Top 15 Wedding Planning Tips for an Epic Day
Ok so lets be real, planning a wedding can be overwhelming. Here’s a list of my top 15 wedding planning tips to help you get started!
Table of contents
- 1. Stay Organized
- 2. Set A Budget
- 3. Create A List Of Priorities
- 4. Find Your Inspiration
- 5. Include Your Fiancé In The Process
- 6. Create A Guest List
- 7. Pick Your Wedding Party
- 8. Pick A Wedding Date
- 9. Book Your Wedding Vendors
- 10. Use Your Helping Hands
- 11. Don’t Forget Your Marriage License
- 12. Create A Wedding Day Schedule
- 13. Review Details
- 14. Take Time Off
- 15. Have An Amazing Time!
1. Stay Organized
Before you start planning, figure out how you will keep track of everything. Some brides like to have everything in paper form, so they opt for a wedding binder and others prefer everything digitalized, so they use things like the Knot’s Wedding Planning App. Another helpful tip is to create a wedding email, the last thing you want is to miss an important guest or vendor email under the every day spam emails.
2. Set A Budget
Everyone’s budget is different. You may have a bit of family help or are covering expenses on your own. It’s important to know how much you’re willing to spend overall on your big day. The Knot’s Wedding Budget Planner is a great way to keep track of expenses and how you are distributing it.
3. Create A List Of Priorities
It’s easy to get caught up in all the pretty little details that go into your wedding day. Sit down with your fiancé and figure out what are the most important things for you. Is it the gorgeous venue with the drapping chandeliers? The photography? Five course plated dinner? Dj and entertainment? One of the things I see all the time is that brides don’t prioritize videography and then wish to add it later on, but no longer have the budget to do so.
4. Find Your Inspiration
Pinterest and wedding websites will become your best friend! There are thousands of different ideas to help you figure out what style, theme, and colors you are wanting for your big day. Create a vision board you can reference back to, when picking out your details and decor.
5. Include Your Fiancé In The Process
Although guys don’t dream of their wedding day since the age of five, it’s just as much their wedding as it is yours. Give him a task or two. Ask for his opinion. It’s important to make him feel special and needed throughout the process. Bonus tip : Guys love picking cake flavors, dinner menu, music choices, and their stylish transportation method!
6. Create A Guest List
This one is tricky. On average 10-20% of the guests invited, do not attend. Do you want a large wedding or a more intimate wedding? Your wedding venue and budget will be key in how many guests you can invite. Sit down with your fiancé and create your wish list first, chances are, you’ll have to make a few cuts. Take into consideration of your best friend’s plus one and if children will be invited as well.
7. Pick Your Wedding Party
Choosing your wedding party is important! They are there for you emotionally and to help you along the way. Pick people who you trust and love. Your wedding party doesn’t have to be an equal number of bridesmaids to groomsmen. It’s totally ok to have an odd number! And if you don’t want a wedding party? That’s completely fine, you don’t have to have one!
8. Pick A Wedding Date
Take some time to think about it. Is there a date you specifically want? Are you willing to have a 2 year engagement to have the perfect date or venue? One thing to consider, especially here in Florida, is the weather. Summer is extremely hot and it rains in the afternoon pretty much everyday. Also, hurricane season is something to take into consideration. ( Wedding insurance is a great way to protect yourself from losing money due to a hurricane. )
9. Book Your Wedding Vendors
Find your dream team, the vendors you can truly trust with your special day. They are the ones who help run your wedding day flawlessly. It’s so important to find vendors that you connect with, not just professionally, but personally! Check out their website, social media, and reviews.
10. Use Your Helping Hands
Everyone loves to be included in the planning process and wedding day. Assign tasks and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Moms love to go shopping with you, your bridesmaids are their to make sure your day runs smoothly and show their support, and there is plenty of man power to help move chairs from your ceremony space to reception space. Plan ahead and let everyone know what their roles are.
11. Don’t Forget Your Marriage License
Your wedding officiant can help with any questions you may have but you are the one responsible to get your marriage license. Don’t wait until the last minute, you can get it 30-90 days prior to your wedding day, depending on your state and county. Here in Orlando, you obtain your marriage license through the Orange County Clerk.
12. Create A Wedding Day Schedule
Typically wedding coordinators create your wedding day schedule but If you aren’t using one, I highly recommend creating your own schedule. It is very helpful for everyone involved and keeps your day running smoothly with no gaps in between. Be as detailed as possible, including vendors information, just in case they need to be contacted the day of the wedding. You can email your wedding schedule to everyone involved, including your wedding party and parents so they know what’s going on and where they need to be.
13. Review Details
About 30-60 days prior to your wedding day, check in with your vendors to make sure everything is good to go. Make sure your wedding party is up to date and they have their wedding attire ready. If you’re doing your own decorating, organize your decor and label what will be going to the ceremony space and the reception space. Tie your loose ends and communicate everything.
14. Take Time Off
The closer to your wedding day, the more stressed you may become. Take some time off with your fiancé simply to enjoy each other. Maybe do a simple date night where you just put the focus into your relationship and aren’t allowed to talk about the wedding. Here’s some date night ideas from the knot.
15. Have An Amazing Time!
After all that planning, the day finally has arrived! Sit back and relax. Sometimes things don’t go as planned but if you stress the little details, your missing out on the bigger picture. The day goes by so fast. You married your best friend! PAR-TAYYYYYYYY!
So those are my top 15 wedding planning tips for engaged couples. Hopefully they gave you some great insight into putting together your wedding plan. No go out there and have a great wedding!
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