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5 things no one tells you about wedding planning

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So, you have taken on the great (sorry, mammoth) task of planning your own wedding. You are not exactly what we’d call ‘experienced’, as your 30th has been the biggest 'event' you've
planned thus far. And that was attended by 20 people. Um, okay.

So, planning a party with over 100 guests, many of whom are distant family members who live abroad (some slightly senile or let’s call it ‘forgetful of who you are’) and others, well, just 'difficult', can be quite taxing.

- Keeping everyone happy

Okay, this is a given with an event like this. You don’t want to exclude anyone from your special day, but it’s very difficult when numbers must be limited.

Yet, the one thing people fail to tell you is that not only do you have to keep people happy in terms of inviting them to the wedding; they often ask you to make sure they have a lift there and back, accommodation (not 10 minutes, but 1 minute away) and the list goes on. Be prepared.

- Decor is bloody expensive
Yes, you thought your main expenses were your wedding dress and the venue, but decor (especially flowers) can take up almost a ¼ of your budget (that’s if your budget is slightly less than that of Kim K and Kanye’s lavish wedding).

Be sure to prepare yourself for the shock of the florist’s quote. Yet, flowers are absolutely crucial. So pick someone with great taste that you would feel comfortable giving lots of money to.

- Doing a sweets table might not be worth it
Okay, so the latest trend (well, trending for the past few years actually) is that of an over-the-top sweets table filled with scrumptious sweet cakes, treats and lots and lots of Lindt chocolate balls.

This is a fabulous idea, 'cause who doesn’t like to stuff their faces (and handbags) with free chocolatey goodness? Yet, when you offer people a selection of dessert instead of a single option, you need to have enough. This will cost you.

- Buy your wedding shoes after choosing your dress/material

Yes, I made the silly mistake of buying my wedding shoes first thing after getting engaged. Bad move. The white ended up clashing with my material for my wedding dress. Let’s just say, the shoes are now up for sale on a certain online store.

- Keep your mother happy

For women planning their wedding, while working a 9-5 job, decision-making is crucial. Sometimes all you want to do is make a decision quick, quick and be done with it.

Yet, it’s very important (even if she denies it) to run certain ideas by your mom. Many brides have tried to ‘spare’ their mothers of this annoyance. But, no matter what they say: they want to be involved! Trust me.

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