This past August I planned my first wedding and I’m so grateful for this wonderful learning experience. Keep reading for some takeaways you can apply to your own big day!
Working your budget!
Because we had a major venue change and a guest list increase from 70 people to 240 people in the middle of planning, I learned about adapting plans and event design on a short timeline. With respect to expanding the scale of an event this much, it’s important to understand how this will impact décor. Even with a significant budget increase, there will be less resources to go around. Think about supplementing flowers with more candles, and doing mixed centerpieces to stretch your dollar. DIY and crafting can make a huge difference when you’ve got this many people and still want your event to look grand. And don’t forget to recruit family and friends to help with set up!
My mom and my best friend were crew for this wedding and they let me pay them with love and gratitude instead of cash. When you’re starting a new business, much like when you’re planning a wedding, you’re investing money, time, and elbow grease and hoping for future returns. When you are planning your dream wedding on a budget, it’s time to call in all the favors you can and to ask your loved ones for their support in making your dream wedding a reality.
Cross cultural communication!
I was really honored to take part in such a beautiful and rich cultural tradition. When you’re planning a wedding that honors cultural heritage, and you have guests and members of the bridal party from all backgrounds, practice makes perfect. It’s really important to have a script/program that everyone involved understands, and to run through it at least once to minimize surprises. This is especially important if ceremonial aspects will be performed in another language. A printed program for guests with translations and a guide to the traditions is also a nice touch.
Don’t forget to have fun and go with the flow when you can!
Naturally, I wanted my first wedding to be perfect, but that’s not how life works. Sometimes the DJs equipment will glitch for a little while, or the emcee will forget his glasses and go off script. However, challenges (within reason) give your wedding flavor. As long as the bride, groom, and guests are enjoying themselves, then everything is alright. Remember that a wedding is a celebration of love and the joining of two families, so try to keep it in perspective if a fork isn’t exactly where you wanted it in your table setting.
Don’t forget to have fun! 
Best friends forever! 
Traditional Ghanaian Money Dance! 
True Love!
Some key takeaways for everyone who made it to the end of the post:
- Work your budget by using your resources: DIY, recruit your community, and choose cost effective décor
- Practice makes perfect: have a rehearsal where you run through the program so your event looks polished.
- Help make sure the wedding party and the guests understand what’s going on with a printed program.
- Keep everything in perspective and don’t forget to have fun!
Thanks for reading and for supporting Bridal by Beulah! Every visit to my blog, like on an Instagram post, and referral for my business helps support my dreams.
Bridal by Beulah 