A Do-It-Yourself Western Wedding: When to Bring in the Pros
Getting engaged and planning a wedding can be a very magical time for a couple. Between attending wedding expos, meeting vendors, spending hours on Pinterest, and reading the stack of bridal magazines that are overtaking your night stand, planning a wedding can be exciting. Especially if you’re planning a western themed wedding! Envision a ceremony in an open pasture with horses in the background and your guests seated on hay bales; think of dancing the night away to “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill under twinkling lights in a rustic barn; picture mason jars filled with baby’s breath and daisies, and the textured accents of lace and burlap everywhere. The options for a western wedding are endless. On the other hand, planning a wedding can be overwhelming, not to mention costly.
Photo courtesy of Dani & Chad Thompson
A trend that has become common in recent years is the “Do It Yourself” wedding. A DIY western wedding offers great options to thoroughly personalize the day while keeping costs manageable, but that doesn’t mean everything should be done by the couple and their friends and family. There are some aspects of wedding planning that (with some dedication) the couple can do on their own, and other aspects that should be handled by professionals. Not everything is as easy as it looks on Pinterest!
Photo courtesy of Dani & Chad Thompson
Some things to consider when planning a western wedding are:
If your ceremony is in an open pasture, are you and your guests going to be stepping in manure as you walk down the aisle?
How will livestock react to the loud music playing until the wee hours of the night?
Will you have to worry about guests that have had one too many drinks, who think they’ll “cowboy up” and jump on a bull?
What if some of your guests are allergic to hay or farm animals?
Photo courtesy of Boundary Ranch
To avoid stressing out over what should be the happiest day of your life, keep these helpful hints in mind when drawing the line between DIY and the pros:
Do It Yourself
Flowers:
Preparing flower arrangements such as bridesmaids’ bouquets, centrepieces, and accent flowers will allow you to show off your creative side while saving you a good chunk of change. Pick up large bundles of flowers at your local grocery store or wholesaler and let your creativity reign. To be sure they look their best, leave the actual constructing for the day prior to the wedding but make sure you plan your ideas well ahead of time, and find somewhere cool to store the arrangements the night before the wedding. When it comes to the bride’s bouquet and the men’s boutonnieres, however, I do suggest using a qualified floral designer. They will be able to create masterpieces that will look stunning in photos while lasting long into the night.
Desserts and Favours:
One of my favourite parts of a reception is the food – especially the desserts! A great trend right now sees couples forgoing the traditional caterer’s spread and opting instead for constructing their own dessert bars with all of their favourites!
Rather then going through caterers and bakeries, couples are donning aprons and baking up a storm with family and friends. These specially made desserts also double up as unique wedding favours. Just keep in mind any restrictions your venue may have before bringing in any outside food.
Photo courtesy of Love and be Loved Photo
Professional Services
Planner/Day-of Coordinator:
This is one of the most important days of your life, but it is also a big day for your friends and family. They have traveled from far and wide to share this day with you, so why ask them to work hard on a day they should be enjoying? Hiring a professional wedding coordinator takes the stress off you and your loved ones, allowing everyone to fully enjoy the festivities you worked so hard to plan. A coordinator is there to make sure all your vendors show up on time, that everything runs on time, to manage any decor set up and tear down, and to handle any other issues that will inevitably arise. They will pay attention to all the details and final touches.
Photography:
Years after the first kiss, the first dance, and the tossing of the bouquet, the only tangible item that you will have to look back on your wedding day is your wedding album. Too many couples decide to save money by asking friends and family to take on the role of wedding photographer, thinking they will get perfectly unique pictures. More often than not, key moments are missed or poorly captured because guests get distracted, are not in the proper position, or have issues with their cameras. A professional wedding photographer has an eye for these moments and knows exactly what shots to take and when to take them. They also understand how to get the perfect lighting and positioning. In the end, and after hours of fine editing, a wedding photographer will produce high quality images you will love for a lifetime. While your guests might take a handful of satisfactory photos, years down the road you’ll be kicking yourself for not hiring a professional wedding photographer to flawlessly capture your day. Remember: you get what you pay for.
Photo courtesy of Love and be Loved Photo
Music and Entertainment:
As tempting and cost effective as it might be to fill your iPod with your favourite songs to dance the night away, you might want to reconsider. Not everyone has the same taste in music. If you’re going to play only your favourite music, your dance floor may be rather bare and guests will be leaving your reception pretty early. Hiring a reputable DJ/entertainer is a more sensible choice if you want to have a rocking reception that everyone will still be talking about years later. These professionals know how to read a crowd and get guests on the dance floor while still incorporating your style. With the perfect DJ, you will be kicking your guests off the dance floor at the end of the night.
Of course, these are just suggestions. If you choose to plan your own wedding, be sure to think carefully on which areas you can save money on, and which areas need some professional care. Happy planning!
By: Emily Halfyard | finaltouchesevents.wix.com/final-touches-events