Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, so we asked JLife’s resident wedding planner, Juliet Shenderey, to fill us in on the best way to make your special day everything you want it to be.
From the colour of the bridesmaid’s dresses to a seating arrangement that feels more like a battleplan, there’s a lot to consider when planning your wedding day. The big day can take months to plan, and couples often feel overwhelmed with the sheer amount for things that need to be arranged. Luckily, with over 20 years’ experience in the industry, wedding planner extraordinaire Juliet Shenderey is here to help.
Money matters
Budget is one of the first things any couple considers when beginning to plan a wedding, and according to Juliet, it’s one of the most important considerations: “Planning a wedding isn’t cheap, no matter the size of it. You need to sit down and figure out how much you want to spend before you do anything else.” Of course, once you’ve made the budget, there is the matter of sticking to it. In the age of social media, it’s easy to get carried away with extravagant (and not very feasible!) ideas because one look on Instagram can tell you what everyone else is doing. Stick to what you want and can afford.
Choices galore
Considerations such as venues, guest list, and menu all have an impact on each other, so you should lock down these things as soon as possible: “Budget can impact the choice of venue and the number of guests you have, or vice versa depending on what your priority is,” Juliet explains. “And these things can then impact your choice of location, catering options, and the wedding date itself.”
Consider the professionals
For some, the logistics of planning a wedding just seem like a hassle and hiring a professional wedding planner might be a better option: “A lot of my clients think ‘oh I can do it myself, how hard can it be?’ and that absolutely is an option for some people, but the advantage of wedding planners is our connections. I can get you the best person for the job and even if you can find something cheaper, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be any good or what you want. It’s a false economy.” Expect the unexpected Of course, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has added a whole new area of considerations to the act of planning a wedding: “It was quite difficult in the beginning, because restrictions were constantly changing,” says Juliet. “Now, one lasting impact is that people have to be more realistic and flexible when planning. Things can change at the last minute. The other side of that, however, is that the suppliers are used to it now. So, if things have to change at the last minute, everyone is prepared.”
Make the most of it
Juliet’s most important tip is to enjoy the process. Wedding planning involves a lot of decisions and organising, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you are planning an event to celebrate your relationship and your commitment to each other: “The main thing is to enjoy it. Both the lead-up and the actual day itself. The reason you’re having the event is to celebrate your wedding with your friends and family. That’s what people are going to remember, not which favours or table decorations you had.” To find out more about Juliet’s wedding planning services, visit Shenderey-events.com