Common wedding planning issues & how to fix them
No drama here please! Everyone wants calm waters and smooth sailing when planning their wedding, with a fantastic team of suppliers and planners supporting you all the way. But…sometimes issues crop up and we have some helpful tips to managing them.
This is directly talking about wedding commission, which is a complex topic discussed fully in another YT video. Please do get clued up on what wedding commission is - we see the most issues arise when couples do not know what it is and regret decisions down the line.
If a planner is saying that you have a restricted list of suppliers or venues to choose from and you have already signed a contract - check the clauses. Hopefully when you signed a contract you would have noticed that there was a clause about wedding commission or specifics about having to select suppliers from a list. The challenge comes when you didn't realise this was part of your contract and now you do have only a few options. Or when technically you are not contracted to select from a list but your planner is insisting that you do.
Politics and awkward conversations may well come into play. If you have your heart on a certain photographer but your planner is pushing you to choose another (for the reason that their chosen photographer will be giving them commission), then stand your ground. This is your dream day and if you don't have any contractual agreement to make you choose the planner's photographer then you are entitled to continue as you see fit.
LL Tip: Going against your planner my cause them to become distant. Start with good communication, clear contracts and you should avoid any uncomfortable chats.
Suppliers and venues are crazy busy during the peak season - April to September, operating with small teams. Limited time will be spent on prospective couples during this time, as they are focused on delivering fabulous weddings for current couples.
Ask yourself whether you need an immediate answer. If your wedding is imminent and you do need a response, then call them. All suppliers speak good English and a phone call will either calm your worries and they will come back to you within a given timeframe or give you an answer then and there.
LL Tip: It is very common to find it hard to get hold of suppliers and venues - don't think you are the only one!
Guest experience is one of the most important parts of your wedding day. Happy, relaxed guests means a happier you and no dramas to fix during the build up to the 'I dos'.
From the start only invite the number of guests you can actually afford to accommodate, provide food for and transport. Don't push your list over your budget and then have to cut back during planning which affects the guest experience. This inevitably leads to issues and stress down the line.
Be clear about accommodation and transport logistics from the invitation. A wedding website is a fantastic way to signpost guests to book the most suitable accommodation easily reached and that you know transport can get to. Unbelieveably, booking a taxi last minute (even a short journey) is extremely hard in Italy during the summer.
A bride contacted me to say she had seen a supplier's recent posts on Insta and didn't like the change in style of their work. Panic had set in that she had booked the wrong supplier!
LL Tip: Reach out to the supplier, have an open (and perhaps slightly awkward conversation with them), but you will get answers as to why they have taken their business in a certain direction.
If you are up against a bad review of the supplier you have booked, then check your contract, speak with them and if you are still not happy, then making a decision to cut ties may well be the right decision in the end. This is the time to be excited, not the time to sit with a feeling or worry and apprehension.
Sadly in Italy there is not a vast variety of choice for bespoke rentals.
Usually a planner would prepare a style moodboard for decor and source items from the florist or caterer.
LL Tip: Whilst the idea of sourcing your own decor might sound fun and even romantic, it is a bit of a puzzle as to where to find good value, high quality items. And once you have found them delivery can be problematic, unpacking and packing up afterwards is a lengthy job - so do way up cost and effort.
Ikea is worth a visit for small candle holders, tealights, pots for the table. In every city there is a warehouse or wholesaler which is packed full of many decor items - cutlery, fabrics etc. Ask your florist where your closest one is.
Final LL Tip: Consider the time, energy and intensity of this task!
Need to ask 101 questions? Or do any of these issues sound familiar? Our private Facebook community is an incredible place to ask questions and get answers. Come on in and join the conversation.
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
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PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | BUSINESS | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION |WANDERLUST
