Sometimes when you're
planning your wedding it can feel like you're the only people in the world who
have gone through this huge, time-consuming thing. Fortunately, that is most
certainly not the case! In this feature, we ask newlyweds to pass on their
advice from their wedding planning experiences, while it's still fresh in their
memories before the glow of wedded life puts a shine on everything.
Amanda married her
long-term boyfriend on 21 November 2014 in Canberra. She was kind enough to
answer our 10 questions on the eve of heading off on their delayed honeymoon to
Italy.
1. Where was your
wedding?
Ceremony at Margaret Whitlam Pavilion National Arboretum. Reception at Hotel Realm. We wanted to show off Canberra at its best. The National Arboretum has one of the best views of Canberra and the Pavillion is a lovely setting. Hotel Realm do really good food and their wines in the package were one of the better ones we saw. They also said that once we had made decisions on things (ie decorators/cake) they would take care of the logistics. These things meant a lot to us.
Ceremony at Margaret Whitlam Pavilion National Arboretum. Reception at Hotel Realm. We wanted to show off Canberra at its best. The National Arboretum has one of the best views of Canberra and the Pavillion is a lovely setting. Hotel Realm do really good food and their wines in the package were one of the better ones we saw. They also said that once we had made decisions on things (ie decorators/cake) they would take care of the logistics. These things meant a lot to us.
2. How long was your
engagement?
One year to the day. We got engaged in November. We didn’t want a winter wedding and we didn’t want a really hot summer wedding. We also wanted to leave enough time for people from overseas to be able to organise to come.
One year to the day. We got engaged in November. We didn’t want a winter wedding and we didn’t want a really hot summer wedding. We also wanted to leave enough time for people from overseas to be able to organise to come.
3. Did you DIY, plan
with suppliers or use a wedding planner?
Planned with suppliers. We wanted minimum fuss for us in the week before the wedding so it was important that the suppliers could take care of nearly everything. Also we were pretty clear on what our priorities were in each area so that tended to narrow down the options.
Planned with suppliers. We wanted minimum fuss for us in the week before the wedding so it was important that the suppliers could take care of nearly everything. Also we were pretty clear on what our priorities were in each area so that tended to narrow down the options.
4. What was your
favourite part of planning your day?
The food and wine. Getting to go and have a meal and try the food and thinking about how the meals would flow and go together was very enjoyable. We also had a fun night with the best man and bridesmaid tasting and choosing the wines. It was a good chance to talk about the wedding day and how things were expected to play out.
The food and wine. Getting to go and have a meal and try the food and thinking about how the meals would flow and go together was very enjoyable. We also had a fun night with the best man and bridesmaid tasting and choosing the wines. It was a good chance to talk about the wedding day and how things were expected to play out.
5. What did you find the
most challenging thing?
Planning the seating arrangements. The politics of who wants to sit with whom (or not) and where you place particular tables is a lot more challenging than you might think.
Planning the seating arrangements. The politics of who wants to sit with whom (or not) and where you place particular tables is a lot more challenging than you might think.
6. What is the most
important thing to remember when planning a wedding?
The details take time and more research and discussing than you might think. And planning tables is an absolute nightmare!
The details take time and more research and discussing than you might think. And planning tables is an absolute nightmare!
7. Is there anything you
would do differently?
I probably went to the other extreme in buying my dress and bought too quickly. You should savour the trying on process as you’ll likely never have another excuse to do it.
I probably went to the other extreme in buying my dress and bought too quickly. You should savour the trying on process as you’ll likely never have another excuse to do it.
8. If you could change
one thing about the wedding industry, what would it be?
The premium on top of everything and the assumption that every bride is ‘princess-y’.
The premium on top of everything and the assumption that every bride is ‘princess-y’.
9. Did you have a
wedding day disaster?
The flowers were not quite what we wanted but that was able to be sorted and the florist was reasonably helpful. Nearly had no music at the ceremony – again make sure you check the details of who is providing what. Check that either the venue or the celebrant has something to play music on.
The flowers were not quite what we wanted but that was able to be sorted and the florist was reasonably helpful. Nearly had no music at the ceremony – again make sure you check the details of who is providing what. Check that either the venue or the celebrant has something to play music on.
10. Last word of advice?
Get to the night before, have a large drink with people who won’t stress you out and chill. Have people help you on the day who can make sure that you don’t get worked up about the little things or can say things to people that you can’t. Make sure you don’t place the “old people” next to the music speakers.
Get to the night before, have a large drink with people who won’t stress you out and chill. Have people help you on the day who can make sure that you don’t get worked up about the little things or can say things to people that you can’t. Make sure you don’t place the “old people” next to the music speakers.
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