Craft Your Dream Wedding: Ditch the Joneses, Embrace Your Celebrant

Ignore the Joneses: Your Wedding, Your Way

Ever been caught in the whirlwind of trying to keep up with the Joneses? It's exhausting, right? But what's even more exhausting is planning a wedding that's trying to keep up with the Joneses. It's like running an ultra-marathon with a 20-kilogram backpack. In thongs. Uphill. In the middle of summer.

And what's the reward at the end? A wedding that looks like a carbon copy of every other wedding you've been to, and a bank account that's as dry as a drought-stricken dam. There's got to be a better way. And trust me, there is.

Forget the Joneses

The first step in planning an intentional wedding is to forget about the Joneses. The Joneses aren't getting married. You are. The Joneses won't be living with the financial fallout of an overblown wedding. You will.

So, let's chuck the Joneses out the window (not literally, of course. I'm not advocating for any kind of violence, especially not towards hypothetical neighbours), and start planning a wedding that reflects you and your partner's values, not the expectations of society, or your third cousin twice removed, or your mum's friend Susan's daughter who had an 8-tier cake at her wedding.

Start With Questions, Not Dates

When you start planning, don't jump straight into picking a date. Instead, start with questions. What's important to you and your partner? What do you love about weddings? What do you hate? What are your expectations for your big day?

Once you've answered these questions, you can start planning a wedding that's uniquely yours.

Budget Before Guests

Then, consider your expenses. Before you send out any save-the-dates, figure out how much you can realistically save each month towards your wedding. This will give you a realistic date based on your finances, not some arbitrary deadline set by a calendar.

Build Your Dream Team

Next, build a team of vendors who can provide the services you want in a way that suits your style. This is where it's crucial to meet with potential vendors to ensure they're a good fit.

Your ceremony is the main event, so find an officiant who shares your values and can create a meaningful, personalised ceremony. And don't forget about the details – your clothing, hair, makeup, music, and photography should all make you feel like the best version of yourselves.

Venue and Details Matter

The venue provides the framing and backdrop for your day, and the styling, lighting, flowers, and catering create the atmosphere. Be intentional about every detail – these are the elements that will make your wedding feel uniquely yours.

Plan with Purpose

Finally, plan with purpose. Start with your venue deadline, sunset time, and ideal ceremony time. Then, layer in the other elements of your day – preparations, photos, reception events, etc.

Consult with your vendors and clearly communicate your expectations. They, in turn, will communicate their timing needs. This mutual understanding will help prevent any unnecessary stress on the day.

The End Goal

With careful planning and intentional choices, you can have a wedding that feels amazing without blowing your budget. The process should be joyful, not a stress-filled, debt-inducing nightmare.

So, forget about keeping up with the Joneses. Plan a wedding that's all about you and your partner, not about some outdated idea of what a wedding 'should' look like. Because at the end of the day, it's your wedding, not the Joneses'.