How to Start Planning Your Dream Wedding

Planning The Wedding of Your Dreams!

Congratulations! You’re engaged! You’ve been dreaming about your wedding your entire life and now you finally get to plan it. As a husband and wife team who planned our own wedding and as wedding photographers who are involved in countless weddings – we understand that this can be an overwhelming process. We know that you are quickly realizing that there is a lot that goes into planning a wedding and it can get overwhelming quickly if you don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, with a little bit of planning and some expert tips, you can make the experience as fun, easy, and elegant as possible. The good news is, you’ve just taken the first step towards planning one of the most important days of your life. So, now that you’ve just got engaged, what’s next?

I. Set Your Budget

Before you start planning anything, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of how much you have to spend on your day. Budgets can range from $1,000 to $1,000,000 and everything in between. How much do you want to do yourself versus hiring professionals? As an example, luxury venues can range from $5K-$20K and luxury photographers will be in that same range as well. It’s not always the case, but the old adage does often apply to wedding planning as well: “You get what you pay for.” This will help you make informed decisions about the extravagance you can afford, putting your funds towards what’s most important to you, and avoid overspending.

II. Choose Your Venue & Date

Once you have your budget in mind, start looking for a venue that embodies what you envision your day being. Keep in mind that the venue will be one of the most significant expenses of your wedding, so choose wisely. Consider factors like location, capacity, and whether or not the venue has its own catering or if you need to hire an outside vendor. Remember that if you want a wedding that is elegant and bright, choosing a venue that doesn’t have a lot of natural light might not be the best option. Also, choose a date that is perfect for both you and your partner, as well as your families. You’ll also want to consider the season and the availability of your desired venue, photographers, and vendors.

III. Hire a Wedding Planner

Hiring a wedding planner can take the stress out of planning your wedding. They can help you with everything from finding the perfect venue to hiring the most sophisticated vendors, and can often get you better deals than if you were to book everything on your own. They also will make sure the day of is on schedule and runs smoothly!

IV. Hire Your Photographer

We may be a little biased (us being wedding photographers and all), but this could be #3 on the list. It’s essential to find a photographer who can capture the look, feel, and moments of your special day. Your photographers are going to be with you the entire day. You need to have someone that you connect with and trust. Trusting them that they are going to capture every important moment timelessly. Some things to consider are your engagement session, will there be two photographers, and what type of coverage hours do they offer?

V. Make a guest list & choose your wedding party

Determine how many guests you want to invite to your wedding and make a list of all of them. This will help you determine the size of the venue you need and the number of invitations you’ll need to order. Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen and ask them to be a part of your special day. Be sure to let them know what their duties will be and what you expect of them. They will be with you your whole day!

VI. Select your other vendors

Choose other vendors such as a florist, DJ, or caterer to help bring your vision to life. Be sure to read reviews and look at portfolios to ensure that they are the right fit for your wedding. Most importantly, choose vendors that you trust, so that you don’t have to worry about a thing on your day. Having vendors you trust will allow you to truly enjoy every aspect of your wedding and live in the moment, instead of having to worry if something is right or not going to be what you expected.

Remember that planning a wedding takes time and effort, but with the right venue, photographer and other vendors, as well as the expert advice from a wedding planner, you can bring your dream to life. And don’t forget to enjoy the process… you’re only engaged once! Cherish these moments because pretty soon being engaged will come to an end, and you will be MARRIED!