Congratulations, you said "Yes!" Yes to forever. Yes to the man of your dreams. Yes to love and happily ever after. Take time to enjoy your engagement and then, ready, set, PLAN!
Planning your wedding might be one of the biggest task you have taken on in your personal life to date. You want it to be beautiful and everything you have ever imagined. To help you get started I have provided a short list of five key decision points that will require attention early on.
1. Pick a wedding theme or style.
This step is very important. I know you are excited, but do not just jump into cake tasting and trying on dresses before you decide on the theme of your wedding. You must determine your, and your fiance's, wedding day vision. Does an intimate, candle lit event appeal to you or would you rather have an over the top event drenched in glitz and glam? What about the roaring 20's? Does the idea of feathers, vintage centerpieces with an abundance of lace attract you? What about the outdoors or a rustic wedding? Whatever you decide, make sure the theme you choose is represented in every detail of your wedding, from the Save the Date cards to the post wedding day brunch. It should all tie together.
2. Determine your budget.
Now that you have an idea of how you want your wedding day to look, set a budget to help you access what you can afford. Also, identify who will be assisting with investing in your wedding. Are you and your fiance' footing the bill? Are parents willing to assist? All of these discussions should occur early on. Also, remember to add in a cushion for miscellaneous items.
3. Choose a wedding planner.
In the world of Pinterest and Instagram pictures it can be easy to take on an approach of "I can do it myself!" However, planning a wedding is more than pretty centerpieces. You need to consider the time it will take to identify and select vendors, manage the budget, coordinate walk-throughs and do not forget about overseeing the wedding day. Choose a planner who can provide you with the exact type of service you are seeking. Whether it be Full Service, Partial Service or Day of Coordination, rely on the professionals to get you down the aisle.
4. Select a venue and set a date.
Consider your theme as you approach venue selection. Remember to choose a venue that will allow your vision to come to life or, a venue that can be transformed to meet your needs. Once you have chosen a venue, set a date! You may have a date in mind that the venue can accommodate. If not, work with the venue to determine their availability.
5. Select a photographer and videographer.
These vendors tend to book up a year in advance so keep that in mind. Also, when choosing the vendor, make sure their photography style aligns with your preference. Are you big on the details? Then make sure your photographer has images that showcase their eye for capturing details. Do you prefer artistic, classic or documentary style? Then your photographers work should align with that. Who ever you choose, it is important that you take time to research and determine the vendor that will best suite your needs.
Once these key steps are handled then you can move onto selecting the florist, band, DJ, caterer, etc. Throughout the wedding planning process remember to have fun, enjoy your engagement and continue to date your fiance'. Embrace the journey from "I said Yes!" to "I do!"
Sharika Nicole
Owner of Elegant Design
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