You’re hit with the reality of the fact that you HAVE TO START PLANNING A WEDDING
Sure, you’ve been to a few weddings or maybe even been in one, but things are different when it’s YOUR own wedding!
So here are my Top 5 Steps on How to Start Your Wedding Planning!
Cynthia Findlay Jewelry, Blue Sapphire Ring
#1: BUDGET – Sit down with your partner (and/or your parents) and discuss who is contributing, how much they can contribute, and decide what your total budget will be. Your budget will be your guide in choosing the venue, wedding bands from sites like https://gemaandco.com/collections/wedding-bands, catering, etc.
#2: GUEST LIST – This is a tough one, but of course, it must be done. You’ll want to invite just about everyone you know but remember – the more guests you have, the more money you’ll need to spend! I suggest making a list of all the family and relatives you MUST invite, then your closest friends, and co-workers. Knowing your estimated (maximum) guest count early is crucial as this will determine the size of your wedding and deciding on the venue. Keep in mind that the guest count usually does go down by the time your wedding day comes around. The general rule of thumb is 15-20% of guests will decline. However, if you’re guest list becomes too long and you realize you need cut out people, remove those that you haven’t talked to in forever on the guest list. Honestly, if you haven’t talked to them for over 1-2 years, they’re probably not that close to you (and being Facebook friends doesn’t count).
#3: DATE – Decide on the season or month you want to have your wedding. Then have at least 2-3 dates in mind, just in case you can’t get your first choice. Most venues get booked 1 to 1.5 years in advance nowadays! So I recommend having a couple of dates in mind so you don’t get disappointed if the date you initially wanted is unavailable.
#4: STYLE – Know what style of wedding you want. Whether it be vintage, modern, classic, elegant, rustic, art deco, country, etc. There are so many different styles out there! When designing the style of your wedding, try to consider the season you have chosen to have your wedding. This will coincide with the decor and details and will help with choosing in-season flowers and colours for the decor. Just a general look and feel of how your wedding will be is enough; no need to design every little detail at this point. Establishing your “wedding style” will help you tremendously when having to make decisions later on!
#5: VENUE – There are so many different types of venues to choose from: banquet halls, restaurants, hotels, golf and country clubs, barns, vineyards, etc. If you’re searching for an elegant wedding venue within Dallas, I recommend looking here: https://dfwcelebrations.com/services/dallas-fort-worth-corporate-events/ Now that you’ve set your budget, have an estimated guest list, a few dates in mind, and know what style you want your wedding to have, you can narrow down to the ‘style’ of venue you want!
There are two great sources for searching venues:
https://www.weddingwire.ca
https://www.eventsource.ca/
Last but not least, if #5 poses to be a challenge and you are having a difficulty finding the right venue, you can always consider hiring a wedding planner for help! So I may be biased since I’m a wedding planner, but trust me, I was a bride once and I know the feeling! It can get overwhelming! Hiring a wedding planner does not necessarily mean that he/she will plan out your entire wedding. It’s about having someone who knows what they’re doing, can help you, and plan your wedding alongside with you! Every planner is different; different packages, styles, and personalities. So choosing the right wedding planner to help you in your wedding planning process is also very important, but I know it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make 😉
Thanks for reading my post! Please keep in mind that these steps are only suggestions and based on my experience as a wedding planner, this order seems to work the best. However, I understand that sometimes things are done differently depending on your own situation so it’s totally fine if you don’t follow these steps exactly!
HAPPY PLANNING!
