So he’s popped the question, and you said yes! Now what? As the “I can’t believe I’m getting married” shock wears off, the “How am I gonna plan this wedding” anxiety kicks in. And since not all of us have a wedding-scrapbook of pictures and magazine-cutouts we’ve been working on since we were five, some of us are going to need help. So here is a list of frequently asked questions that might put your mind at ease, and take away some of that anxiety.
1. Are wedding themes necessary? How do you decide on one?
Wedding themes can be very tricky. A theme has to be planned and executed to perfection; otherwise it can backfire rather badly. In order to develop the theme, you need to execute it with the right color palette and individual elements to create the right ambiance and feel. A theme helps tie everything together.
2. Does location & climate affect the wedding theme?
These two factors are very important when deciding on a wedding theme. If you live in a hot climate then out door weddings become very challenging. So, if you are getting married on an island, a beach theme makes perfect sense, but if you’re getting hitched in Paris, a black-tie affair is what you should go for.
3. How can couples make the wedding planning process easier and more pleasant?
Consider hiring a wedding planner to help you with your planning. You can hire them to organize the entire day or just a part of it, such as the ceremony or the reception. This can be useful if you are very busy with other things such as work, or have a very short timeframe till your wedding. It also helps if you delegate some of your wedding planning to others such as close friends and family.
4. How can you make your wedding stand out?
Consider adding elements that are not predictable or typical of a wedding. For example, why not set up a dessert bar expanding the selection for those with a sweet tooth including everything from candy, cookies, truffles, and cupcakes, along with traditional delicacies. It will not only look great, but will also serve to entertain people as they walk around the bar enjoying the decadent treats! You can also have a photo booth set up so your guests can have fun interacting with the cameras and later you can enjoy these memories of the fun filled night.
5. How can you make your wedding unique?
Your wedding should always be a reflection of your personality and your lifestyle, whether you are a casual person a glamorous gal! Personalize your wedding by creating a theme that is a reflection of you or your culture and background. Guests love to see the different wedding traditions that each culture has. Some cultures have celebrations that span over 7 days, so why not consider turn your wedding into an elaborate event.
6. Why hire a wedding planner?
While all weddings should be planned and orchestrated by a capable wedding planner, certain weddings lend themselves exceptionally well to hiring a planner, such as when you don’t have enough time to do the necessary reasearch to finding, selecting and appointing the various suppliers and service providers. Planners have already done their research and legwork, and are in the know when it comes to vendors. They also know what works and what doesn’t, and when a wedding might pose some significant and unique logistical challenges, such as tented weddings, outdoor weddings or destination weddings.
7. What does a bride need to keep in mind when choosing a wedding planner?
Chemistry! Just like any other relationship, it’s all about the chemistry. Experience, talent, energy and creativity are fundamental, but without the right chemistry, the experience turns into a hectic process, instead of a pleasant, fun, and exciting journey. The wedding planning process is very long and the bride ends up spending many hours with her planner, so it’s very important for the bride to like and trust her planner.
8. How far ahead of schedule should the planning commence?
At least 6 months. Most venues get booked out a year in advance in Dubai and so do photographers, entertainers and even florists. Therefore, giving yourself ample time in advance gives you a lot more choices when choosing your vendors and venue.
9. What party-planning trends have been popular in recent years?
Cupcakes are huge (still!), destination weddings and lounge seating as opposed to traditional seating; young brides want the event to resemble a club party atmosphere.
10. Are wedding favors necessary?
While wedding favors are not a must, it is a nice gesture to send your guests home with something that reminds them of your wedding. Work within your budget and there are many ideas that are affordable but leave a long lasting impression.
11. When the wedding guest list is out of control, how do you cut it down?
This is one of the more challenging wedding etiquette questions. Your first step should be to implement a few rules. Examples are: no coworkers, no children and no distant long lost relatives.
12. Is it okay to use inexpensive flowers instead of more traditional choices?
A beautiful flower is beautiful regardless of its cost. It’s not the price of the bloom but rather how it’s arranged and used. There are many options to choose from other than the traditional rose and orchid.
13. Is it better to rent décor and design elements or to customize them?
There are pros and cons to customizing your own table linens, vases, centerpieces etc. Cost and storage are major factor; where would you store the items after the wedding. With that said, when you customize these elements you become a trendsetter and the wedding will be uniquely yours!
14. How early should the wedding invites be sent out?
At least 3 weeks before the wedding to give people time to plan and get ready. You will also need to have your final numbers to give to your caterer and planner.
Zainab ALSALIH
Founder of Carousel
