• Home
  • Portfolio
    • weddings
    • social gatherings
    • common questions
    • meet
    • client love
    • vendor love
  • blog
    • Elora Mill
    • University Club of Toronto
    • Langdon Hall
    • Broadview Hotel
  • inquire
  • client login
Menu

Laura Olsen Events | Toronto, Niagara, Burlington, Oakville, wedding planner

  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • services
    • weddings
    • social gatherings
    • common questions
  • about
    • meet
    • client love
    • vendor love
  • blog
  • Venues
    • Elora Mill
    • University Club of Toronto
    • Langdon Hall
    • Broadview Hotel
  • inquire
  • client login

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN PLANNING A WEDDING

Weddings can be daunting. There are so many details, many moving parts and so much pressure to make it *just* right. We are here to remind you how to keep your cool, but also some things to try and avoid to make both the planning experience and the day itself, something for the history books - and relaxing!

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning A Wedding

April 28, 2023

NOT BEING YOURSELVES

First, be yourself. There are so many cool trends and common aesthetics, but at the end of the day, it is YOUR day. You can so easily get lost in the “hip” of it all, or keeping up with the Jones’s, but keeping yourself grounded in things that you like is oh so important. When you look back at your day, you want to m1. ake sure it was a true representation of you and your partner. So be sure to have a flare of your personality throughout and don’t have traditions just for the sake of them! 

AVOIDING THE BUDGET TALK

Second, be sure to set a budget. Without setting a clear budget for yourself, you can easily get lost in the costs and they can add up quickly and move you beyond your comfort level. Set your wants and needs early, have realistic costs associated, and don’t forget to add a contingency fund. You’d rather know the true cost early than be surprised later on. This will set you (and your bank account) up for success in the long run! 

POOR WEATHER BACKUP PLANS

Third, have a rain plan! We cannot emphasize this enough. If you’re having an outdoor event, you have to plan for some poor weather. Unfortunately, even wedding planners don’t have an in with Mother Nature and so to avoid stress and headaches, come up with a plan in conjunction with your main plan to be outside all day. Rain on your wedding day isn’t just ironic, it’s a game changer and so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for any scenarios!

TOO MANY SPEECHES

Fourth, avoid creating an open mic night. Speeches are incredible, we know that. Some people are made for the stage and can have you laughing one minute and shedding tears the next, but having too many speeches can make the evening feel longer than it is. And, it impacts the dance party! Plan a handful of short toasts, communicate that to the necessary people, and enjoy the rest of the evening. You want to celebrate as much as you want to be celebrated.

Additional Tip No 1: It might seem small, but switching the term from ‘speeches’ to ‘toasts’ can very much mentally change how one approaches their time to talk. Toasts are generally short and sweet with only the most important details!

Additional Tip No 2: If you still have a lot of people you’d love to hear from or if you are worried someone may be too nervous in front of larger groups, move them to the rehearsal dinner. Many speeches will fit this environment much more appropriately!

UNDERESTIMATING YOUR GUESTS

Fifth, try not to assume a certain number of guests will RSVP ‘no’. This is a myth that can be a bad assumption to follow. As you’re planning and budgeting, assume everyone is coming until you start to see the RSVPs roll in. If you assume people will say ‘no’, and then you do get 100% ‘yes’, this could cause panic on your budget. Be sure to know your venue size and invite accordingly!

Additional Thought: Especially with the travel restrictions of the Pandemic being mostly behind us, people are looking to travel and spend time with loved ones. We would bet that more guests will RSVP ‘yes’ than in previous years!

TRYING NEW BEAUTY TRENDS

Sixth, try new beauty trends far in advance of the day. The last thing you want to do is try something new a few days or weeks before your wedding, and for something terrible to happen. Test out any new trends or routines well in advance of your wedding day to ensure your skin, hair, overall look is what you want! Doing it the night before is too stressful!

WANDERING PINTEREST EYE

Last but not least, avoid a wandering eye on Pinterest after you’ve made a decision. This circles us back to keeping your wedding YOU. And we know that Pinterest is a never-ending mood board and gives us so many amazing ideas for details. However, to keep yourself on track with your wedding vision, we highly recommend you create a wedding mood board before you start planning and use it to consult as you make decisions. Decision made? Cross it off the list forever and don’t look back!

This list of common mistakes to avoid when planning a wedding could go on and on, we know that, but hopefully, this gives you some things to think about and helps to make the right steps and decisions for you and your partner on your big day.


Ready for other helpful wedding planning tips? Click the button below!

Wedding Planning Resources
In Wedding Planning Resou...
← Private Estate Tent Spring Bridal Shower in burlington, ontarioCasa Loma Glass Pavilion Wedding →

Latest Posts

Featured
Romantic Vintage Wedding at Lincoln Hall, Broadview Hotel | Toronto Wedding Venue Spotlight
Jun 16, 2025
Romantic Vintage Wedding at Lincoln Hall, Broadview Hotel | Toronto Wedding Venue Spotlight
Jun 16, 2025
Jun 16, 2025
A Summer Brunch Wedding at Langdon Hall, Luxury Wedding Venue
Jun 16, 2025
A Summer Brunch Wedding at Langdon Hall, Luxury Wedding Venue
Jun 16, 2025
Jun 16, 2025
A Modern Contemporary Wedding at Langdon Hall | Luxury Wedding Venue in Cambridge, Ontario
Jun 13, 2025
A Modern Contemporary Wedding at Langdon Hall | Luxury Wedding Venue in Cambridge, Ontario
Jun 13, 2025
Jun 13, 2025
A Modern Classic Wedding at Elora Mill
Jun 5, 2025
A Modern Classic Wedding at Elora Mill
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
An Elegant Pastel Spring Wedding at Elora Mill
Jun 1, 2025
An Elegant Pastel Spring Wedding at Elora Mill
Jun 1, 2025
Jun 1, 2025
Three Feathers Terrace | Wedding Venue in Innisfil
May 28, 2025
Three Feathers Terrace | Wedding Venue in Innisfil
May 28, 2025
May 28, 2025
Romantic Garden Style Wedding at Elora Mill
May 25, 2025
Romantic Garden Style Wedding at Elora Mill
May 25, 2025
May 25, 2025
A Colourful Jewish Wedding Ceremony at The Pearle Hotel
Apr 21, 2025
A Colourful Jewish Wedding Ceremony at The Pearle Hotel
Apr 21, 2025
Apr 21, 2025
Classic White Wedding at The Pearle Hotel in Burlington, Ontario
Apr 9, 2025
Classic White Wedding at The Pearle Hotel in Burlington, Ontario
Apr 9, 2025
Apr 9, 2025
First Look vs Aisle Reveal: Which is Better?
Mar 19, 2025
First Look vs Aisle Reveal: Which is Better?
Mar 19, 2025
Mar 19, 2025

Join Us On Instagram

When the back of the dress is a showstopper and it becomes part of your room reveal. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
@mangostudios
@pearleweddings
@elora_mill
.
.
.
#RoomReveal #WeddingReception #WeddingReceptionDecor #WeddingTablescape #Tablescape #WeddingReceptionIdeas
What do you think? Should oversized seating charts stick around? We do!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Oversized seating charts are still having their moment—and for good reason. They’re not just eye-catching; they’re practical. The easier it is for gue
Hands down, 10/10. Mismatched bridesmaid dresses, can’t go wrong!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo @mangostudios
Florals @floraandfarfalla
Videography: @parallelweddings
Alterations: @sewretrobridalalts
Beauty: @hartbeautyparlour and @christinapfaffmakeup
.
.
.
I swear this one belongs on the cover of a magazine.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo @mangostudios
Florals @floraandfarfalla
Videography: @parallelweddings
Alterations: @sewretrobridalalts
Beauty: @hartbeautyparlour and @christinapfaffmakeup
.
.
.
#WeddingPhotos #We

home weddings social gatherings portfolio blog meet client login

© 2012 - 2025 Laura Olsen Events