Weddings are one of the happiest times in a couple’s lives. But it can also be one of the most stressful. Planning a wedding and a subsequent wedding reception involves organizing hundreds of details, from food and activities to invitations and decorations.
The stress and wedding planning associated with it is only amplified if you’re planning on hosting a large wedding. It can be fun to have every aunt, uncle and cousin there to celebrate your special day, but it can be a challenge to keep everything in order for a guest list that may number more than 100 people.
With so many sources of stress when it comes to wedding planning, here are some useful tips if you’re planning on hosting a large wedding:
- Keep costs in mind: The average cost of a wedding reception was $13,106 in 2012. Adding guests and party favors and other bells and whistles can be fun, but it can also drive the bill up real quick.
- Don’t be afraid to browse: More than 90 percent of brides use the Internet to plan their dream wedding.
- Consider renting: Wedding rentals can be invaluable for couples and there are plenty of event rental benefits. Nowadays with rental companies offering more and more options, the hardest part of renting isn’t picking out the things you want, it’s giving it all back when you’re done.
Interested in a certain type of dinnerware? Looking for vintage pieces of furniture? Looking for props to add to your décor? Event rental companies can offer all of those things and one of the great event rental benefits is that you get to pick exactly what you want. Whether you’re looking for something simple, something elegant or something in between, chances are if you want it, an event rental company has it. - Keep things simple: Choose three main colors to create the theme for your dream wedding and then keep that theme going. Carry it over to accessories like napkins, plates, place cards, pennants, balloons and paper pom-poms.
- Use the comforts of home: If you have a large home or yard, consider having your wedding or your reception there. Wedding rentals are invaluable for couples who choose to hold backyard weddings and receptions. Rent some tables and chairs and tents to provide some shade for your wedding guests.
- Survey the venue: If you do opt not to do a wedding or reception at home, make sure to visit your venue to be sure it will accommodate the number of people on your guest list. This can help you visualize the setup you want and whether your plan for 25 tables, a dance floor and centerpieces will work.
- Make the most of your rentals: If you are hosting a wedding or reception, you can rent any number of things for your big day. You will likely need multiple items, so your chair rentals, party tables, rental tents and even wedding décor can be rented. In many cases, you can rental multiple items from the same company.
One of the best event rental benefits is that renting takes out a lot of stress out of planning and offers plenty of selection. Plus, most companies will deliver what you need and tear it down for you. - Keep your guests engaged: Having family there to celebrate the big day can make it that much more memorable. But with a large guest list, it can be hard to find time to spend with every single guest that attends. Consider things like dance floor rentals or photo booth rentals to keep your guests entertained. Give them a reason to get up and move.
- Maintain the guest list: Hosting a large wedding can be a blast, but do you really need to invite every cousin, former roommate or friend? Common wisdom says that if you haven’t spoken to someone in the last five years or can’t see yourself spending five minutes with them at your wedding reception, they probably should be on the list.
Your wedding day and wedding reception should be one of the happiest and most memorable times of your life. There are dozens of event rental benefits which can help take the stress out of planning and help you enjoy your big day.
