It is December; a month known for non-stop events in Nigeria. By now, every weekend is fully booked for events especially in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja. If you’re planning on having a wedding soon, there are some things you need to know. Definitely, it’s a herculean task having a wedding this month if you haven’t planned for it several weeks before the set date. What’s more? Goods are highly priced at this period of the year so you want to look begin planning from now while looking into the near future to tie that knot. Tonia Udemeh, an event planner tells us three things a bride needs to know about having a successful wedding.
Early Planning: First is to start planning early with wedding invitations. Hiring a wedding planner ten to twelve weeks prior to the proposed wedding date is wise. Your wedding planner can take up your planning from there but if you decide to do this on your own, Tonia advises that you should start sending out your wedding invitations at least ten to twelve weeks before the D-Day. To send out your wedding invitations, you must have booked venues and vendors for your traditional wedding, white wedding, and reception of guests. “You would also want to dream up a style – a theme that would create resonate with the mood you want for the day.” You’ll have to decide whether you want a big (for everyone) or a small wedding (for family and close friends); whether you want it done outdoors or indoors; whether you want it classic, romantic, modern or casual. However you want it, you will need to check out wedding magazines and online wedding photos for inspiration and tips. Just make sure that in eight to twelve weeks to the wedding day, you have all that is stated above ready.
Budgeting: You need to have a realistic budget. It is important that the couple-to-be sit with family members and friends to figure out how much they can afford to spend on the wedding. The number arrived at will affect every decision and purchase made so it is important to work out that budget as early as possible. This conversation might be uncomfortable but it is best to have it anyways.
Reconsider having an event/wedding planner: Tonia insists having a wedding planner is best. Most couples get less than a week off from work before the wedding date and at most three weeks prior to the day. If you have big dreams for your wedding, you should consider hiring a planner. Your planner will help you prepare for the entire event; from sending invitations to your honeymoon. Your wedding planner will work along with the budget you have given for your wedding and make sure you have an amazing one. The job of the wedding planner is to make sure that everything goes according to plan on your wedding day. Tonia advises that you hire a good planner that will guide you through the entire process and help in avoiding making mistakes on your day.
You too can have a great wedding!
