The First Things You Need to Do When Planning a Wedding
I'm often asked what is the very first thing you need to do in those early stages after you get engaged, so I’ve got some advice for you based upon years of experience and a real desire to see people enjoy being engaged.
#1 Enjoy the Moment
A wedding day is the culmination of the love between two people as they commit to each other. They are days full of excited anticipation, laughter, and love. But you know what? So are those special days before the wedding, when you’re still a couple, not yet married, with so much promise ahead of you.
Don’t skip over this fun period of anticipation of your wedding by launching full-force right into planning mode!
Make sure to take advantage of the time you have together as a couple by having date nights that don’t revolve around wedding planning. Let the magic of the proposal linger a little!
#2 Choose your Date
Your wedding date can be based upon something romantic like the anniversary of your first kiss, or maybe it’s a season you both love. When you choose your date, you can begin planning in earnest, contacting venues and vendors to see if they are available for your date. If you’re okay with being flexible on the date (such as; any Saturday in September/October or even non-Saturday dates), you may find more options available to you.
#3 Own Your Budget
The decidedly un-sexy part of wedding planning; the budget. But yet, so critical to your happiness on the day and after the day! Budgeting is the very first step to making sure you start your married life without regrets.
When you set your budget, do not be afraid to own it! If you contact vendors outside your budget you can ask them if there are smaller packages or other options that may work for you.
There are definitely many different ways to go with your wedding budget- sometimes you have to get creative (which a wedding planner can help with), and sometimes you have to make compromises.
#4 Dream the Big Dream: Imagining your Day
You and your fiance should sit down and discuss what your wedding day looks like in both of your minds. Is it in a family church? Outdoors? A destination wedding? Who do you imagine at your wedding? Having these frank discussions early can help with miscommunication down the line. It can also help set expectations, help you decide who to invite to the wedding, and the overall feel you want your wedding day to have.
#5 Create your Guest List
Creating the guest list: start with the closest friends and family and build on from there. Your wedding budget will be determined by how many guests you invite, so choose wisely!
You do not need to invite people you haven’t seen in years or even people you work with. Your wedding guest list should be personalized to your wedding’s intent and celebrated with people who mean the most to you.
Bonus Tip: Remember- the more people you invite to your wedding, the more you're going to spend! Nearly every dollar spent is contingent on your guest count!
#6 Be Open to Using a Wedding Planner
Weddings have tons of moving parts, and even small weddings can require weeks worth of planning. Time is the only commodity you cannot buy! Wedding planners can save you more than money; they can save your sanity.
By working with a planner, you can spend more time enjoying the wedding planning process and enjoy your wedding day without worry. A planner can help you navigate budgets, vendor relations and communications, design and decor advice, and more.
The peace of mind of hiring a planner can be invaluable! With our expertise in the industry and “insider knowledge” of everything from venues to vendors, we’re here to help you plan an amazing wedding with less stress!
Get in touch with me HERE, and let's setup a time to chat!