Measure twice and cut once
In my four years of graphic design study, there was this huge emphasis on presentation. For every project we handed in (rough work and final product) we had to mount them professionally on black illustration board. Each mounted project had to be mounted exactly in the center of the board, with a label on the back aligned exactly to the corner. Then a tracing paper overlay and cover had to be added, and, of course, both needed to align exactly to each edge of the board. On top of this already tedious process, you had to cut with exacto knife, cork-back ruler and cutting board (scissors were a huge no-no because they were never exact).
Mounting your work properly was the first thing we learned to do, and we had a TON of practice doing it; literally every week of my four years I had to mount all my projects in progress for each of my classes. One time in first year my prof actually ripped my mounting job apart to show how poorly I had mounted it (not fun in front of your peers and in your first year!). Mounting the project took the most energy, focus and time in my opinion, and it was the LEAST enjoyable of the designing experience for me.
Needless to say, I don’t do graphic design anymore, but it was a big learning experience.
Upper years students would give demonstrations to first years about how to mount. They always emphasized “measure twice and cut once”. I learned this the hard way.
After hundreds of hours of designing, you had to show something for it and it needed to be presented well. All it took was one slip of the hand or a few millimeters off the mark for you to have to start the mounting process all over again. Or if you used a dull knife, it was over. I started off first year overconfident in my measurements, only to find out at the end that I made a mistake. By the end of my four years, I triple checked before I cut anything, because once you cut, you can’t turn back, and you couldn’t afford the time to redo your mounting. Anyone who builds things with their hands, like carpenters or reno people, will tell you the same principle. Going the other way around – measure once and cut twice – is recipe for disaster!
Whenever I discuss the last month of wedding planning details with couples, I always refer to “measuring twice and cut once”. It is always better to be over-prepared than to arrive on the wedding day, 30+ minutes from home, and remember the PDF you should’ve printed or the scissors that you forgot to bring.
This is also why WPIC Coordinators have their “Wedding Emergency Kits”. I carry mine around all day when I work weddings. It contains everything from dental floss to replacement heel wedges to extra ribbon. One time I even had an extra aisle runner in my car. Just in case! You never know if you will need it.
All this to say, if you are planning your own wedding, make sure to cover all the bases and do not hesitate to cover MORE than you think you need to cover. The old saying goes, it is better safe than sorry, and it is so true in wedding planning. You only get to do it once, so do it right!
One way to stay on top of your wedding plans is to bring on the help of a certified wedding coordinator. My Wedding Day Package always includes two complimentary consultations to go over the itinerary with the couple. I do not want to be blind-sighted when I am coordinating someone else’s plans, so I deem these meetings vital to a successful wedding day. If you are interested in any of my wedding services, send me a quick email at weddings@rebeccachan.ca and we can get the conversation started. Hope to talk to you soon!
