental in the planning process (and the groomsmen). 

But don’t fret, you don’t need to push the boat out too much and buy everyone crazy, extravagant gifts. For the bridesmaids, we got them each a custom beauty selection bag, full of their personal favourites. For the groomsmen, we got them each a custom golf glove with their initials on it, as they all play regularly and went on a golfing trip for the stag do. 

I’d highly recommend avoiding anything too generic – go for personalised gifts where possible; each bridesmaid and groomsman will feel the thought and care that you put into them. 

Practising the First Dance

This is one that might briefly enter your mind, before you can shove it right to the back. Nobody wants to think about the first dance. For a wedding I went to just last week, they clearly didn’t think about it either. It wasn’t the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen, but you could feel it i the room. It was a little painful to watch and went on for way too long. I just wanted to put them out of their misery. 

To avoid that, here’s what you do. One week before the wedding, have a glass of wine each, clear the kitchen of any knives or sharp equipment, and practice 3 or 4 moves. By moves, I mean transitions between your mutual swaying, which is what you’ll be doing most of the time. After that, you’ll be all set. 

There you have it, 3 unexpected wedding planning tasks that will catch you by surprise, and some tips to pull them off, no sweat. Enjoy your big day!