From brainstorming to the big day itself, planning your own wedding can feel like an overwhelming task. What glassware should you order? Who should you invite? Where should the ceremony and reception be held? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered.
Fortunately, you can take steps to make the planning process more manageable. Here are a few tips on how to plan your own wedding:
Start With A Broad View
When planning your wedding, a “big picture” view is essential. Before you make any decisions about budgets and dates, it’s important to consider the key aspects of your dream day. What kind of atmosphere will you create? Will you have a formal or informal event? Is this going to be a big celebration or an intimate gathering? Answering these questions and determining the overall vision for the day will help guide other decisions down the road.
Once you have discussed and agreed upon what you both want out of the wedding, it’s time to begin looking at more concrete details like budgeting, guest list size, and venue selection. Starting with a broad view and creating a shared vision of your perfect wedding day is the foundation for planning every detail successfully.
Here are our favorite tips and tricks you can follow to help you decide on your wedding vision.
- First, start collecting ideas for all aspects of the day: from venues and themes to dress styles and decorations. Will you need bar and lounge rentals or caterers? Creating physical scrapbooks or digital photo albums can be a great way to gather inspiration and keep track of your selections.
- Secondly, having conversations with your partner about what they envision for the special day is also vital. Make sure both of you have a chance to share your ideas and prioritize which are most important while respecting each other’s opinions during this process.
- Lastly, don’t be afraid to seek outside help from family members or friends who might have experienced planning their own weddings – gathering advice and insights from those you trust can make the entire planning journey all the more manageable.
Budgeting and Allocating Funds
Budgeting refers to how much money you plan on spending overall and will involve researching venues and vendors that suit what’s within your means. Allocating funds is divvying the budget across different aspects of the day, including photography, catering, and other items needed for a successful event. The average wedding cost in 2019 was around $28,000, and if you want to come in under budget, it’s essential to be mindful of what you are spending on various items and services.
This process can be daunting as couples don’t want to cut corners but also don’t want to break the bank. It’s important to remember that spending more doesn’t make a day more or less memorable (if anything, overspending can lead to feeling overwhelmed) and sticking as close as possible within your budget is likely your best bet.
Having an appropriate wedding budget impacts everything from the date chosen for your big day (some venues or churches may require different fees for dates or times) to booking a venue for your reception that fits your vision aesthetically and your wallet financially. So allocate those funds wisely and be realistic about what you can and cannot afford.
Choose and Save the Date
Choosing a wedding date is one of the most important decisions that couples have to make during their engagement. Some couples may wish to have a short engagement and plan their wedding as soon as possible, while others might choose to take their time and plan for a longer engagement.
Every couple’s experience will be unique, so it’s important to consider what works best for you. Making this decision can involve various factors, including your budget, availability of venues or vendors, desired season, and more.
A shorter engagement can sometimes mean better deals from vendors as they can fit you in, whereas long engagements might require additional fees and deposits. On the other hand, long engagements allow couples more time and space for planning, researching options, and putting together the funds to pay for the big day. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference, so making sure that both partners talk about all the possibilities — no matter how short or long — is key in finding that perfect date.
Assemble Your Team
Putting together the right team for your wedding day and the lead-up is important in creating a successful event. First, think about the professional side of things. Hiring vendors like a photographer and a caterer will be necessary to ensure your day goes smoothly.
If you are looking at venues, inquire about suggested vendors or if they have partnerships with those in the area. For example, if you’re here in South Carolina, you’ll want to reach out to the best Charleston event rentals for all your special day needs. It is also beneficial to spend some time researching options so that you know exactly what is included in these services as well as any additional fees associated.
Next, look into asking family and friends for help. Choosing who will accompany you on your wedding day can be difficult, so discussing expectations with each potential wedding party member is key in setting up a successful event. Having great people by your side throughout this journey makes a world of difference.
Set A Timeline With Milestones
Planning the perfect wedding requires more than just a budget. Setting up an organized timeline is just as important when it comes to keeping things on schedule and ensuring every detail is taken care of. In addition, keeping everyone up to date with the latest changes and tasks can be difficult without the right tools, so having a planning platform to share information between all parties involved makes the process easier.
Many platforms tailored specifically for weddings give you access to features such as a shared calendar, task lists, venue bookings and much more. These helpful tools allow for collaboration between vendors, wedding party members, planners and other important people involved in the day-of activities — making it simple to set milestones along your wedding journey. From tracking deposits to scheduling meetings or tastings, setting up a timeline helps keep everything on track leading up to your special day.
When planning your wedding timeline, several important milestones must be considered:
- Setting a wedding date
- Asking wedding party members to be in the wedding
- Visiting venues
- Researching and interviewing vendo
- Finding and purchasing wedding attire for the happy couple and wedding party
- Purchasing wedding bands or alternatives
- Creating a guest list
- Sending invitations
- Obtaining a marriage license
Tie Up the Loose Ends
While the items mentioned above are essential for creating a fantastic wedding day, there are also smaller tasks that should not be overlooked. These may include tasks such as organizing transportation to and from the venue in a great vintage car rental, deciding on music and creating a seating plan for your reception. Oh, and of course, having specialty rentals for guests to enjoy during the wedding is a must .
Speaking of which, it is also important to address dietary requirements for any food served at the wedding and stocking up on any decorations or supplies you may need. Lastly, setting aside time for pre-marriage counseling or pre-wedding events can help ensure your wedding planning process goes smoothly, and your mental health is taken care of.
Final Thoughts
By following these steps and planning ahead, you can create a fantastic wedding experience that is both memorable and enjoyable for all involved. With beautiful wedding rentals in place, the timeline set and loose ends tied up, you’re ready to start your magical journey together! Congratulations on your engagement — may it be the start of a beautiful future together!