I RECEIVED a text message which read as follows, “Hello, how are you doing Sunitta, I am just from reading your article in the newspaper dated November 30, 2014 titled ‘How to cancel a wedding,’ and my question is how can I make a successful wedding without being cancelled and are there any Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that promote such events, your response will be appreciated, good day and stay blessed, Davy Mweetwa from Monze.
I am grateful to you for reading last year’s newspaper whether by accident or by purpose. It is good that you found it worth reading and kept it, for this reason you will receive a free copy of your memorable wedding month by month countdown calendar which helps the bride and groom plan their wedding without going broke and stress-free.
He will receive also the A to Z wedding guide, this is an inspiration from the school curriculum, where children are taught the easy way to remember the alphabet, A for apple, it is very effective, I believe beyond doubt even in the wedding industry it is effective to the bride and groom to put up a memorable wedding; all the major aspects can be remembered by using the letters of the alphabet.
A wedding that has been planned properly, details coordinated together and planned for two or one year, chances are very slim that it can be cancelled at the very last minute.
Some of the reasons many weddings are cancelled are due to financial difficulties; bride refuses to walk down the aisle, bereavement in the family, but today things are changing family members are allowing the function to take place despite death.
Some relatives will attend the celebration while others remain at the funeral house, cancelling a wedding is very expensive.
I learnt about a very sad story that I want to share with you. Some years back, a wedding was cancelled three times on the same day.
As the bridal party were preparing to go for wedding celebrations (church service) the Mother of the Bride (MOB) got very sick before her daughter could even say I do, unknown sickness that left her non responsive and always landed her in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) such a situation happened for three times.
Finally, the MOB told her daughter and future son in to wed even if she will be pronounced dead the function should go on as planned.
She was admitted on her daughter’s wedding but the function took place very colourful and memorable.
Some things are beyond human reasoning, while others are caused by poor planning and can be avoided, will talk about certain things one can put into consideration to plan a successful wedding which cannot be cancelled.
Pray for your wedding every day, even if things seem not to be working out, the Bible encourages us in Proverbs 16:3 to ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.’ Planning a memorable wedding takes 1 to 2 years.
There is no specific price range that ensures success. You can spend thousands and still have a disaster if you haven’t planned carefully. It is important not to allow others to dictate priorities, remember it is your wedding. There may be others who want to plan your day for you and think they know what is best but also try to remember that they will be compromises to be made, so give a little but at the same time if you have your heart set on something.
When planning your menu keep things very simple, I always say simplicity but elegant will leave a lasting impression. A simple menu made from quality ingredients served nicely is generally much better than a poorly executed and sophisticated menu.
Plan your budget in good time and make sure you know your exact budget as it is not fun to make big plans and then have to cancel them because you can’t afford them. Starting your planning with a budget can save you a lot of stress later.
Decide from the onset who is going to pay for what and they should confirm five months before the wedding date.
Make a list of everything you will need to buy or hire and check off which things you are paying for, what your parents are paying for, what the groom’s family is buying and leave room for those things that pop up unexpectedly.
Ask yourself who is going to pay for any extras which might arise, it may seem hard but it’s well worth sorting all these issues out in advance to save any problem and misunderstanding.
It’s true that nothing guarantees success but a lack of planning can lead to great disappointment and upsets.
The further ahead you plan the more options you will have to write it all down and keep a clear check list of what you need to do. Make sure you have contingency plans and be ready for possible hitches and try to plan how you will deal with them and overcome any surprises should they happen.
Avoid holidays like Valentines, Christmas, New year because venues are expensive so it is better off season, book the venues very early and cold season is better as you will not spend much on the cold soft drinks.
To avoid premature cancellation arrange proper contracts with your DJ, caterer, decorator, master of ceremonies and guest of honor, so make sure you have everything in writing from your suppliers and give them in return a written confirmation.
Check locally to see if any sporting or other major event in your area. If you are in Ndola and you choose a venue next to Levy Mwanawasa stadium, on the same date Chipolopolo will be playing an international friendly match, these causes a traffic jam because both you and your invited guests will be caught up in traffic meaning difficulties in getting to the location on time and parking space will be a challenge.
Call all the service providers to remind them about your wedding, how important it is to you so they just have to put in their best and finish on time all their tasks.
I got another email on the subject “Mufulira: A wedding destination.” ‘ I think you were describing the wedding i was the master of ceremonies (MC) in Mufulira on December 27, 2014 at Eagle Motel when you wrote “they brave the rains (invited guests), whatever time they start will finish in good time as the program is done fast forward” ha, ha ha! I was afraid you were going to mention my name, my attire and my hair cut.’
It is a good article on Mufulira, keep it up. DK. Mufulira.
I’m glad that you read it, continue adding value and being of service to the wedding industry. To be a good MC it is important to know yourself, know how to dress your body, be able to stand on your own feet and speak convincingly as this will help you develop and express an attractive personality and for this reason it is to your advantage to cultivate a style that is forceful, educative and pleasing.
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