Feature Article

“Manage Your Motif So You Don't Make a Mess”


By Tracey Baxter

Managing your motif means prioritizing your spending. Never before has DIY wedding planning been so easy to do. The web has numerous wedding websites, blogs and professional design boards just a click away. With so many inspirations, it’s also easy to get carried away and attempt to pull too many elements into one wedding. I’ve heard it before, “I just want this one last thing to pull it together…” Meanwhile, this bride had to increase her budget to accomplish this. Prioritizing from the beginning, this bride would have kept the budget in check and clearly communicated her wedding style without needing a single thing to pull it together. And really, will that one last thing pull it together? Not likely!


So many elements, where to begin? Bengaline, damask and pin tuck – Oh My! A Candy Buffet or a dessert buffet ...or both – but why? Using a notebook to collect and file ideas is an easy way to remember what you like. But pulling it together should not be an afterthought. It really should be the very next thing you do after determining your total wedding budget and guest list. Does having both a candy buffet and a dessert buffet even make sense? Maybe, if your overall theme is inspired by a sweet shop. Do you need trinket favors and a candy buffet? Again, this depends on the overall style of your wedding. But rather than taking on all the latest trends, let your personal style influence your décor and menu choices. This is your day so begin by examining who you are and what you love.


My advice to brides is regularly examine what you have collected in your notebook. While you are in the early planning stages you should weed your notebook regularly. Some ideas might have been added in the impulse of the moment. And some are truly things you will want to include in your wedding décor. Invest in the areas that make you say “Oh yes, I need this” and minimize or eliminate everything else. Carefully choosing elements you want most and doing them exceptionally well will be more appreciated by your guests. More importantly, you and your fiancé will be happier with the polished end result!

Your Wedding Planning Homework:
Start your wedding planning by figuring out who you are.  How do you really want to celebrate your wedding?  What elements are the most important?  Let the answers to these questions be your guiding light.


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Wedding Solutions Specialist Tracey Baxter publishes the "Aisle Do" bi-weekly e-zine. Get your Free Report: "5 Fun and Fabulous Reception Ideas for a Reluctant DIY Bride” at www.aisledoweddings.com