Planning a wedding can be both exciting and challenging because of all of the word involved. Depending on your stylistic preferences, budget, and how involved you want to be, planning your wedding day can be daunting. Fortunately, I put together a short guide that will help you plan your wedding.
Budget
Before planning your wedding, the first thing you want to do is determine your budget early on. Knowing how much you’re open to spending will help your decision-making in the planning process. It’s important to understand that in the wedding industry, you get what you pay for when it comes to your vendors. More often than not, you will be spending a little over budget than you anticipate when you fight the right wedding photographer or other vendors.
Venue
Now that you’ve decided on your budget, you want to select a venue that suits your style and accommodates your guest list. Depending on your preference, venues differ greatly from one another. You may have a preference for an outdoor vs. indoor venue. Perhaps a destination wedding or even a barn wedding. Once you establish what you’re looking for, research venues and inquire about the dates they have available. Keep in mind that certain seasons and dates are busier than others, so you’ll want to book your venue (and vendors) as soon as possible is ideal
Vendors
Now that you have your venue and your wedding date booked, it’s time to reserve your vendors. When considering which vendors to book, you want to keep in mind that, for the most part, your wedding photographer is the most important vendor on your wedding day, as your wedding photos are what your wedding will be centered around. First, make sure you research the style of photography you want, as styles drastically differ from one another. Click here to read my blog about how to choose your photographer. Once you have your photographer booked, begin researching your other vendors, such as hair/makeup, videographer etc. Be sure you mesh well with your vendors because you’ll be working with them for months, and even until after your wedding day.
Save The Date and Invitations
Save the date and invitations should be sent well in advance in order to allow your guests to plan and RSVP. It’s always a great idea to book an engagement shoot with your photographer so you can use your engagement photos for your wedding invitations. Engagement shoots come standard with almost all of my packages as I feel it’s a great way to get to know your photographer, and for your to get used to posing and being in front of the camera before your wedding day.
Wedding Timeline
Most photographers have been here, but there’s nothing worse than showing up to an unorganized wedding where no one knows the timeline. Before your wedding day, you’ll want to create a detailed timeline in order to stay organized and plan for success. It’s always a great idea to ask your photographer for recommendations and suggestions as they’ll know where to anticipate delays and help put together the perfect timeline. We’ve been doing this for years, so we’re your best resource. If you can budget for a wedding planner, that’s always a bonus!
Take Care of Yourself
I know, you’re reading this and saying ‘this is a really weird tip’. If you can’t already tell, planning a wedding can be stressful. Make sure you take it easy. Ask for help when it’s needed. Practice self-care and spend quality time with your fiancé during this process as it is fairly daunting. Always remember that you’re going to have an amazing wedding with vendors who care that you have a fun and exciting wedding day.
It’s important to remember that every couple is unique, which means that every wedding is different. You want to plan a wedding that reflects your personality and who you are. Stick to what you want and what you love. This way you’ll not only have a successful wedding day, but a fun wedding that you will celebrate with your friends and family.
I hope this helped you in planning your wedding! Click here to check out more of my blogs for more tips and to view some of my work!
