Here are tips for wedding planning that you should know
Tips for big-picture wedding planning:
Get started as soon as possible
We know. This is probably something you’ve heard a million times. It’s important to start planning early and spread the work out over time. This helps reduce stress. You’ll be able to do more and catch things that aren’t there.
Get an idea of the average timeline.
Check out our ultimate timeline for wedding planning. It will help you to understand how long it takes to plan a wedding. It will also help you to see that big decisions can be spread out and you don’t have to do everything at once.
Although your wedding is an important event, you will continue living your daily life while planning. You will go to work, have fun with your family, friends, and exercise. You’ll be less likely to get overwhelmed if you keep things in perspective.
Calculate your wedding size.
A beach wedding with 20 people is easier than a wedding for 300 guests at The Bronx Zoo. Start by determining the size of your wedding and creating a checklist. This will help you to get a better idea of what your priorities are for the next 12 months.
You should put a lot of thought into the venue you choose.
This is one of the most crucial decisions you will make in your wedding planning. This decision will influence many other choices. Consider these important points before you choose a venue.
- Is your wedding big or small?
- Is it at a local or destination?
- What do you think of an elegant reception or a relaxed one?
- How much do you have to spend?
- Are you looking for an all-inclusive venue or are you interested in managing the vendor arrangements?
These questions will help you find the perfect wedding venue.
Know your space inside and out.
After narrowing down your top choices make site visits. Are you able to get a feeling for the area and its people? Is the website in line with the beautiful photographs? Do you have the chance to meet the people who are likely to help you on your wedding day.
Review sites like Yelp or Google Reviews can help you find reviews about the venue. Negative reviews that are repetitive often should be flagged. Talk to the venue about the incident and how they addressed it.
Get your engagement ring sized.
Your engagement ring will fall off if it is too large. It is best to take it off before you wear it. Take it to the jewelers so it can be sized. If weight loss is a goal of yours, you might have to do it again once you lose the weight.
Apps for wedding planning make your life easy.
Many free apps can help you plan your wedding. These apps can be a great source of inspiration for wedding dresses, suits and venues. These apps can help you manage stress and stick to your schedule.
Start building your wedding website now.
Websites for weddings are a great way of making things simpler for you and your guests. You can quickly create a website with Joy that contains all the essential information about your wedding: the location, reception venue, transportation options and dress code.
Your wedding can be yours.
There can be a lot of baggage associated with weddings. It’s unavoidable. You have the right to disagree with your aunt’s 1,000-plus ideas about your wedding. You don’t need to accept the offer from your father-in law to play the harmonica at the reception.
You can also include a harmonica solo to the celebrations. You can serve pizza on fine china. If you prefer emerald green, an emerald-green wedding dress is possible. A vegan menu can be prepared. You can choose to be religious or secular. This is your wedding.
As a couple, decide on your “must haves”.
Talk to each other about your wedding must-haves. What are your top priorities for your wedding day? Your fiance? Perhaps it’s live music. Maybe it’s great food. You could use it to write your vows. Your top two to three points should be written down. These should be on your fridge or on the cover of the wedding planner. These are the priorities you should be focusing on above all else.
You can get rid of things that are not on your top list.
You’ll notice some items that aren’t on your list as you organize and prioritize. Do yourself a favor and get rid of some. They don’t matter what they may be. You can save time and money by removing them from your list.
Ask for advice from family and friends.
For advice and guidance, reach out to others who have made the leap before you. Bonus points if your friends and family have thrown a similar wedding to yours. Get their phone numbers if they know of any vendors you like.
You can check out the digital footprint of your vendor.
Florists. Caterers. Classical guitarists. Most vendors today have a social media presence. Visit their Instagram and Facebook pages and leave comments. Follow their hashtags. You can also check reviews on the venues.
Pay attention to the fine print!
Although it is not the most romantic aspect of the wedding planning process, there are many contracts involved. All of your vendors will sign contracts, including the videographer, photographer, caterer, florist, as well as musicians. Before you sign any contract, make sure that you have read all clauses and details. What to look out for and what to include:
- When and where vendors will arrive to deliver or perform services.
- Dates for the completion of services after the wedding (e.g., delivery of photos and videos).
- Detail lists of all services and products. The florist must be able to provide a detailed list of services and items.
- Non-review clauses. After the wedding, you should be able share your honest opinion via review sites.
Get insurance.
Just before your big day, there’s a dangerous fire in your wedding venue’s kitchen. During alterations, your tailor may make your dress too small. Your videographer loses the film of you wedding. These are unlikely but do occur. You can protect your finances with wedding insurance.
Vendors and venues should have insurance. Ask for their policies. Their insurance will not cover everything. Insurance is required to cover costs if your wedding is delayed due to illness or flooding near the venue. If there are no-shows, insurance will cover the rescheduling fees.
Get started thinking about your wedding gown early.
Although you don’t need to pick the right dress immediately, it is important to consider the style that you desire. Do you prefer to have a custom-made wedding dress made for you or pret a porter? These two options will have very different timelines.
Be prepared to answer any questions you may have about your venue and wedding vendors.
You might get an unexpected break from work and be able to make some calls. You might get a call back while out shopping. You can quickly find the information you need about your vendor or venue.
Do some reconnaissance.
You can visit the venue if someone is already having a wedding. This is not possible at large venues or hotels that have public traffic.
If you wish, you can even see the wedding band live. Are they able to get people on the dance floor? You can also visit the food truck that you wish to hire for a public event. Are they able to provide fast, friendly service if there are long lines?
Avoid the vendors and do it yourself.
You won’t only save money, but you’ll also be creating some of the elements of your wedding by yourself. You can also make beautiful memories by creating a playlist together with your fiance, or crafting favors for your wedding guests.
You can save time with invites
Instead of using a sponge or licking each envelope, use a glue stick instead. Include your return address on labels or a stamp. Make your RSVPs digital to ensure that they are always available online.
You can number your RSVP cards.
It is common for people to forget to add their name on RSVP cards. It doesn’t matter if you attach an RSVP to every person you invite. You can write a number on the back of your card or use an invisible pen that will reveal the number when you shine black light on it.
Ask for help.
Many of your family and friends are eager to help with decor, errands and ideas. People are always willing to help and take on some of the responsibility. Allow them to help you with some of your wedding planning tasks.
Do not be afraid to borrow.
This is a great way of saving money. For a small outdoor wedding, borrow tables from your friends. You can borrow folding chairs. If you wish, borrow the wedding dress!
Your emotional temperature is important.
Are you feeling stressed out about wedding planning? Is there anything else you are talking about? Do you wake up at night worrying about what your to-do lists are? This is not a healthy way of planning your wedding.
You and your fiance should plan non-wedding activities together and get support from family and friends.
Get enough sleep, exercise, water, and quality time with your loved ones. Although stress cannot be eliminated completely, it can be reduced by remembering that this is only one day in a lifetime.
Weather issues are important.
You should be prepared for any weather conditions. An outdoor August wedding in the south will likely be very hot. A portable ice machine can be set up nearby. You could also give each guest a paper fan as a favor. Put plush wraps on chairs in cold weather. You can use them as a warm decor element and guests can place them on their shoulders when they feel cold.