Tips for the perfect wedding from an expert

It is the month of love and wedding season!

A wedding is a major event. For most, it is the most important day of their life.

It is the day you get to publicly declare your love for each other and make a commitment to stay together forever.

To ensure that all goes well on the big day, we spoke to celebrity wedding planner Mabutla Modiba of InnoVativeEventZ to get tips to help you plan the perfect wedding day.

Have a budget

Mabutla says one of the most important things in planning a wedding is sticking to your budget. 

So many people go into debt because of their wedding day, but with a proper budget, this can be avoided. 

“Have a budget and try to stick to your budget. When you go to service providers, you know how much you are willing to spend and how much you can spend,” says Mabutla.

“Having a budget will determine the kind of wedding dress you can afford to buy, and even your décor,” she adds. 

So, get quotations for the things you want and ensure that you have saved enough before having a wedding day. 

READ: "Wedding flowers can cost up to R200,000" - Wedding specialist Zavion Kotze-Brereton

Start planning on time

Mabutla warns against rushing to have a wedding because of all the planning and money involved. 

“If you can, start planning on time. Don’t decide today that you are getting married next month because that will put you under a lot of pressure as to how you handle this, how you handle that, where do you find what,” she says.  

Mabutla recommends at least four months of planning. 

“So, give yourself time, maybe four months. That’s enough time for you to now go dress shopping, go look for a venue and do things,” she says. 

 READ: Bride invites guests to wear their wedding dresses to her wedding!

Get assistance

Knowing what you want and planning your wedding is important, but don’t try to do everything yourself, as this will be stressful.

“People tend to think it is easy to plan a wedding by themselves. It is okay, but on the wedding day, you will be in the white gown. You won’t have all the information as to how you want people seated, where you want the cake to be placed,” says Mabutla. 

“You can plan everything on your own, however, a week or two weeks before, just hand over whatever you have planned to a friend, a wedding planner, a wedding coordinator, a person that you found, a cousin, someone that you trust."

Choose a good venue

A venue is very important when planning a wedding. 

Mabutla says determining the venue will depend on the number of guests you are expecting and your budget.

“If you are from a big family, try to find a venue that allows you to bring your own food because venues make money out of food. So if you can find a flexible venue that will allow you to bring your own food, bring your own drinks, you will save a lot of money, because food is one of the most expensive items that people tend to spend money on for their wedding,” she says. 

Entertainment 

“People don’t want to come to your wedding and there is no entertainment. First, find out what kind of people are coming to your wedding,” she says.

“Draw a detailed plan on how you are going to entertain your guests," she says. 

She says choose the kind of songs you want to be played, and the kind of games that will be played.There are a lot of games that can be played that will have your guests entertained.

And finally... remember to have fun on your big day!

READ: Married couple finally get magical wedding on Breakfast with Martin Bester