Wedding planning can be the most exciting time of your life, or it can be highly confusing and strenuous. My husband and I recently tied the knot, and I enjoyed every step in the planning process! Here are 5 essential tips for planning your wedding.
Tip 1: Start planning early.
Before you begin anything else, my best advice is to sit down with your significant other and set a budget and guest count. Those two usually coincide with one another and will be the primary decision-makers. We began planning our wedding a year out, making everything a little easier. We also hired KScott Events as our wedding planner; she was a lifesaver. Whether you are choosing to plan your wedding on your own or hire a wedding planner, make sure you have enough time to understand what it is that you want.
Tip 2: Set a date and book your wedding venue.
Let’s face it; you’re not the only couple planning a wedding. You’ll be shocked at how many people want the same wedding venue and date as you. Finding the perfect venue takes time, so create a pros and cons list of what you’re looking for and begin your search. I suggest using TheKnot to narrow down your choices. Once you have a list, start your visits and get on the books. Luckily, we knew exactly what kind of venue we were looking for and booked it a year out.
Tip 3: Save your money.
Weddings are expensive, and there was no way around it for us. But, we cut the cost on a few things. For example, paper invites, save the dates, and postage can get pricey. We opted to send digital invites to some guests and paper invites to others. As previously mentioned, your guest count will be crucial to your budget. Food and bar packages can be upward of $60/per person. If you want to save more money, I suggest keeping your guest count low.
Tip 4: Find time to focus on your spouse.
After months of planning, your wedding day goes by within a blink of an eye. With the hustle and bustle of greeting and thanking your guests, time will fly by. Our planner made sure that my husband and I spent time alone before walking into our reception. We were able to soak in everything that just happened and put food in our stomachs. Those few minutes alone meant everything.
Tip 5: Remember this is your wedding day.
Plan your day your way. Ignore “rules” and opinions you disagree with. That’s it, that’s the tip. Trust your gut and do what makes you happy.
Regardless of what you choose to do for your wedding day, remember to take it one day at a time. Try your best to enjoy each step of the planning process. This is truly an experience that you will never forget. Happy planning!
xoxo
Raven (@ayeraven)
