The importance of deadlines during wedding planning

Why Are There So Many Deadlines For Planning A Wedding?

Can’t we just wing it and go with the flow? Well sure, you can. But you may be bombarded with everything later for the things that are unresolved. Deadlines are rarely independent of each other, so when one falters, other things may be affected consequently.

One of the first things I like to mention is that it is courteous to the people you hire to stick to the deadlines that they give you. I promise we don’t just throw dates out for fun. There is the reasoning behind it. For one, contractual deadlines are necessary because we have several inquiries for weddings and there are only so many dates, several of which tend to be the popular ones, for the year. We place deadlines on signing contracts to be fair to those who are inquiring after you did. Of course, we will follow up and not just dump you, but we need to keep our business process flowing and we cannot wait around for weeks for your to sign that contract if we have others wanting to book us as well. The second is the payment dates. Most vendors have specific payment requirements, with the first being a retainer or date deposit to show us your intention of working with us. The rest can be for a variety of reasons, such as certain amounts of work that gets completed along the way, supplies that need to be ordered, booking commissions, etc. If you are confused about why payments are broken down a certain way, ask about them. Just remember, that while this is more than likely the only wedding you are planning, the people you hire are planning and executing many other weddings and events, and these deadlines ensure that you get the service you deserve in a timely manner.

Sticking to the deadlines given is just a benefit overall. Sticking to the payment deadlines/terms helps you to avoid late fees, which can add up. Services tend to be halted as well and no planning progress can be made if a payment is late. They also allow you to get everything you want for your wedding. For example, if you are having an outdoor wedding and you want that perfect clear top tent at the local rental company, sticking to the deadline to get it booked will ensure that no one else comes in and swoops it up.

Here are some other key deadlines to remember and why they are important:

1. Booking your venue: This is typically the first thing you book for your wedding. Without a venue, you don’t really have a set wedding date yet even if you have the perfect date in mind. Not much else can be done without this ][. One of the first questions your other potential vendors will ask is where are you getting married to help them in determining a quote, as some venues may involve travel expenses or additional staff and labor. You want to shoot to have this booked 12-18 months out.
2. Wedding dress: Not many people realize how long it can take a wedding dress to come in after being ordered. While you can certainly find a dress under a time crunch if you are wanting a custom ordered gown you will want to allow for about 6 to 8 months for this process. After the dress comes in there are several fittings and alterations that will need to be done before it is ready for you to take home.
3. Wedding invites: It is courteous to give your guests adequate time for arranging travel and accommodations for your wedding. A lot of people believe that sending “Save The Dates” helps solve this problem. I actually believe these are an added expense not needed. If you have out of town guests who need extra time to arrange travel and time off of work, then sending a “Save The Date” may be helpful, but in today’s modern world of social media and the ease of texting, notifying people of this in advance is simple. However, I still believe that you should send out a formal invitation to your guests at least 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. It gives people a reminder the wedding is coming up and gives them all the details they will need so they can begin to make arrangements as needed. Not getting these out can also delay RSVPs coming in, which is our next deadline.
4. RSVPs: This is probably the most unenforceable deadline as you are relying on everyone you invited to get back to you on whether or not they are attending. I am not sure why RSVP etiquette has declined so much, but the fact is, it has. Once your RSVP deadline has arrived, it is time to start reaching out to those who have not responded and ask if they will be attending. It is key to stick to this deadline as closely as possible as many of your vendors are relying on this final headcount. Without an accurate headcount, you could experience rush fees for additional supplies or add on costs the day of your wedding for the additional guests that go over your final headcount given.

Deadlines for your wedding are there to help make everything as smooth as possible. I get that sometimes it can be overwhelming, but getting things knocked out in a timely manner helps to ensure less mess later. Hiring a planner local to where you are getting married can be your best bet in keeping track of what deadlines you need to be hitting. And the best part is we have those deadlines broken up into small, easy to manage chunks. We are there with you along the way should there be any questions or hiccups in the process. Happy planning!