I participated in a slightly different kind of project this summer, as Marianja got married and I got to be one of the bridesmaids. We came to a conclusion though, that a wedding can be thought of like any other project; first initiation and planning, then execution and finally closure.
In the initiation phase, the goal and the desired end result are to be defined. Big or small wedding, church or civil ceremony? Shall we make it ourselves or buy as much ready-made as possible? Party venue, food, drinks, decorations, program, outfits and so on, there are so many things to think about. Many people already have an idea of what kind of wedding they want for themselves. From the point of view of the project management, it is easier if the couple is sharing a similar view, or if necessary, are capable of compromising. This is important, to avoid falling into the first pitfall right at the beginning of the project.
Once the main outlines have been drawn up, the actual planning begins. The planning phase includes preparing a budget and schedule. A good old Excel spreadsheet works great as a tool, shared among all the key people in the project. Requests for tenders are also sent during the planning phase; party venue, photographer, band, whatever each wedding couple ends up ordering as an outsourced service. In the planning phase, it is also good to make sure that everyone involved in the project understands the goal and the execution plan; the tasks and responsibilities to be performed are recorded in the project plan, and the responsible persons are named. In this way, one more pitfall is avoided, when there won’t be that famous “someone” who has not performed their duties.
Initiation and planning are the most time-consuming steps in a wedding project. The duration of these phases varies, depending on the project, from a few months to even years. The execution phase usually takes only one day. Aristotle’s famous statement “Well planned is half done” applies very well in a wedding project. In the execution phase, the project is just carried out according to the plan, and the better the planning work is done, the more likely all participants will enjoy themselves and the day will be a successful and memorable experience. However, the project management must accept that everything may not go exactly according to plan, and surprises and deviations must be prepared for. As long as the most critical tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined and they are adhered to, there is room for improvisation without the end result suffering.
Closing the wedding project involves various tasks, depending on the main outlines decided during the project initiation phase; cleaning the party venue, returning rented dishes, returning rented clothes, and so on. Giving thanks is an important part of closing a wedding project, and it applies to all wedding projects; thank the people who were involved in the project and also all the participants. Usual way is to send a wedding photo in the form of a thank you card, some time after the execution. Feedback is not collected, but an assessment of success is obtained immediately during the execution phase; lovely wedding, food was delicious, a great band, a beautiful bride and a handsome groom, a great day overall!
It was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of Marianja and Johan’s important day, helping them make it the best possible, memorable life event ❤️
