Top 10 Wedding Mistakes & How to Avoid Them: Garstang's Guide

Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Planning your perfect wedding can feel overwhelming, and even the most organised couples can fall into common traps. From forgotten flowers to double-booked venues, these mistakes can turn your dream day into a stress-filled event. Let's explore the most common wedding planning pitfalls and discover how choosing the right venue can help you avoid them.

The Double-Booking Disaster

One of couples' most heart-breaking mistakes is falling in love with a venue, only to discover they share their special day with another wedding. Imagine your guests mingling with strangers, photographers jostling for the perfect shot, or worse - confusion about which ceremony room is yours! This nightmare scenario happens more often than you'd think at venues that host multiple weddings simultaneously.

The Forgotten Flowers Fiasco

Picture this: it's your wedding morning, and suddenly you realise nobody ordered flowers for the ceremony room. Or perhaps they were ordered but never confirmed. Flowers might seem like a small detail, but their absence is immediately noticeable. Many couples assume flowers are included, only to discover they're a costly extra that slipped through the planning cracks.

The Guest Accommodation Scramble

Nothing dampens wedding joy faster than hearing your elderly aunt had to drive 45 minutes to find a hotel room, or learning half your guests are scattered across different towns because local accommodation was fully booked. Failing to secure enough nearby rooms for guests is a mistake that affects everyone's enjoyment of your celebration.

The Bar Bill Shock

Open bars can lead to shocking final bills if you haven't negotiated prices beforehand. Some venues charge premium rates for drinks, turning your generous gesture into a budget-breaking mistake. Even worse is discovering the bar closes at 11pm when your party is just starting!

The Missing Coordinator Crisis

Trying to coordinate your wedding day is like trying to conduct an orchestra while playing every instrument. Without a dedicated coordinator, minor problems snowball into significant issues. Who ensures vendors arrive on time? Who handles last-minute changes? Who keeps everything running smoothly while you focus on enjoying your day?

The Entertainment Gap

Forgetting to book evening entertainment leaves an awkward silence where there should be celebration. When you realise the oversight, quality DJs and bands are fully booked. Your reception turns from party to polite conversation, and guests leave early.

The Catering Catastrophe

Discovering too late that your venue can't accommodate your vegan guests, or that Uncle Bob's gluten intolerance wasn't communicated to the kitchen, creates unnecessary stress. Rigid catering policies at some venues mean dietary requirements become major headaches rather than simple adjustments.

The Décor Dilemma

Many couples underestimate how much décor they'll need to transform a space. They budget for flowers but forget about table linens, chair covers, and those little touches that pull everything together. Suddenly, the week before your wedding becomes a frantic search for silver cake stands and matching napkins.

The Weather Worry

Planning an outdoor ceremony without a backup plan is asking for trouble. Even the most optimistic weather forecast can change, leaving you with soggy guests and a ruined reception. Venues without flexible indoor/outdoor options leave you gambling with nature.

The Photography Problem

Booking a venue without considering photography opportunities is a mistake you'll regret for years. Dark function rooms, restricted outdoor access, or multiple weddings creating crowds in photo spots can result in disappointing wedding albums that don't capture your day's beauty.

How Smart Venue Choice Solves Everything

Here's the secret: choosing the right venue eliminates most wedding planning mistakes before they happen. At Garstang Country Hotel, we've thought through every detail so you don't have to.

Our wedding venue in Lancashire offers complete wedding exclusivity. There are no competing brides, no shared spaces, and no confusion. Our award-winning gardens are yours alone for those perfect photos.

Forget the flowers? Not here! Our packages include floral arrangements, so ceremony rooms always look beautiful. As one of the premier Preston hotels, we're easily accessible yet peacefully secluded.

Our dedicated wedding coordinator manages every detail, becoming your personal planning assistant. They'll ensure our kitchen accommodates all dietary requirements, we even offer outside catering options for specialised needs. All those little touches like silver cake stands and cloth napkins are already included.

Weather concerns disappear at our Garstang Lancashire venue, which offers beautiful indoor and outdoor options. Perfect for twilight weddings or traditional daytime celebrations, we adapt to your vision.

Our golf course and grounds offer endless photography opportunities. As one of Preston's most photogenic wedding venues, every corner provides stunning backdrops without crowds or restrictions.

Start Your Stress-Free Journey

Wedding planning doesn't have to be stressful. By choosing a venue that anticipates and eliminates common mistakes, you can focus on enjoying your engagement and looking forward to your big day. At Garstang Country Hotel, we've spent years perfecting our packages to include everything couples often forget, ensuring your wedding day unfolds exactly as you've dreamed.

Contact our wedding team today and discover how the right venue makes all the difference.

‍