Begin your wedding planning process by setting out the items and priorities you require from each other as a couple. While this may require making concessions, this step will help guide how your budget should be allocated throughout its planning.
Next, create a timeline for the events taking place during your special event. This can help vendors understand what needs to happen on event day as well as stay on top of progress as you plan.
Budget
Weddings can be expensive affairs, so couples must establish an adequate budget early. This may mean restricting guest numbers, creating an Excel spreadsheet of expenses, or discussing possible contributions with family.
Once you know your budget, make a list of non-negotiables and those you can omit to save money. This may prove difficult at first but can help ensure you stay on course. In addition, finding out the costs for venue and catering might prove invaluable; their expenses often have the power to make or break a wedding’s overall cost estimates.
Set aside savings from every paycheck and look for ways to reduce monthly expenditures (fewer lunches out, canceling streaming services you no longer use, etc).
Venue
Venue selection can make or break the entire wedding planning process. A couple’s venue serves as the basis of their aesthetic vision for their event, making it essential to their planning efforts. Couples also look to venue staff for assistance with key details like catering services, DJ services, and photography packages.
Couples must also determine how many guests they can comfortably host at once, which will ultimately influence the size and location of their venue. Setting an attendance maximum beforehand will eliminate many back-and-forth conversations about potential spaces as well as potentially falling in love with an unsuitable space that exceeds budget constraints.
The date is also an important factor; weekends at popular venues typically book up quickly. Honest communication and offering incentives to couples are keys to keeping them enthusiastic about your venue.
Vendors
Many couples begin their wedding planning journey online by gathering ideas and creating Pinterest boards. No matter, if you envision a botanical garden wedding or a sleek hotel ballroom reception, creating your vision, will help you find vendors and define your style.
As soon as you have an idea of the kind of wedding you desire, meet with potential vendors to discuss pricing and schedules. Get references, observe communication styles, and look for potential good fits; then book them immediately!
Make sure you talk over a contingency plan with your wedding planner, venue, and all vendors you book so that if your wedding needs to be postponed you can work together to find a new date that works for everyone involved. Be sure to read contracts thoroughly; skimming can lead to missing important details that could alter or delay their implementation.
Entertainment
No matter if it’s your dream wedding or a more practical celebration, there are resources available to you to keep you on track and not become overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations. The key lies in keeping everything realistic.
As your event approaches, it can be tempting to add to the guest list to accommodate everyone you care for – however each additional person adds more costs to your celebration.
Entertainment selection can have an enormous effect on finances. Hiring an exceptional DJ or band to set the scene and keep guests dancing all night long can have a major positive impact. When budgeting and booking this type of entertainment it must be done so early on.
