This past weekend, my fiance and I were meeting with a photographer
and a DJ who we were considering for our wedding. We knew both personally and it was great to
meet them and learn more about them professionally.
In our minds, the plan was simple.
A simple ceremony and a casual reception where everyone could relax and
have fun. What could be easier! But when we sat down, we both quickly
realized that even our “simple, casual” wedding wasn’t so “simple”.
In speaking with both of them, it became very apparent – very quickly
– that there were far more details than we realized. You can tell the difference between a professionally
taken photo and an amateur taken photo. The
DJ has professional equipment, such as speakers, and knows what to play when.
As we sat there, we both knew that if we try to do these ourselves,
we would we in over our heads. Friends are
willing to help, and we could Google what we didn’t know. But that wouldn’t be the same. Plus, we would have the added stress of getting
photos or playing songs ourselves instead of letting someone else handle these things.
In a way, we both knew from the beginning. Both the photographer and the DJ asked if we
had any questions to start, and neither of us spoke. We didn’t know what to ask!
This experience isn’t too different from handling personal finances. People can Google all of the information, and
they can ask friends and relatives. And
there is some good advice out there.
How would someone know what to look up first? How do people know what to ask? And when do most people have time to even
look this up and handle it themselves?
There is a difference between taking photos and playing music versus
handling finances. Who has time to look
up tax law changes or federal regulations regarding IRAs and 401(k)s?
The stakes are much higher than some photos or music. Find the right information and you’ll have a
comfortable lifestyle. Get it wrong and
earn yourself a life time of stress and worry.
I realized what I know and don’t know. My wedding – and sanity – will be better for
that.
