Frequently Asked Questions During the Planning Process
If you’re just at the start of your planning journey or have maybe even been doing it for a while, there may have been a moment where you thought to yourself - man - I wish there was just one place I could go that had all the answers to my questions.
We aren’t saying this is exactly that, because the amount of questions pertaining to wedding planning could really go on forever. However, this is a simplified list of popular questions that have likely popped into your head somewhere along the way, and our answers to them, in hopes that it’ll help you, and take some of that worry or confusion *away* :)
So, let’s get into the questions!
“What should I include in my detail photos?”
If you’re newer to the wedding world, the term ‘detail photos’ may seem a little broad and vague.
Basically, you can think of these as photos of all of the ‘little’ things going into your day.
For example, these may include some of your florals, your full invitation suite (save the date, invitation, envelope), your jewelry, perfume/cologne, wedding day shoes, vow books, rings, etc.
Similar to the ingredients in a recipe, these are things that have helped to make the day what it is, or will be. And while you may not be whipping out your camera to take pictures of the flour, sugar, and butter in the process of making your great aunt’s famous apple pie, having photos of the items listed above (among others) will provide wonderful memories of the things outside of the big moments.
** For a list that goes a little more in-depth of what to incorporate in these photos, head to: https://www.fancyfoxevents.com/blog/an-extensive-decor-checklist-for-the-stressed-or-overwhelmed and scroll down to the “Attire/Flat Lay Details” section!
“How much getting ready time do I need on the wedding day?”
In all honesty, this will really depend on how many people you’ll have getting ready!
Speaking solely on the bride’s side of things, you’ll of course want to take into account yourself, all bridesmaids, moms, grandmothers, flower girls, etc.
If planning to hire a beauty service, ask yourself if everyone will be getting their hair and makeup done, or if some will just be getting one or the other and doing the rest themselves. If not hiring a service, and each person will be doing their own thing, ask around to see how long everyone thinks it’ll take them, and plan accordingly.
A word of advice with this - don’t depend on just one stylist or makeup artist if you have more than a few people to get through. At that point, you may just have to hire additional help.
“Where do I start when it comes to decorating?”
The very first thing to do here would be to decide whether you’re going to buy certain decor, or rent it. In most cases, for instance, it makes more sense to rent unless the item is something you’ve had personalized (ex: last name, wedding date, etc.) or simply know you will want to keep afterwards.
Another option, if you happen to have some friends or family members with a good sense of decor and a slew of items lying around their houses, would be to borrow things, and then you can just give them all back when the wedding is over.
If choosing to rent, there are many different companies out there that offer a wide array of decor, including florals, candles, signage, lanterns, mirrors, tableware, lights, rugs, furniture, and more.
Having a clear idea in your head of what theme you’re going for (websites like Pinterest can help with this) will aid in decision making and in creating a cohesive look.
Some companies may have a lot of things within the same theme (ex: boho, modern) while others may have a little bit of many themes. You can always mix and match too - whatever you think reflects your style as a couple.
“What happens if it rains on my wedding day?”
*turns microphone on*
HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!
Even if you’re getting married inside, in the middle of the most temperate place on Earth, having a plan for weather is *always a good idea.* Scratch that - it’s absolutely necessary.
Being hopeful and optimistic is wonderful, truly, but unless you’re going to be completely fine with walking down the aisle in the pouring rain, take the time to think ahead.
What does this look like? Well, for starters, when looking at venues, if wanting an outdoor ceremony, make sure the places you like the best have an indoor ceremony option just in case. This could be a fully enclosed building or even a tent. If planning on doing things totally out in the open, for example at a park, on the beach, or in your parents’ backyard, think about where you’ll have people go if the weather starts to decline.
While they say that rain on your wedding day brings good luck, unfortunately, being lucky isn’t something you can count on when it comes to this sort of thing.
* Right before Fancy Fox couple Sarabeth and Chad’s ceremony was about to begin, it started to rain. Taking place at a country club, a quick call was made to move the ceremony and its decor indoors, and it ended up turning out beautifully! *
“What should I budget for my wedding?”
A wedding budget is a part of the planning process that may not seem very fun and exciting, but trust us when we say that creating a budget from the get-go will really help in the long run.
Before the what, let’s start with the why.
Picture this - you and your partner schedule a time to tour a few venues, go to a few cake tastings, and meet with a handful of photographers whose work you saw on Instagram and really liked.
Before scheduling these things, you don’t really take the time to figure out what you could comfortably spend, and are just going into each tour/tasting/meeting with a general idea of what would be appropriate. You fall in love, make your selections, and sign your contracts.
Months later, as you begin inquiring with other vendors not yet hired, you realize that you spent way too much initially, and are now scrambling trying to find ways to cut costs.
Sounds a bit overwhelming, doesn’t it?
This is why you should create a budget to follow throughout the process and to have on hand to reference before signing any contracts.
While we can’t tell you an exact dollar amount, the question of how much to budget (a.k.a how much you’re willing to spend) includes a number of factors - two of the biggest being your guest count and the overall vision/expectation you have for your design.
It’s always better to allocate a little more in the beginning, even if you don’t use it all, than to not have enough, forcing you to then say no to things you were excited about.
Don’t set yourself up for disappointment!
“Who should be invited to my wedding?”
A lot can go into answering this question, and it may be one of those things that’s brought a little more stress to your planning.
Not to worry though - we have some tips for creating your guest list!
To start off, write down all of your immediate family members, and then, expand from there.
Once you’ve nailed down family members, you can transition to friends. You may have to ask yourself who will be considered a ‘friend.’ Many people go by the rule of thumb that if you haven’t talked to someone in the last year, they probably don’t need to be invited to your wedding.
With friends (and some family members) also comes the matter of plus ones. Similar to the ‘friend’ qualification, if someone is in a dating relationship rather than being married/engaged, and has been with their partner for under a year, you may decide to not give them a plus one.
Some final things to ask yourself is whether or not you’d like to have kids there, (if you do, will there be a minimum age - for example, kids older than 7) and, how far you’re wanting to have people travel. If they live farther away, unless it’s really important to you to have them there, you may wanna leave them off the list.
Lastly, always remember that guest count is a huge determining factor for catering cost. The more guests you have, the more money you’re likely to spend on food and drink.
“What type of musical entertainment should I have?”
While you might already be pretty familiar with this, two of the main options when it comes to music at weddings are bands, and DJ’s.
For the ceremony portion of your day, you may look into having something a little more low-key, such as a string quartet or guitar player, but as for your reception, the typical choices are either a band made up of anywhere from 5 to 10 people, or a DJ, who will often just be by themselves.
For those wanting a little more of a breakdown of each, here are some positives and negatives…
Bands, as opposed to DJ’s, are usually a bit more interactive with those in attendance, given that they’re a larger group of people and have that ‘performance’ quality. Also, every band has their own unique sound, setting them apart from sounding exactly like the original version of each song they play.
Conversely, a con to bands is that depending on how many members they have and what their equipment load looks like, it may take them longer to set up before the reception, and break down at the end of the night.
To touch on DJ’s, not only are they usually able to play just about any song that may be requested, but they sometimes also come with extras that can be added onto your package, such as uplighting, cold sparklers, and karaoke mics. A DJ may also take up less floor space, which could be good if your venue is smaller or you have a larger guest count.
We personally think that whatever you decide, you and your guests will still have a wonderful time dancing the night away!
“What's better - plated or buffet?”
It ‘s completely up to you. Your tastes, budget, guest size, and venue type may play a part in your overall decision, but neither is really better than the other.
There are some things to take into consideration with both options, however.
If having a plated meal is sounding more promising to you, that means that you’ll not only need to solidify your catering choice, but you’ll also need to select your food before you send out your invitations.
Your Uncle George will need to know whether he can choose between chicken and beef, beef and pasta, or chicken and fish, for example, when he gets his invite in the mail. So, there’s a little more legwork earlier in the planning process with plated meals.
On the other hand, going with the buffet option will usually give you a little more time to decide.
Another difference between the two is that with a buffet, you’ll likely have a wider variety of food that you can offer your guests. You could do an array of you and your partners’ favorites, stations, etc., rather than each person just getting a protein, vegetable, and carb, which is typical for a plated meal.
“Should we do a first look or no first look?”
These days, the question of whether or not to do a first look is still very much debated and everyone has their own opinions on what they think is the more ‘appropriate’ choice. At the end of the day though, it really comes down to personal preference, as there are pros to choosing either one.
If you and your partner choose to do a first look before your ceremony, this may mean that you have a little extra time with them on the day of, and you may be a little less nervous when it’s time to walk down the aisle.
This will also allow you to snap some photos earlier in the day so cocktail hour is less photo-full, and you may have a moment during that time together to read any personal vows, letters, or exchange gifts with one another.
If instead, you decide that you want to wait until the ceremony to see each other for the first time, this may add some excitement to your walk, and provide the opportunity for you to share that first look moment with your family and friends in attendance.
If you’re still really torn and don’t know which route to take, there’s always the third option of doing a ‘first touch.’
Slightly falling in-between the other two, this is where you and your partner get together, each hidden behind a door/wall, and hold hands, read letters, pray, etc. It’s a way to be with the other person beforehand without actually seeing them.
“Do I really need a wedding planner?”
Of course, we may be a little biased in answering this question because, well, we are a planning company. However, in all of our time planning and assisting with weddings, we’ve gained some insight as to why it can be extremely important to have a helping hand throughout the process of planning your wedding.
The main, overarching reason being that your wedding day should be a day that you enjoy; one where you can sit back, relax, and soak in all of the love you’re feeling from family members, friends, and your new spouse.
In situations where a couple has forgone the use of a planner or day-of coordinator, unfortunately, there’s often a bit more stress floating around trying to make sure everything is happening as it should, and tasks that would normally be done by a planner/coordinator and their team, are put onto friends/family.
On a different note, for those that are wanting to be very involved in the process, it’s a common misconception that hiring someone means they’ll be doing everything for you, and you may not want that. While there are companies that go all in, most act more as a guiding light. They’ll hold your hand through each step and be there to tie up any loose ends so that come wedding day, things flow smoothly and you and your partner don’t bat an eye.
Let’s face it, wedding planning can be a little much sometimes - for anybody. When you’re in the thick of it, and feel like you’re starting to slowly drown in all of the responsibilities and tasks, a planner will act as your life vest, keeping you afloat so you can still see that beautiful horizon ahead :)
