Like most brides-to-be, you’ll want a beautiful wedding that you, your partner, your friends, and your family can all look back on fondly. But to achieve this, it will take a lot of work. You’ll need to look for a venue, pick a wedding date, create a guest list, and much more.
Given that there are a lot of details to take note of and decisions to make, it’s easy for wedding planning to become overwhelming. Knowing that here’s some helpful information to make preparations easier and less stressful, thus bringing you closer to your idea of the perfect wedding day:
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Define Your Style as a Bride
One important thing you’ll need to determine when planning your wedding is your style as a bride. Your style will help set the tone for the kind of wedding you want. It will also influence many other choices, such as the look of your dress, what type of accessories to invest in, and the overall feel of the venue’s decor.
To help you find your ideal bridal style, look for inspiration in magazines, bridal sites, social media accounts, or image-sharing services. Try collecting photos and creating a collage to have an excellent visual guide to the look and feel you want for your big day. Giving your visual guide to your potential wedding suppliers will also help them better understand how to implement your wedding aesthetic. They may, for example, help you buy hosiery and other accessories that best match your wedding dress.
Set a Budget You’re Comfortable with
Many of your wedding-related decisions will be driven by your budget, so make sure to take a realistic approach. If any of your family members are contributing to your wedding fund, make sure to talk to them about what they’re comfortable spending. If you and your partner will handle all the wedding expenses yourselves, review your finances. Do your research on the full scope of costs involved and set a workable budget. Once you’ve set a realistic figure, try your best to stick to it.
List Down Your Priorities
It’s essential to determine the most critical aspects of your wedding to know what to save on versus what to scrimp on. Taking note of your priorities will help you manage your expenses and focus your efforts on what matters to you. That, in turn, will make your wedding even more special.
Begin by creating a list of must-have items on your wedding day, plus a list of items you’re willing to compromise on price- and detail-wise. For example, you may prefer to spend on a live band and are eager to forego hiring a wedding photographer with more inclusive services but more expensive rates.
Get Your Partner Involved
While you may be very excited about planning the perfect wedding according to your specifications, make sure to consult your partner, too. After all, it’s their wedding day as much as it is yours. Their opinions have equal value, and they may want to be particular about certain aspects of your planning.
Get your partner involved so both of you can achieve exactly what you want on your big day. This is great practice for your life as a married couple, as that involves planning and making decisions together, confronting challenges, and working towards common goals.
Choose a Realistic Wedding Date
The date of your ceremony is key to having a perfect wedding day. You can try to shoot for a romantic period like spring or on your anniversary as a couple.
But what if the exact date doesn’t matter too much to you, and you’d prefer to schedule your wedding on a date that will give you the most minor stress? If that’s the case, you can choose to be practical and get married within the next six months or after a year of your engagement, so you can have an extended planning period.
Organize Your Guest List
Since your wedding is a special event, you’ll want to share it with the people closest to you and your partner, including your friends, relatives, and colleagues. But unless you aren’t pressured to stick to a specific budget and don’t mind having an enormous venue, remember that inviting everyone you know may not be a practical choice.
When creating a guest list, look at how you want your wedding day to flow. Do you prefer to have quality one-on-one time with every guest, or is it your goal to throw a grand celebration for all your friends and family? Your answers to these questions should help you determine the exact number of people to invite to your wedding.
Research Different Venue Options
Before making your reservations, research the different wedding and reception venues available to you. Check out the prices and packages that each venue offers. Take special note of the restrictions these potential venues may have, like having a minimum consumable budget or a maximum number of attendees, before finalizing your choice.
Even if you’ve already found a venue you like and a package just right for your budget, keep an eye out for other options. See what other venues offer before you agree on a price and sign a contract.
Consider Hiring a Professional
If you and your partner want a stress-free experience, consider getting a professional wedding planner or coordinator. They can help you take care of the wedding’s details and guide you on staying within your budget. Wedding planners and coordinators also have wider networks within the wedding industry and may be able to get you in touch with the best wedding vendors. Take advantage of their industry relationships to get more variety about your options and score awesome deals on suppliers’ fees.
Planning a wedding can be both exciting and challenging for the married couple-to-be. It involves a lot of decision-making and attention to detail. But with the tips listed above, you won’t have as hard a time tracking all the particulars. Plan and work smart so you can have the smoothest and most unforgettable wedding day.
What got my attention the most was your suggestion about hiring a wedding coordinator. As you said, this professional can help plan out the wedding while staying well within the budget. A friend wants several things for her wedding including a music DJ for the venue. I think she needs to consider hiring a professional to make sure this happens without going over the budget.