CONGRATS to those of you who are newly engaged!!! It’s such an exciting time! Once you begin wedding planning it can start to seem pretty overwhelming at first, trust us, we have been there and we know! Yes, I (Amanda) admit it, during the planning I was a mess at times. However, it is possible to plan the day that you have always dreamed about without going crazy!! We know that once you start searching online you will probably find endless resources to help you plan your wedding, but we wanted to take all of that information and condense it into just a few tips that you would NEED to know. Before we get started just remember to slow down and embrace the moment! Have fun during this process!
We hope you enjoy this blog post of our tips that will help you begin the planning process!
1. Get started early!!
It is never too soon to start wedding planning!! You will want to start hiring your vendors as soon as you can, too! Most vendors are hired more than a year in advance and once they are booked they are gone! It’s on a first come first served basis! We can’t emphasize enough that you need to choose your photographer soon, too! Weddings will take months of planning in most cases! Wedding photos will last a lifetime! You definitely can’t go wrong with getting an early start! You don’t want to wait until the last minute and be extremely stressed out!
2. Select a Theme, Day, & Season!
Selecting these three things may seem very simple but they will actually control a lot! So, even if it’s just a few ideas that you have, such as colors or a theme, choose something so that you have a starting point to design your wedding around! Starting a mood board on Pinterest might help you to get a general idea for the colors and theme you like the most. Once you have an idea of where to begin, everything else will seem to fall into place much faster and easier! Now, start thinking about the day of the week and season you would like to get married on/in! Some venues will determine how much they charge depending upon the day of the week and season. Other vendors may base their costs upon these two things as well! It will be more expensive during the peak season!
3. Get Organized
If you are like me (Amanda), you will want to try to keep everything in one place! You can use checklists, spreadsheets, or online programs as long as you have all your thoughts, ideas, budgets, and numbers in one place. There are some great programs out there to keep everything organized, such as Trello, Evernote, or Dropbox to name a few.
4. Set a budget
Your budget will be the driving factor for many of your decisions. It’s important to know what you will spend, but also which parts of your day are most important to you. Break them into categories and that will help guide your process of deciding what to be firm on in the spending plan and what would be reasonable to allow splurges. For instance, there is a huge difference in what photographers charge depending on how experienced they are, how many hours they will spend with you, and what products that will be included in their packages. If you find a vendor or photographer who sees the world the way you do, then it may be worth spending a little more than you anticipated. Decide what are your top priorities and which aren’t. If you decide to spend a little less on your wedding shoes to afford your favorite photographer, then we can say that you definitely will not regret it. In fact, this is one of the biggest regrets we hear most of our married friends say, that they wish they had invested more in photography. After all, your wedding photos will be all you have left to remember this important occasion for years and years to come!
5. Hire vendors you’re comfortable with
You will want to make sure you build a team that you really mesh well with! When it comes to photographers, for instance, there are many wonderful choices to be made, but choose those whose work you absolutely LOVE!! A website and a photo are wonderful, but a phone call or meeting is worth so much more!! You will want to make sure they are a perfect fit for you and that their personality meshes with yours! Then, put your trust in them to capture your day, relax and enjoy it! This is true for any of your vendors! When you are choosing a venue, for example, you will want to actually visit! As we mentioned, a photo is great, but a visit is worth so much more! You will be able to see if their venue encompasses what you envisioned for your wedding day! Trust your gut. If somethings feel off, consider other options.
6. Create a guest list
You will want to know how many people you are inviting! Some vendors will ask how many guests there will be when you inquire with them! Keep in mind that including more guests to your wedding means higher prices! That sounds harsh, but it’s a reality! For instance, catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. However, if your parents feel like it is important to invite certain friends and family, you will definitely want to hear them out, especially if they are going to contribute to the bill.
7. Consider a Full Service or a Day-Of Coordinator
Even if you can’t hire a full-service planner, we recommend hiring a professional to oversee the day-of details! It can be a total game changer!!! They can keep track of vendors and manage the schedule! It is a great way to make your planning process easier and allow you to actually enjoy your wedding day without any unnecessary distractions!
8. Most importantly, don’t forget to have Fun!
What do you want to remember and want your guests to remember most? A stressed-out bride? Or a joyful, loving bride who is thrilled to be marrying the man of her dreams? Relax, have fun on your wedding day, and truly enjoy the moment.
Now, it’s time to start the planning!! We hope that these tips have been helpful! Don’t hesitate to send us a message to ask us anything about the whole planning process as well! 🙂 We don’t mind at all to help!
We would love to speak with you about everything you have planned for your wedding day and share our work to see if it fits what you have envisioned!! You can email us at hello@amandaandchadphoto.com and we can set up a time for a phone call, Skype session, or meeting! We can’t wait to hear from you!!
To check out some of our work you can visit our website here:
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