For many of us, our wedding is one of the most important days of our lives. It’s the day we immortalize the union of two soul mates. So we don’t just aim to make it unique. We also want it to be picture-perfect.
Planning your dream wedding can be complicated and taxing, especially if you’ve never married before. There are many things to consider and a lot of moving parts to organize. However, we want you to get the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, so here’s how to plan a dream wedding in 7 easy steps.
Table of Contents
Nail Down Your Budget
Despite how big or luxurious your wedding will be, your first step is to make sure you set a budget. If you want a smooth dream wedding, wedding planning experts at artofcelebrations.com advise that you should set your budget first since it will determine the course of your planning and your marriage. The last thing you need is to be making big decisions and then realize when it’s too late that you can’t foot the bill for the items you want.
For Canadians, explore the wedding planner in Toronto who can help you with your budget. As you consult with them, they’ll be able to set a realistic budget based on what you hope to have on your special day. A wedding planner will also know how to break down your budget to fit in as many things as possible.
You can still work out some of the details yourself. You will need to create a spreadsheet or get an app to help you detail everything. You’ll also need to tally up all income, joint, and individual savings funds and be prepared for any surprises.
Decide the Venue
Any wedding planner in Toronto will tell you that it’s best to secure a venue as early as possible. The venue will primarily be chosen based on the preferences of both partners so that no one ends up disappointed or unsatisfied. In addition, your wedding planner will tell you that venues are snatched up quickly, so it’s best to coordinate your desires ahead of time and act swiftly.
Ensure that the planner is involved in the process. A wedding planner that Toronto locals rely on will be familiar with the locations, their availability, how to best use the layout, and what each venue is capable of. Booking the space and designing it will be separate costs, and you would need to consult your budget to make sure that the space fits.
Full-service venues are a stress-free option since they will prepare you with everything needed. They offer chairs, tables, bars, and catering services that their staff arrange and manage. This is practically a cookie-cutter setup, and the furniture and designs are usually basic and straightforward.
If you want something more tailored, you can rent a raw space. You’ll be able to organize your amenities and furniture in line with your vision. This is a good option if you want your wedding venue to have a unique feel.
Secure a Photographer and Videographer
You’ll certainly remember your wedding for the rest of your life, but it’s best to capture those memories. Then, when you have photos and videos of your big day, you’ll be able to share them with others and even reminisce in old age. To ensure those moments are perfectly captured, it’s best to have an excellent photographer and videographer.
It’s best to secure a photographer or videographer at least ten months in advance. These professionals are usually well sought-after, so they tend to be booked out. Please don’t wait until the last minute to get them because you likely won’t find anyone who will be available.
Look up local videographers and photographers who have Instagram profiles or websites you can browse. You can consult with your partner to determine if their style will suit your wedding. A wedding planner Toronto brides have already reviewed will usually have a curated list of professionals they think will be a good fit for your wedding.
It would be best if you also looked at the photos with similar shots you will want. This will ensure that this specific photographer can deliver what you’re looking for. Other things to look out for are shots of people of different races, sizes, and shapes.
Get the Dress
No one will forget that the bride needs to wear a dress for her wedding day, but indecision can significantly setback your timeline. It’s best to go in with a list of every detail you’re looking for. Then, from the hem to the trail, prepare your requirements beforehand.
Set your boutique appointment for early in the morning. Doing this guarantees, you have a new staff who hundreds of other clients haven’t worn out. As a result, they’ll be more eager to assist you, make suggestions, and work with you to find the best dress they have to offer.
Try as many dresses as you can to have a greater pool to choose from. This doesn’t mean that you should try on every dress the store has because then, in addition to disgruntling staff, you’ll end up confused and unsure. If you have too many dresses to consider, you’ll have analysis paralysis and either get nothing or spend way too much time making a decision.
If you want to give yourself some time to think about it, take pictures of your favourites so you can review them later. This varies based on the boutique, though, and if you can’t find one that will work, maybe a wedding planner Toronto reviewers recommend can find one for you.
Florists and Entertainment
The closer it gets to your wedding day, the more things you’ll need to finalize. About six months out, you should be meeting with your florist and arranging entertainment for your guests. While the flowers help set the atmosphere, the joy will set the mood.
Once you have the theme and design for your venue, picking out flowers will be your next step. Again, when you have an expert on your side, they’ll help you pick a florist who can best capture your vision. The florist should be able to recommend flowers based on the colour scheme you are working with.
If you want some inspiration, you can look up current trends in floral arrangements and see if any of them work for you. Otherwise, you can browse online and look at other weddings to see what others use. You can even take inspiration from movies you like.
Your wedding planner will advise you to start with your bouquet when picking flowers. Since it’s the most sentimental arrangement, you should first try to get it done. You can work on the centrepieces, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, and aisle markers.
Plan Your Honeymoon
The best way to follow up your dream wedding is with a fantastic honeymoon. But, unlike your wedding, your honeymoon should be relaxing and intimate. To make sure that you thoroughly enjoy every moment with your partner, be deliberate in your planning.
Once you speak with a wedding planner in Toronto, they will advise you to plan your honeymoon eight months before your wedding. This will give you a lot of time to go over details, research, and secure flights. You don’t want to be scrambling when you should be looking forward to a memorable trip.
Planning your honeymoon should be a collective effort so that you both enjoy your destination. You’ve probably been thinking of your honeymoon for ages, so exchange ideas and get feedback. If you don’t have any thoughts, you can research online for destinations and great hotels or villas.
You can employ a travel agent to help with your itinerary. See if your planner has any good agents you can work closely with. Be specific about what you’re looking for to get exactly what you want.
Addressing the Finer Details
In the final months leading up to your wedding day, there will be many things that you need to settle. You can start with securing your marriage license, finalizing the song list, and fitting the wedding dress. Additionally, this is also when you send out invitations and do rehearsals.
With guidance from your wedding planner in Toronto, sorting out these final tidbits should be a breeze. They’ll help you arrange outstanding payments for all vendors, set up your rehearsal dinner, and ensure nothing is left undone. If you believe that something may be missing or needs a closer look, go over everything with the wedding planner.
Your dream wedding should be something you fondly remember many years after. The best way to guarantee this is to plan for at least a year. Things can quickly go awry or be overlooked, so having a strict plan will help keep things on track. We hope this article has helped you plan your dream wedding, and we wish you all the best.
FAQ – Wedding Planning
Is it possible to organise a wedding in two years?
A wedding should be planned at least two years in advance. A year is significantly more usual nowadays, and less than a year is even more typical.
When is the greatest time to tie the knot?
The greatest months for a wedding are June, September, and October. Because of the pleasant weather, June has traditionally been the most popular month for weddings. With that stated, there is no such thing as a bad moment to marry your true love (though it does help to have good weather).
What is the unluckiest month for weddings?
May is said to be the unluckiest month to be married, according to both mythology and ancient Roman practise. While July nuptials are likely to cause problems in the future, May weddings will almost certainly result in regret! “If you marry in the month of May, you will undoubtedly regret it.”
What is the cost of a wedding venue in Ontario?
The average cost of a wedding venue in Ontario is $57 per person. The average wedding venue capacity in Ontario is 251 persons. In Ontario, the total cost of a wedding venue is $14,307.
What is the definition of a modern wedding?
Modern weddings have a youthful, fashion-forward feel about them. This wedding style is high on flair, whether it’s minimalist or avant-garde. Modern weddings are often monochrome, stylish, and polished, with on-trend flowers or greenery, geometric lines, and pared-down décor.
While this is a nice article, the order of hiring as suggested is very wrong, based on our 40 years of experience seeing the results of couples planning. They can’t leave entertainment so late, partly due to costs, the day-of need for a real person(s), such as a DJ or live musicians. Some DJs do much more, like full event lighting, which adds into the decor category and the total wedding investment, so if affects the budget. Dark rooms are… boring. As for quoting average prices in Ontario at $14,307 or food at $57/person is decades out of date with the current rates. Couples are better advised to find out what things actually cost, in particular the fixed cost vendors, to achieve the end result they NEED, and work from there with their money to determine the size of wedding they can afford (guest count is a variable cost). It’s better to have a fabulous wedding for 50 that a poor wedding for 250. Entertainment is the make it or break it vendor category, and that’s even according to many venues!