So, you’re engaged now and super excited to start your new life. There’s only one problem, now you have a wedding to plan and have no idea where to start. Wedding planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming though. If you break your planning process up into smaller steps, instead of worrying about the big picture, you can reach your goals without feeling too stressed. I have created a list that will help you to compartmentalize and prioritize in your planning process.
Know what you want
I know it might be easier said than done to know what you want, but you don’t have to know everything right off the bat. The first step is just to sit down with your partner and flesh out your non-negotiables. Although it is important, it doesn’t have to be serious. Make a date night out of it! Relax at your favorite bar, coffee shop, or restaurant and start brainstorming. You need to know what you and your partner think are the most important things in your wedding. Being on the same page about the things that matter most to the both of you will make the rest of the planning that much smoother.
Set the planning mood
Wedding planning shouldn’t be a task you dread, it should be fun and exciting. One way to keep your energy up and the good vibes flowing is by listening to your wedding planning playlist and lighting up one of your favorite candles. Keep the mood light and breezy so stress is no issue.
Gather inspiration
I have found that the best way to gather inspiration is to create a mood board. Mood boards are a great place to start when you don’t know where to begin. It can be helpful to save ideas that you already know you want as well as looking up things that you aren’t as sure about yet. Wedding mood boards can help keep your planning in line with your vision, and evolve with you as you get closer to your wedding day.
Find a good planning checklist
A good planning checklist can be a lifesaver. Checklists help keep you on track and on time. They can also give you a sense of accomplishment, as you can physically check off each task that you’ve completed. The Knot will assign a checklist based on how far out your wedding day is, or you can find one online.
The first couple tasks on your checklist should be the most important, like determining a realistic budget. You should also decide what your top three priority expenditures will be so you can make sure that no matter what happens you have the things that mean the most to you paid for.
Making a guest list is another checklist item that you’ll want to do early. You don’t have to have anything finalized or an exact number of people just yet, but you will want to at least have a ballpark figure so that when you start to look into venues you can pass that along to them. Some venues may adjust prices based on your party size, and you will need to make sure that the venue you want has enough space to accommodate all of your guests.
You will also need to know when you plan on getting married. If it seems like too much to pick a date right out then start simple. Choose a season first, if you hate being hot maybe you want to do a fall or winter wedding, if you hate being cold, maybe a spring or summer. Then choose a month, consider that some months may not allow for everyone you want to attend. Think about if there are any major holidays during the month, or if there are a lot of birthdays or family events during that month. Then all that’s left is the day. Saturdays might be easier for your guests to attend especially if they work. Or you might want to consider that weekdays are often cheaper when it comes to booking a venue. However you get to your date, it’s important to have in order to book your venue and vendors.
If you are wanting a wedding planner, that will be the first vendor you want to hire. Not everyone will want a wedding planner, but if you are someone who does they will need to be involved in your planning process from the beginning.
You will also need to choose a venue. Wedding venues book up fast, so you’ll want to tour and book your venue as soon as you can. Not to mention, some venues offer discounts if you book far enough from your wedding date. If you do book early, make sure to check your venue’s cancellation or rescheduling policies, just in case something changes you’ll want to know what kind of refund you might be able to get.
Another very important vendor that you’ll want to book early is your photographer. The photographer you choose is very important as they will be the one capturing the moments that you will look back on for years to come. While you may not think you need to hire one so early, you should take into account that some photographers also include engagement photos, in their wedding packages, that you might want to use for your save-the-dates.
Enjoy the process
Your wedding is a joyous occasion, and planning for it should be too. While you may not think that planning is very fun or that you have any idea what you’re doing, there are ways to make things simpler and much more enjoyable for yourself. If you go in with an outline for your plan, some calming music and a can-do attitude you’ll have things planned in no time!
