Is wedding planning really that complicated?

A wedding is an event with many facets and often well over 100 invited guests. To ensure the celebration runs as smoothly as possible, careful planning is necessary. From the location to the service providers, music, decoration, and backup plans for unforeseen events: the better you plan your wedding, the more fun is guaranteed for you as the bridal couple, but also for the guests.

Why is thorough wedding planning so important? Thorough wedding planning ensures that the event is a complete success. This keeps the stress level on the big day within limits, and both the bridal couple and the guests can enjoy the celebration. Additionally, having a backup plan is an important factor that can contribute to the smooth running of the wedding.

There are a whole range of aspects you need to consider when planning a wedding. With our guide, we want to make planning easier for you: read our tips and advice to start the most beautiful day of your life in a structured and stress-free way.

Many people find wedding planning to be a stressful challenge. After all, it is a complex event with many important planning aspects, including:

• Setting the date
• Financial planning
• Buying the rings, the wedding dress, and the suit
• Booking the location
• Choosing a theme (including for decorations and flowers)
• Requesting or booking service providers (such as catering, photographer, music)
• Creating the guest list and sending invitations
• Logistics during the wedding, including the schedule

Most wedding planners recommend starting the planning at least 12 months before the big day. This gives you enough time to take care of everything.

Because there are so many things to consider, mistakes in wedding planning are unfortunately not uncommon. Here are some typical problems:

1. Starting the planning too late: This can bring several disadvantages and problems. Desired locations and wedding photographers may already be booked, guests may have other plans on the wedding date, and there is no buffer time if something goes wrong.
2. Not having an overview: If you don’t approach the planning strategically, you lose track. Write down every detail, make priority lists, and use a checklist for your wedding planning to remember everything.
3. Considering the budget as secondary: Financial planning is an extremely important point in weddings. Think in advance about what you would rather spend a little more money on—otherwise, you might end up saving in the wrong places, such as on wedding photography or music, and regret it.

Even before choosing the location and buying the wedding dress, you should decide on a wedding date. Many people prefer a memorable date (like 2/22/2022), simply because it’s easier to remember as an anniversary. However, there are many other aspects you should consider when choosing the date for your wedding:

Is the day still “free”?

Choose a day when no other event is taking place: neither in your circle of friends (e.g., another wedding or an important birthday), nor at the wedding location (e.g., a trade fair). If you already have a location in mind, it’s also important to pick a date when it’s still available.

What is most convenient for guests?

Choose a day that is unproblematic for most of your guests. Family holidays like Easter and Christmas or school holidays can be inconvenient. Some people choose a weekend wedding so guests don’t have to take an extra day off. Fun fact: According to a study by Watson.ch, wedding planners say that Friday is the most popular day to get married.

Season and weather

In summer, it stays light longer in the evenings, and the chances are higher that the weather will be good on your wedding day. On the other hand, it can get too hot in midsummer, so spring and autumn can also be suitable. If high temperatures aren’t important to you, a winter wedding can be a magical experience. Ultimately, it all depends on the preferences of the bridal couple.

Price differences

During the peak wedding season, that is, from May to September and on certain holidays, prices for some components of the wedding can be higher than at other times. This applies not only to the location but sometimes also to the prices for flowers.

Choosing a date for your wedding can be difficult—do this earlyso that guests can plan better and your desired location is still available. With our tips, choosing a date will be easier:

• Create a calendar together in which you enter birthdays and other weddings. This way, you get an overview of possible dates.
• Create a calendar together in which you enter birthdays and other weddings. This way, you get an overview of possible dates.
• Stay flexible: Have an alternative date ready—in case your preferred date is not available.
• Set the wedding date early enough and send out save-the-date cards with a request for a response (also: RSVP) to all guests.

Setting a budget is important to get a clear idea of your options. This way, you get an overview of how much money you have available and how best to allocate it. Follow these steps to create a wedding budget:

1. Set a budget: Set an upper limit for what you want to spend.
2. Plan a buffer: Before planning other expenses, you should set aside a buffer. This can help you later with unforeseen costs.
3. Know the costs: Get quotes for the various services and compare prices.
4. Set priorities: Decide together what is important to you for your wedding. Make a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves—this way, you won’t end up saving in the wrong places because you run out of money.
5. Write down all expenses: Keep a list of all aspects that incur costs. You can also note when something has been paid off.
6. Know your guest count: The more accurately you know your number of guests, the easier it will be to plan your budget.

If you plan your wedding budget well, you can reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises. Also think about unexpected costs — here are some examples:

• Drink bills: Sometimes only beer, table wine, and water are included in the agreed price; for everything else, you get a bill after the wedding. Discuss this in detail with the venue or the responsible service providers.
• Meals for service providers: Photographers and musicians work for hours at your wedding—so it’s understandable that they need a break and something to eat.
• Honeymoon: You only planned up to the wedding and not beyond. Now all your savings are gone and there’s no money left for a honeymoon. It’s better to include this in your budget planning from the start.

The location is often one of the biggest cost factors of a wedding. There are various options available to you—in the table you’ll find some of the most popular wedding locations with their pros and cons:

Which venue is perfect for your wedding is ultimately up to you. But you should also consider these criteria:

• Size: The location should have enough space for all guests, but not be too large for your number of guests.
• Style: The ambiance should match the wedding theme and suit you as a couple.
• Location: A central venue is more practical, but beautiful locations are often more remote.
• Budget: Last but not least, your available budget plays a role—not everyone can afford to rent a castle.

If you have a shortlist of locations, you can arrange viewing appointments. Clarify the most important questions in advance by phone or email, so you don’t have to visit too many venues unnecessarily.

It’s best to think about the remaining questions in advance and write them down. These include aspects such as parking, technical facilities, and backup plans for bad weather. Also ask if there are contacts for catering companies, florists, or other service providers—you might get some insider tips.

The guest list is a sensitive topic for many. After all, you have a limited budget but want to have everyone there. Here are our tips for the ideal guest list:

• Divide the guests into groups, e.g., family, friends from school, colleagues. This gives you a good overview.
• Don’t forget children and partners!
• Refrain from inviting people out of mere politeness. Always remember: it’s YOUR big day.
• Send out the save-the-date cards and wedding invitations early enough and ask for an RSVP by a certain date. On this deadline, you can send a reminder to everyone who hasn’t responded yet.
• Keep a nice-to-have list with alternates in case someone cancels.

In the end, it can always happen that guests cancel or new ones are added (for example, a new partner). Try to stay as cool as possible in the face of these changes. to stay as cool as possible. Let the service providers and the venue know early enough. A few extra meals and chairs are often not a problem.

A princess dress made of tulle and chiffon, a vintage dream with lace trim, a classic A-line, or something completely unusual like a pantsuit: wedding dresses come in many styles. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following things, among others:

• Cut that flatters your body shape
• Style that suits you
• Color tone in harmony with your skin tone
• Budget check: Does the dress fit into the wedding budget?
• Try it on! Only then will you know if a dress suits you and if you feel comfortable in it

Take your time choosing your dress. Take a maximum of three loved ones with you when shopping—they can support you in your decision. The sales staff are also often a great support and can advise you with their expertise.

Always remember: The dress should first and foremost please you. Whether your aunt doesn’t quite agree with the cut or your cousin would have preferred a different color can be irrelevant to you.

Depending on the location, you have various options for your wedding catering. Here are some of the most popular:

Depending on the location, you have various options for your wedding catering. Here are some of the most popular:

• Buffet: A casual and practical option that lets guests choose for themselves.
• Plated menu: This allows for a fine and elegant presentation. It can be elaborate for large celebrations.
• Food trucks: Modern and cool, but rather unconventional.
• Family-style: With this option, the food is served in large portions at the table and guests serve themselves.

Offer a variety of food options so that all guests can find something they like. Be sure to consider allergies and special diets (vegetarian, vegan, kids’ menus). It’s best to ask about this already with the wedding invitation, so your guests can let you know in their RSVP.

Before signing any contracts, you should arrange a tasting. This way you can make sure the food meets your expectations and your wedding will be a culinary success.

After months of planning, the big day has finally arrived—and after a blink of an eye, it’s already over. The only things that remain are memories and photos.

A professional photographer knows how to showcase people. They focus entirely on capturing all the emotional moments of the wedding. Often, they accompany the couple and guests throughout the day, documenting every phase of the celebration.

To ensure working with a wedding photographer is a complete success, here are some tips for you:

• Careful selection: Look at different photographers. The most meaningful are the portfolio of past work and customer reviews.
• Budget check: Check the prices for wedding photography and decide what fits your budget. Consider whether you want full wedding documentation or just want to hire the photographer for a few hours.
• Is there chemistry? Arrange an initial meeting with the photographer—ideally in person, or if that’s not possible, by phone or Zoom. This way, you’ll quickly notice if you get along and feel comfortable.
• Clear communication: Both before and during the wedding, you should communicate clearly and often with your photographer. Make sure to state your expectations and what you hope for as the end result.

What are the advantages of a photo booth?

In addition to a wedding photographer, a photo booth is a must-have for your wedding.. Your guests can take their own photos and have a lot of fun with the photo booth. A photo booth enriches your wedding in many ways:

• Authentic photos: A photo booth creates authentic snapshots. The funny and beautiful pictures are wonderful memories of an unforgettable day.
• Interactive entertainment for the guests: With a photo booth, guests have the opportunity to get involved themselves. With photo props and pulling funny faces, your loved ones will be well entertained.
• Funny and beautiful moments of coming together: A photo booth brings guests together. Friends who haven’t seen each other in a while take a few snapshots together, and maybe you’ll even make new acquaintances while waiting for the photo booth.
• Take memories home: If you choose a photo booth with a printer, your guests can print their photos on the spot. This way, they can take them home after the celebration and have an instant memory of the special day.

Choose a high-quality photo boothso that it becomes a highlight of your wedding. At Fotichaschte.ch we offer you various options with individual personalization possibilities. Our quality equipment, professional service, and the easy operation of our photo booths ensure that your wedding photo booth will be a complete success!

With a detailed schedule you create a framework for the wedding day. This way, your guests can adjust to the flow of events and arrive on time for each program item. It’s best to print it out and keep the following tips in mind:

• Allow buffer times: Buffers in the schedule are extremely helpful to actually stick to the plan. This way, you’ll stay cool even if there are delays, and in the end, there’s still enough time for all the program points.
• Delegate tasks: Delegate tasks on the wedding day to relatives, friends, or other responsible people. They can check if the photo booth is working, check the restrooms, or inform the service staff if something is missing at the buffet. Assign these tasks before the wedding starts to save yourself stress and keep everything running smoothly.
• Plan B: Have a plan B ready for typical problem situations, such as if it rains on the wedding day. This way, you’re optimally prepared and can fully enjoy your wedding even in the face of unforeseen events.
• Stay relaxed and flexible: If the schedule doesn’t go exactly as planned, stay relaxed. The most important thing is that you and your guests have an unforgettable day together.

• Set a budget
  • Determine the total budget
  • Divide the budget into different categories
  • Plan a buffer for unexpected costs

• Create a guest list
  • Create a preliminary guest list (don’t forget children and partners!)
  • Set priorities
  • Track RSVPs and changes

• Choose a wedding date
  • Check available dates
  • Consider season and weather
  • Plan for personal and family commitments

• Book a location
  • Visit different locations
  • Check capacity and style
  • Sign contracts

• Choose catering
  • Check different options (buffet, menu, food trucks)
  • Arrange menu suggestions and tastings
  • Sign contracts

• Choose wedding attire
  • Check styles and trends
  • Arrange several fittings
  • Take changes and adjustments into account

• Book service providers
  • Select photographer, florist, DJ/band, and other service providers
  • Clearly define contracts and services
  • Record schedules and agreements

• Create a schedule for the wedding day
  • Create a detailed timetable for the day
  • Distribute tasks and responsibilities
  • Have emergency plans ready

Preparing for a wedding is an exciting and important time. With thorough wedding planning you ensure that this special day becomes the best of your life. Here are our five top tips:

1. Start planning early—at least twelve months in advance.
2. Use a wedding planning checklist to keep track of everything.
3. Stick to your budget plan.
4. Plan for buffers and a plan B.
5. Most importantly: Enjoy the day and stay cool if something doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Have you already had experience planning weddings and have more tips to share? Then let us know in the comments! Also, browse our blog at Fotichaschte.ch for helpful inspiration and guides to help you plan your wedding with ease—so you can start the most beautiful day of your life stress-free.

How early should you start planning your wedding?

Wedding planners recommend starting to plan your wedding at least twelve months before the date. If you have your eye on a particular location, it makes sense to start planning even earlier.

How can you save money when planning a wedding?

Set a maximum budget and allocate it to the different categories. A wedding checklist will help you keep track and not go over your budget. Compare different offers from service providers and consider being flexible with the location to save money.

What should you do if something goes wrong?

No matter how detailed your wedding planning is, something can always go wrong. With buffers and backup plans, you can counteract unforeseen events. Also, try to stay flexible and relaxed—the most important thing is that you enjoy the day.