Wedding Myths: Page 1
Over the last few years a slew of "urban legends for wedding planning" have sprung up. Many brides get caught up in these myths as they seem simple enough and, on the surface, sometimes even logical. Don't be fooled. Dispelling the unfortunately too common fallacies of wedding planning will help you avoid disappointment and disaster.
MYTH: I will not go over budget.
TRUTH: Fact is, you probably will. Almost all brides "forget" to include some necessary expenses and/or incur additional costs at the last minute. Some brides also "fall in love" with certain items and must have them whether or not they were originally budgeted for. Create and work with a detailed budget based on your needs. Start by shopping a reputable Bride Expo and/or call Professional Planners and service providers to get relative wedding costs. As a precaution, take 10% off of your budget total and hold it back for those unexpected expenses-if you need it, it will not push you over the edge, and if you don't you will have some extra cash for the honeymoon (or bank account!).
MYTH: I have to invite everyone whose wedding I have attended, including distant family members.
TRUTH: In some cultures and families this may be the case but for modern couples there are a new set of "rules." Throughout your adult life you may be invited to any number of weddings for any number of reasons. Many of these people you grow apart from for various reasons and simply lose touch. A wedding should be about the people who are most important in your lives, celebrating with you. If you do not keep in contact with others whose weddings you have attended, you do not need to include them in your guest list. As for family, many different factors come into play. Depending on the type of family and even your culture, you may be expected to invite everyone. On the other hand, you may only want to invite relatives that you keep in contact with. You should include family members with whom you share holidays or see on a regular basis. You can even try to make a cut-off point like at 1st or 2nd cousins. Of course, as with many wedding decisions, there may be some unhappy relatives.
MYTH: Buffet meals are less expensive than plated meals.
TRUTH: Buffet meals require just as much time and attention as plated meals, and in addition the caterer must make more food as some of the guests may visit the buffet line one, two, or three times before being satisfied. Secondly, there must also be enough china and flatware on hand for these repeat visitors-a guest should never revisit the line with a "dirty" plate. Don't make the mistake of thinking food stations are the same as a buffet either. Stations are typically more costly and elaborate than buffets.
MYTH: You can cut floral costs by purchasing your own candles and/or containers for floral arrangements, instead of having the florist provide them.
TRUTH: In actuality, these are items that the florist makes little, if any money on. What you end up with instead is a string of problems ranging from containers that cannot stand up to the complexities of the floral arrangements you desire, mismatched containers, votive holders and hurricanes that do not meet fire codes, candles that are scented and irritate the senses, or worse yet, candles that don't last for the evening. Many brides also like to purchase their own twinkle lights, and miscalculate the number they need, forget adapters and extension cords, and worse yet, for the battery operated strands, forget the batteries.
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