Now that your boo has finally decided to put a ring on it, it’s time to start planning for ”my perfect wedding.” A lot goes on behind the scenes to make a wedding successful; things won’t magically come together because you’re in love. Here are a few tips to help you plan a perfect wedding.
1. Create a List
There’s a lot involved in planning my perfect wedding, and considering the number of tasks that demand your attention, staying organized is important. That’s why you should make a detailed list of everything you need to do, from selecting venues and renting a limo to buying your bridal outfits and booking appointments in local salons, compiling a guest list, scheduling caterers and entertainment, shopping fpr diamond rings and maybe even buying baby clothes. Once you have a final list, you can review it, looking at the dates and deadlines for each task. You will find it much easier to stay on top of everything you need to do before your big day.
2. Start Thinking of Your Guest List
One of the first things you should do after getting engaged is set up a meeting with your parents and fiance and create a thorough guest list. This can help you develop a more realistic budget by giving you an accurate estimate of the number of guests to expect. You’ll need a reliable guest count to use when looking for venues.
The last thing you want is to get into a situation where your guest can’t fit in the ceremony or cocktail room, and you must start looking for a last-minute venue. Generally, account for 25 to 30 square feet for every guest. While it may seem too much, consider the space for the tables, lively waiters, a dance floor, and the band.
3. Give Your Budget Some Serious Thought
Unlike whether all of your guests will honor your invitation, one thing you can be sure of is that weddings can get really expensive. The last thing you want is to constantly stress about your finances during the planning or begin married life with a mountain of debt.
Therefore, take some time to seriously think about your budget and what you’re willing and able to spend before making reservations and other plans. You can then look at the prices for everything you need to ensure you can stay within budget. Doing this make organizing ”my perfect wedding” much less stressful.
4. Make a List of Your Priorities
Note down everything in terms of priority to know what you can and can’t scrimp on. Doing this will ensure you’re focusing your efforts on what matters most and managing your expenses. Make a list of the things you absolutely must have on your wedding day, such as catering, along with the things you’re ready to compromise on in terms of cost and details, such as lighting installation. For instance, you may prefer to spend more on a live band rather than a wedding photographer who charges more but offers more comprehensive services.
5. Get a Marriage License
As you plan for important things such as the venue and catering, remember to apply for a marriage license so you can legally marry your partner. Be sure to research the marriage license laws in your state in advance. Be strategic with when you apply if your state has a waiting period. Don’t do it too far in advance if there’s an expiry date on the license. If you intend to change your name after the nuptials, the marriage license will be a mandatory part of the process.
6. Choose a Realistic Wedding Date
The date you choose for my wedding will be key in whether you have ”my perfect wedding” or not. You can schedule it for a romantic time of the year, such as spring or your couple’s anniversary for the sentimental value. But what if you don’t care too much about the specific date and would rather choose a wedding day that won’t cause you too much stress? If so, you can opt to be practical and select a date within the following six months or after one year of your engagement, giving you more time to organize everything you need.
7. Research Different Venue Options
Before you can start making any reservations, do your homework on the wedding and reception venues you have access to. Take a look at the packages and prices each venue offers. Pay close attention to any restrictions these potential locations may have, such as a minimum consumable budget or a cap on the number of guests. Even after finding a venue you like that offers a package that fits within your budget, keep your eye and ears open for other options. Check out what other venues have to offer before agreeing on a quote and signing a contract.
8. Keep it Small and Intimate
If you want to keep the stress of planning your wedding minimal, consider keeping it small and intimate. Doing this will translate to less work for you and lower costs, making your day even more special. Sometimes, people invite many people just because it’s seen as the norm rather than because they’re close to them. Remember, it’s your special day; you get to choose the guests you want to attend rather than those you think will be interested.
9. Define Your Style as a Bride
When planning your wedding, one crucial decision you’ll have to make is your style as a bride. Your style will set the tone for the type of wedding you want. It’ll also affect many other choices, like the look of your dress, how you decorate the venue, and the accessories to invest in. Look for inspiration in bridal websites, magazines, social media accounts, or image-sharing platforms to find your ideal bridal style.
After finding a few photos, create a collage to get a great visual representation of the style and feel you desire for your big day. Giving prospective vendors a copy of your visual guide will make it easier for them to successfully integrate your wedding’s aesthetic. They may, for instance, help you buy the best hosiery and accessories for your wedding dress.
10. Buy Your Dress
To allow time for potential modifications when planning ”my perfect wedding,” experts advise ordering your dress nine to twelve months before the wedding. How do you decide on a silhouette and style? Consider the season and the overall concept when choosing a dress; for instance, a strapless A-line lace dress is ideal for a romantic garden wedding, while an embroidered satin ball gown is appropriate for a formal fall event. Top trends for 2017 range from built-in corsets (Oscar de la Renta) and wedding trousers (Elie Saab) to capes (Marchesa). Your decision should ultimately depend on what makes you feel the most beautiful and confident.
11. Listen to Mother Nature
Pay attention to the weather and other potential annoyances to ensure you have ”my perfect wedding”. It’s common for guests to leave early from winter loft receptions that don’t have sufficient heating and extremely hot summer tent weddings. In some places and during particular seasons, bugs such as deer flies, gnats, and mosquitoes tend to swarm.
To alleviate the problem, you may need to rent pest control tanks or include bug repellant in the gift bags. If you desire a sunset ceremony, visit SunriseSunset.com to determine when’s the right time to say your vows. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of unforeseen weather events, especially for an outdoor wedding.
12. Book the Photographer in Advance
When planning ”my perfect wedding, start your search as soon as possible because renowned photographers can be booked for up to a year in advance, much like venues. Use magazines, Pinterest, and Instagram to look at portfolios. If a photographer’s aesthetic appeals to what you’re looking for, and you see a couple of images of weddings similar to the one you’re planning to hold, they’re likely a good fit.
Besides checking their online portfolios, schedule phone or in-person meetings with each photographer you’re considering to ensure you’re on the same page. This is important as the photographs are how you two will relive your special day for the rest of your lives.
13. Consider Lighting
To ensure you have great lighting at your wedding venue, consider working with a wedding planner. Lighting will play a key role in setting the mood for your big day. Festoon lighting, fairy lights, and candles are effective ways of introducing lighting at a relatively low cost but will significantly impact the day’s mood and the photographs afterward.
14. Delegate Duties
Getting support from your loved ones when planning ”my perfect wedding” is always helpful, so don’t hesitate to ask them. Most people will be delighted to help because it’ll make them feel more involved in the wedding planning. Assign your closest friends and family members certain tasks along with their deadlines. Doing this will make it easier to get everything done on time.
15. Verify Wedding Details with Vendors
As your big day approaches, you’ll most likely have been in contact with each of your wedding vendors. Ensure your vendors have everything they need (including the deposit as per your agreement) and that you’ve sorted out any loose ends. Wedding planners are incredibly helpful in this regard and will work with you to ensure that your vendors are aware of the venue and time of both your wedding ceremony and reception.
Remember to make plans for proper disposal of food waste and other types of waste to avoid legal issues. One way to do this is to hire the services of local roll off dumpster rental companies. This way, all you’ll have to do is gather everything in one place.
16. Buy Your Wedding Bands
When it comes to wedding jewelry, it’s common for couples to focus on the engagement ring, leaving the wedding band to be an afterthought. Don’t forget to set aside money in your budget for each spouse to get a wedding band so you can avoid the inconvenience of last-minute expenses, and ensure your engagement ring and wedding bands are high quality so they create a polished look.
When picking out your rings, be sure to go for one that’ll be comfortable to wear daily. Ensure they aren’t irritating or bulky if you intend to wear your wedding and engagement ring together. Additionally, consider how your daily activities might affect how long your wedding band lasts.
If you do a lot of manual labor, you’ll be better off with a band made of durable materials, such as titanium or tungsten, that need little maintenance or jewelry repair over time. If you haven’t done it yet, this would be a good opportunity to add the wedding bands to your policy and insure your engagement ring. For couples who want wedding bands that are truly unique, a jewelry pawn shop may offer some great selections.
17. Don’t Overthink Things
Overthinking things when planning your wedding is understandable, but it won’t help much in your efforts to achieve ”my perfect wedding”. It’ll only lead to backtracking, altering plans, and adding to your stress levels. Instead of questioning if you should look into an alternative after making important decisions, stick to them unless there’s a compelling reason to do otherwise. With meticulous planning, you can make the best decisions for your wedding the first time, saving you valuable time and even money.
It’s also common to get cold feet. You may start thinking ”what if it doesn’t work out and my partner asks for a divorce after a year or two of marriage.” While understandable, consider that you may be nervous about the big day. Sharing your thoughts with your partner may help.
18. Consider Hiring a Pro
If you’re like most couples, you likely haven’t hosted a gathering as significant, big, and intricate as a wedding. A full-service wedding planner can help with that. Most brides who begin by making their wedding plans soon realize it can be a full-time job. A planner is ideal if you’re the type of bride who just wants to focus on showing up looking pretty on your wedding day without stressing about the many details involved in wedding planning. Despite being an additional expense, most experts agree that a planner can help you stay within your budget.
Planning a wedding is one of the most challenging undertakings you’ll ever encounter. If you can successfully pull it off, you should seriously consider a career in event planning. Use this read as a guide for planning ”my perfect wedding.”
