Has your man just put a ring on it? Congratulations, sis! With your wedding coming up, exhilarating and action-packed times lie ahead. Given that, we’ve rounded up a few NB tips for you to keep in mind as you plan the most memorable occasion of your life.
1. Schedule a date night
It’s so easy to get carried away by the excitement of being engaged to the love of your life, that you may not take the time to process it all. But, if you pencil in a date night with bae, the two of you will have some alone time to talk about your feelings and what you’re expecting from the big day. You could enjoy a home-cooked meal, but why not indulge in a few drinks and a sushi platter at the Radisson Blu Hotel, at the V&A Waterfront? They’ve got some great specials for you to check out.
2. Decide on your wedding must-haves
When it comes to your wedding, some things are must-haves and others, nice-to-haves. It’s important that you and your fiancé are on the same page about these from the get-go, to avoid drama closer to the big day. When you’ve got to hold down a full-time job and plan what should be the happiest day of your life, there’s not much that could be worse than your fiancé insisting on a soccer-themed wedding cake, when you were actually thinking of a naked cake with fresh roses.
3. Determine your wedding style
When your parents got married, it was probably expected that the wedding would be a grand affair complete with a sit-down dinner and cake-cutting ritual. But nowadays, anything goes. Your celebration can be more lavish than Prince Charming’s ball, or you could have a braai in your backyard with just your close friends and family. Your wedding day vibe will guide all the decisions that you make later down the line, like those about your venue, dress and entertainment.
4. Choose your wedding’s standout feature
Want your wedding to be talked about for months after it ends? Well then, having a memorable, striking feature is key. This could be arrival in a horse-drawn carriage, a chocolate fountain or fire eaters. If your wedding’s going down at the Radisson Blu Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, you can have your ceremony on the boardwalk and say your vows against the spectacular backdrop of the marina, or have customised cocktails blended to suit your unique tastes.
5. Hire a wedding coordinator
You may be a master planner, but things can get hectic sometimes and you’re likely to become overwhelmed when dealing with wedding issues and other challenges of everyday life. That’s why a wedding planner can be your saviour. They can get you superb deals with suppliers, help you button down your wedding theme and even guide you as you pick out your dream dress. If a pro planner is out of your budget, ask someone in your family who’s always on the ball, to give you a hand.
6. Throw a pre-wedding party
No, we’re not talking about your bachelorette party (that’s for you and your besties to have some kinky fun). This event is held so that friends and family of all ages can get involved in the pre-wedding festivities. At a kitchen tea or bridal shower, you can unwrap gifts for your new home (instead of sexy lingerie) and play games like Bride and Groom Trivia, to see which of your guests know you best. Your man can even have a “groom shower”– yes, that’s actually a thing now.
7. Have fun
Lastly, but most importantly, have fun. Planning a wedding is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so don’t forget to soak up every moment. There’ll be joy in all the madness, even if it doesn’t seem that way at times. If it gets tough, remind yourself of why you chose to marry your fiancé, and make a habit of spending time together when you don’t talk about wedding planning. You’ll feel refreshed and ready for action when you get back to planning again.
