When J and I got engaged years ago, I remember feeling so excited to finally be able to plan my own wedding. But along with that excitement came total panic because frankly, I didn’t know quite where to begin. There are so many components that go into planning a wedding and I think one of the most difficult things is actually knowing how to start planning and what to prioritize first.
To address this issue for those of you who just started the wedding planning process, I’ve teamed up with a fellow wedding industry professional, 77 Diamonds, in order to shed some light on this daunting process. Today, Laura Morris will be guest blogging for me and sharing some helpful tips about how to actually begin the wedding planning process in an organized fashion. And we all know how much I love organization! Thanks Laura!
1.CREATE A BUDGET
Setting a budget from the start will help narrow your choices and give you an idea of the number of guests you can invite, the type of dress and wedding day accessories you can purchase, the venue and entertainment, and how much you can drop on your wedding rings. Getting this out of the way at the beginning of the planning process will help to guide your purchases and eventual selection of vendors.
2. COMPILE AN INVITATION LIST
Put together your invite list before letting your family members weigh in as it will help you avoid being pressured to invite more people. It’s recommended that you subtract 20 percent from the final tally to get an accurate total and account for people who will not be able to attend due to travel expenses or prior commitments. Although your invitations don’t need to go out right away, you might want to send save-the-dates as soon as you’ve decided on your wedding date so travel arrangements can be made for guests who come from out of town.
3. FIND A VENUE
Finding a venue should be the next priority. The venue is important because it will help solidify a date and determine whether caterers and florists are available on site. Keep in mind that popular sites can fill up a year or more in advance, and areas that are attractive as destination weddings are often more competitive. For those who are set on a certain venue, its availability will be the primary factor in scheduling, so it’s best of you have some alternatives.
Note: remember to select your vendors by how you’re going to use them—photographers, videographers, bands, etc. Remember that there are many vendors who generally handle one wedding per day, so they may be booked a year in advance.
4. ATTIRE
Next up is the hunt for that special dress. Most wedding planners advise that you start shopping early as ordering gowns and scheduling fittings can take a long time. Once your dress comes in, you should start your fittings. At the same time you should also selecting your bridesmaids’ dresses according to the color scheme you choose. Allow the same amount of time that you use for your fittings for your bridal court. Tuxes or suits for the groom and groomsmen should be rented or ordered about four months in advance of your wedding date.
5. CREATE A WEDDING DAY SCHEDULE
You should develop a schedule of your wedding day events as they are supposed to unfold. It is significant to arrange the structure of the events, from what time the bridal party should arrive, to the readings at the marital ceremony and what types of photos should be taken. At least a week before your wedding, you should have a final schedule, from start to finish, prepared.
Happy wedding planning everyone!
