Think about the best meal you’ve had recently. Now imagine it without one of the key ingredients. How does it taste now? Remember in College making Macaroni and Cheese with water instead of milk?
Those same cheap substitutes can ruin your wedding. I’m not saying you need to get the very best of everything for each aspect of your wedding, but you should be careful about your priorities for your Chicago wedding.
Here’s an example: Last October, I spoke with a couple that booked the Gold Coast room at the Drake Hotel; incredible floral arrangements, amazing linens, limos… When they finally got to the discussing music, they said they had a budget of $2,000 for all their wedding music. After I told them they would need to call a DJ instead of a wedding band, they realized their mistake. At that point they didn’t have choice. I’m sure they and their guests were disappointed. All the smart decisions they made were quickly erased by missing out on one of the most important ones. Don’t the same mistake!
If you start with quality ingredients (your wedding vendors), the odds of having a great meal (your wedding) to share with your guests goes up dramatically. Don’t skimp out on the most important ingredients.
Here’s the recipe I think works best for planning a great Chicago wedding:
1. Venue
2. Music
3. Food
4. Dress/Tuxedo
5. Photographer
6. Flowers
7. Videographer
8. Linens
9. Wedding cake
10. Transportation
11. Wedding Favors
Enjoy and share the wonderful meal you’ve made with all your guests. Bon Appetite!
How to Stay in love while planning your Wedding
Planning a Chicago wedding can be stressful. Likely you’ve never done this before.
How can you prevent the arguments and stay in love during this time?
A couple told me their secret for keeping their relationship happy during the sometimes stressful time of planning a Chicago wedding.
What they do is set aside one night a week for wedding planning. They order in or go out to dinner and talk about nothing but the wedding.
On their first meeting they set out a plan of attack.
What are the most important things that need to be done first?
Then they decided between the two of them, who is the most available, interested or qualified to handle each portion of the planning process.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
For Example,
Bill is in charge of researching Chicago wedding bands and Chicago wedding venues.
Julie is in charge of researching Chicago florists and Chicago caterers. Etc…
Once this is established, each has their list of assignments for that week. They don’t constantly talk about their Chicago wedding throughout the week, nag each other and get in fights. They save up all their Chicago Wedding ideas for their “wedding planning day” in their case they chose Wednesdays.
On Wednesday night, they shared with each other what they found during the week and set up a plan for what needs to be done during the upcoming week.
This goes on for about 4-6 weeks. Once they have narrowed down their choices, they work as a team visiting their top Chicago venues, meeting with the favorite Chicago wedding bands, Chicago wedding photographers, Chicago florists etc…until they have chosen the venue and vendors they want for their Chicago wedding.
The couple said they were able to really enjoy the planning process and avoid much of the stress other couples go through when planning their Chicago Wedding.
It’s an idea which I’ve recommended to several couples that have used it to make their lives and relationships much happier. After all that’s what your wedding is all about!
Remember the purpose of your Chicago wedding is to celebrate your love, right?
Don’t get too stressed. Enjoy the process by being organized, flexible and supportive partners with each other. These are the keys to having a terrific Chicago Wedding and staying in love while planning it!
