5 Steps to Start Planning Your Wedding
Are you recently engaged, but feel overwhelmed with the wedding planning process? I totally understand the feeling, so here is a quick few steps to help you jump into the wedding planning process.
Make a Guest List
This is ultimately the first step, you need to sit down with your fiance and map out how many guests you plan on having at your wedding. This is because before you find the venue, or any other vendors, this is ultimately going to impact a lot of the major decisions regarding your wedding day.
2. Establish a Budget
This is where you bring in any other contributors to the wedding. If your parents are helping pay for a portion of the wedding, you need to sit down and establish a reasonable budget and decide who is covering what costs. This is also a great time to establish what everyone’s responsibilities are. For example, we had a fairly tight budget for my wedding, so even though traditionally the groom's family pays for the luncheon, we decided we couldn't afford a luncheon and a reception dinner. Instead, we compromised and my in-laws very generously paid for the reception food instead of hosting a luncheon.
3. Decide when and where you would like to get married!
This decision will also impact alot of your guests, venue, vendors, ect. So establishing where and when you want to get married is a great start in the wedding planning process.
4. Find a Venue
I worked at a wedding venue for several years, and it’s surprising how quickly venues book up, so you will definitely want to make sure you start touring and contacting venues as soon as possible to reserve your wedding date. While looking at venues, the venue will want to know what your budget is and how many guests you plan on having, so it’s crucial to come prepared with this information ahead of time.
5. Dress Shopping
Finding your dream dress for your wedding day is one of the most memorable experiences of your life! You’ll want to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to shop! Whether you decide on renting your dress or buying, make sure you map out a few shops around town and schedule an appointment ahead of time.
