3 April 20251 MIN READ
Georgie Mitchell, author of It’s Your Wedding, is a professional wedding planner with years of experience navigating the highs and lows of wedding planning. Known for her no-nonsense advice and practical approach, she has helped countless couples create their dream day without unnecessary stress. With her insider knowledge and sharp sense of humour, Georgie shares the common mistakes she sees time and time again – so you can avoid them. From budgeting pitfalls to seating mishaps, here’s what to watch out for when planning your big day.
Believe it or not, you will not have thought about everything when planning your budget. It’s literally my job and there were still costs and fees that I hadn’t accounted for. Around 1 month before your wedding you’ll have bathroom boxes to buy, gifts you’ve forgotten, invoices with add-ons, suit alterations you hadn’t been aware of, an extra bridesmaid … the list goes on. Set aside some money so that hit doesn’t feel so bad. A good estimate is around £500. Don’t use it? Cool – free money (girl math).
Trying to keep the whole family happy? Never going to happen, so you may as well do it your way. Whether it’s the location, number of bridesmaids, speech givers, the dress. Everyone will want to give their opinion, tell you what they had, how much they spent and what they would do. Take advice, swap stories but you will not please them all and nor should you. You will be the one who looks back at this day in decades to come – make your wedding is a true representation of you both as a couple.
Now this sounds strange, but it’s a mistake I always see. Don’t put a random amount of money behind the bar. At some point during the night a free bar suddenly then stops. You’ll have some guests who have ordered triple shots and some that have had none, so in my opinion, it’s not the best way. If you do have additional money you want to spend on drinks I’d recommend having a cocktail hour, additional drinks in the drinks reception, handing out shots, or doing a free bar for prosecco and beer. It’s just a safe, fairer way to get them all drunk!
Shall I tell you what will put you in a bad mood? Being rushed in the morning! It takes a lot longer to get into your dress than you’d think. Don’t forget the time to do photos, first looks, registrar interviews, travel time – these all lead to delays and pre-ceremony stress. You will need to be putting your dress on at LEAST one hour before the wedding ceremony, that includes bridesmaids ready too.
There is nothing worse than when the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, getting to the front and having nowhere to sit. It’s an easy fix, but often gets forgotten. You need reserved signs that are named to ensure the correct people are in the seats at the front. Anybody walking down the aisle, doing readings or witnesses. Avoid the embarrassing backwards shuffle during the wedding ceremony.
I know you will read this one thinking not me, well me too, but it happens. At around 90% of weddings there are drop-outs, the week of, right up until the day before. Be ready for this. Whether it’s having some evening guests ready as stand ins (controversial but effective) or just being emotionally prepared for it. Don’t forget you’ll need to let venue, caterers and styling teams know about any drop-outs as soon as possible.
When you pick your wedding dress you will be picturing the very mindful, very demure but have you considered the evening party you? The Bardot dresses, the tight skirts and the high heels scream classy, but they are absolutely not practical to dance in. So consider the fun you, she wants to party the night away. Either pick the dress with both ‘you’s in mind, or budget for a second dress.
I know it’s annoying, but if we are inviting guests to celebrate us, then we need to consider their dietaries. Whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or non-alcoholic, they need their options relayed to the catering team. Remember to ask for any details on your invitations and keep a spreadsheet to pass these details on.
You will spend so much time worrying about the big details like guest lists, food choices, first dance songs that the smaller details get forgotten. Don’t forget a guestbook, pens, bins, cake knife and wedding dress hanger.
Sorry, no this is not me saying enjoy a break – this is me saying when you don’t have the big things to do, do the small things. Write your bridesmaids letters, practice your speech, break in your wedding shoes. The last 3 months will go very quickly so trust me when I say, tick off the small wins.
Planning a wedding is no small feat, but with the right advice, you can sidestep common pitfalls and enjoy the process. It’s Your Wedding is packed with honest, practical tips to help you navigate everything from budgeting surprises to last-minute guest dropouts. If you want to feel confident and in control of your big day, this book is a must-read. Grab your copy now and start planning with less stress and more excitement!
