Wedding Planning Tips from the Hudson’s Edge Team

Wedding planning can be such an overwhelming experience. There are so many little details to think about and it can be hard to get started. Our experienced wedding professionals here at Hudson’s Edge Catering have put together some of the best planning tips for making sure that your big day planning goes as smoothly as possible. 

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Tip #1 - Listen to the professionals

There are a lot of moving parts on a wedding day and one way to make sure that everyone goes well is to listen to the advice of the people who do this every day. Your wedding caterer, photographer, florist, venue manager and hairdresser have probably seen hundreds of weddings all together, so they will have a lot of great information on what is going to work well and what is going to cause a problem on your big day. It is important to have a good dialogue with each of these vendors when you book them to make sure that they will be able to fit your wedding style and that you can trust them to help you make the best choices for your wedding. Your caterer is going to be able to tell you which menu items are going to go over best with your guests and your hairdresser is going to tell you which style will hold up while you dance the night away. Your coordinator can help you plan the perfect timeline for your whole day to make sure you enjoy yourself and don’t miss out on any important moments. 

Bottom line: lean on the advice of those with the most experience.

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Tip #2 - Be up front with your vendors

On the other hand, it is also important to make sure that you are being clear about what you want and don’t let yourself get pushed into a decision that you aren’t happy with. This means that if the cake tasting doesn’t leave you satisfied, you should ask for other options. When you are planning your dinner menu for the evening, your caterer can help you come up with the perfect options that fit your tastes, your theme, and your budget. Make sure that you tell your wedding caterer and bakery about any allergies, dietary restrictions and budgetary constraints from the beginning to make sure that your menu planning goes smoothly. Your florist and photographers should know your budget up-front to ensure realistic expectations and no disappointment. 

Bottom line: Be clear about your budget and give your honest opinions

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Tip #3 - Consider the weather

We all know that you can’t control or really predict the weather, especially in Ohio! But what you can do is think ahead and have backup plans in place for any possible weather disruptions. If you plan on any part of your wedding day to take place outdoors, there must be a plan B for rain, wind or uncomfortable temperatures. Most venues have a backup plan for rain, but you  need to make sure to have a conversation about this, so that you know what to expect. Also, in regards to weather, you want to make sure to think about your guests. If your wedding occurs on a hot and sunny day in the summer, you’ll want to have ice cold drinks ready for your guests to cool off all evening. Or ask your caterer to provide coffee or a hot chocolate bar for a winter wedding. This can be a nice touch to make sure that your guests are happy and comfortable while they celebrate you. 

Bottom line: Account for weather in your plans and your back up plans.

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Tip #4 - Take care of yourself 

Sometimes it is easy to get tied up in the big details and planning for your guests in a way that makes you forget about yourself. You might find yourself spending all morning decorating and all afternoon getting ready for your big day and find yourself starving, tired, and feeling miserable come ceremony time. One way to alleviate this is to ask your caterer to provide snacks or lunch for the bridal party while you are getting ready. After your ceremony, don’t let yourself get swept away in talking to people and forget to eat the delicious meal that you planned. It is important that you feel your best and enjoy the day as much as your guests. Also, try to assign set up and clean up tasks to family & friends, or hire your vendors to take care of all those details to allow yourselves and your families to really relax and have fun. 

Bottom line: Take care of your needs so that you can fully enjoy the day. 

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Tip #5 - Remember what is most important

At the end of the day, you must remember what is most important about this big day: getting married. It is easy to get wrapped up in all of the little details, but every once in a while during the planning process and during your big day it’s important to take a deep breath and look at the big picture. You, your family and your friends are all there to have fun, and celebrate your marriage. 

Bottom line: Remember that getting married with your friends and family around you is the purpose of the day. 

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Hudson’s Edge Catering & Events has years of experience with weddings of all shapes and sizes. We love working with couples to make sure that they have the best experience possible on their wedding day. Whether it’s a special meal, great service for your guests, a coordinator to help you through the day, bartenders to fuel the party, help with setting and cleaning up your beautiful decorations or all of the above, we are there for your every step of the way to ensure that your wedding is a memorable, fun and delicious day! Happy planning!

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