Congratulations on your engagement, especially if it happened over the holidays! If you're reading this chances are, your engagement glow has settled in and you're ready to plan your wedding in earnest. Based on our expertise, beginning your wedding planning journey with these initial four steps is crucial for a successful start.
Planning Step 1: Set Your Expectations
Arrange a date night with your fiance to discuss the following crucial elements: your wedding vision, top wedding priorities and budget. You might find that the two of you have very different ideas of a "dream wedding" -- that's ok. Try writing down 2 to 3 things that really matter to you, compare your notes and begin to compromise. Also set clear boundaries. Ensuring alignment with your future spouse on these aspects as well as things like how to deal with family, when to splurge or safe and even how to delegate tasks will significantly enhance the success of your planning journey.
Planning Step 2: Guest Count
If a potential guest has never seen the inside of your home, it might be worth considering not extending a wedding invitation. As you and your partner compile your guest lists, have a conversation about your preferences regarding the inclusion of children and whether or not to allow single guests to bring dates. Here's a helpful tip: When creating your lists, consider organizing your loved ones into groups of 8 or 10. These are typical seating capacities for round and banquet tables. This will help you later when you make your seating chart.
Planning Step: 3 Research
We strongly recommend taking the source into account when comparing costs. Check the publication date of the articles or Pins. Also, consider whether the author making the claim resides in a location similar to yours or where you plan to have your destination wedding. Speaking of Pinterest, dear reader, please keep in mind that many viral Pins showcase luxury weddings with budgets exceeding 150K. If this aligns with your budget, that's fantastic; however, if not, don't be disheartened. A "perfect" wedding is a matter of prospective. If your projected budget doesn't align with your expectations, discuss having an intimate wedding instead. This choice can offer both cost savings and the opportunity for a more stylistically refined design.
Planning Step 4: Hiring Vendors
When you're ready to start booking vendors, consider beginning with either the venue or the planner. If you opt for the venue first, ensure that any requirements, such as specific caterers or vendors, align with your budget. Understand the venue's rules and ensure they meet your needs. If you choose to book your planner first, make sure that you and your partner have established clear expectations, budgetary constraints, and boundaries before reaching out. Once you communicate these to your planner, they can save you time, effort, and potentially money by working diligently to secure a venue and assemble a team based on your specified price point and requirements. It's crucial for you and your partner to be on the same page so that your wedding planner can be successful while bringing your wedding together.
Start a Conversation
Times are touch right now and weddings can certainly be overwhelming, but we're here for you. Tell us about your dream day by submitting an inquiry form on our contact page. Looking for inspiration and tips -- follow us over on Instagram.