Even the smartest, most on-top-of-things couple can make mistakes during wedding planning. Here are the 7 things you should keep an eye on before saying I do.
Blowing off your budget
Weddings are expensive affairs. It will cost your family (more if you are the bride) a pretty penny to organize the whole celebration. Excited brides and grooms start making purchases without having a real budget and then are shocked when they realize how much they've spent and how little they've bought in return. Since Indian wedding planning involves everyone from the parents to the all-knowing-aunt to the well-meaning-neighbour, it takes very little for the budget to get bludgeoned. It is imperative for you to make a budget and STICK TO IT unless you want to be stripped long before your wedding night!
Not having a trial of your wedding outfit
A dress rehearsal with your wedding designer is an absolute must. An ill fitted blouse, a lehenga too short or zardozi that pinches can all make your entire wedding celebration absolute agony.
Sometimes the groom's side sends the bride's outfit. In such situations, often, forget having had a trial, the bride hasn't even laid her eyes on the outfit. In such cases, it is best to speak with your in-laws beforehand and make them realize how important this is to you. Nowadays, most people are reasonable and agree to the request. However, if you can't swing things your way make sure you give them a sample outfit of yours that fits really well.
Also, remember that you need to have a dress rehearsal within a week of your wedding. If you tried on the outfit three months earlier it doesn't count. If you're like most brides, you've either binged on a whole lot of sweets or given them up altogether.
Lastly, your wedding outfit is not just about the clothes but also includes your jewellery and accessories. Co-ordinate it all at least one week in advance.
Making bookings too late
Grooms - this one's for you. The honeymoon is going to be the highlight of your wedding - or so you hope. Don't leave bookings till last minute. Either you will end up spending way more than you need to, or worse yet you won't get the bookings of your choice. Either ways, it's a poor way to start your honeymoon.
Inviting too many guests
Weddings are once in a lifetime events (mostly). We tend to invite everyone we know - from our nursery class teacher to the peon who brings us chai. As generous as the impulse may be, it won't be quite so happening when you have a 1000 people trying to squeeze into an area meant for just 400. When making your guest list, keep an eye on your budget and the venue you've chosen. Also, make provision for at least 10% impulsive invitees. You can be sure at least 20% people you invite won't show up (unless you're having a wedding of just close family and friends). Spend some time on your guest list - it will have an impact on the wedding venue, the number of invitations you print, your instructions to the caterer, wedding favors and your budget.
Partaking in last-minute beauty treatments and crash diets
Every bride's nightmare come true - skin rash, red blotches or burnt hair. Frankly, if you're going to fool around with yourself so close to the wedding, you are asking for trouble. All beauty treatments, facials, clean-ups, hair-dos, Brazilian waxes (for first timers at least), bleaches - everything needs to happen a week before the wedding ceremonies begin to give any 'errors' time to correct themselves. You also need to schedule a make-up and hair-do session with your make-up artist so that you know what's coming the day of the wedding. You don't want any nasty surprises.
Doing paperwork at the last minute
This is relevant only if you are planning to move abroad post-marriage. Don't leave getting your passport and visas till the last minute. It won't happen. You will spend 3 months in India, while your new husband is in a land far away! If you are not moving out of the country, this is not so urgent. You can get your marriage license from the registrar's office anytime.
Ignoring religious restrictions
If your religion requires that the bride's head be covered during the ceremony, do it. If it forbids grooms from wearing white, don't. Marriage is a religious sacrament. The beauty of an Indian marriage lies in its customs and traditions. Ignoring those very traditions may well make a mockery of the whole celebration. Does that mean you follow all customs blindly? Of course not. It's up to you and your family to decide where to draw the line. The point is to make the celebration a memory to cherish forever.
