The ring is on your finger, the date is set, and you’ve found the perfect wedding planner for your event. What comes next? In this post we’ll cover the top wedding planning tips.
There are a few things every bride to be should keep in mind when planning her wedding, including her budget, the type of wedding she wants, and the venue where it will be held, among others.
But, before you let panic set in, let’s take a look at these important wedding planning tips so you can draw up your wedding checklist, and get down to planning the fairytale wedding you’ve always dreamed of.
Trying to decide on a getting a wedding planner for your wedding? Make sure you read our recent post on the matter.
Wedding Types
Wedding planning support is always good to have when you are trying to decide the type of wedding you want. Will it be a formal evening wedding or an informal day wedding? The most important thing to consider when deciding what type of wedding you will have is your budget. Having a formal evening wedding is a bigger expense than an informal option, but it does have several good points.
For starters, it will be a much more elegant affair, and nothing highlights the protocol of a wedding like long gowns, tuxedos, silk, and subdued lighting, coupled with beautiful table settings and delicately crafted food.
On the other hand, having an informal day wedding can be less expensive, you can leave on your honeymoon earlier, your energy level will be higher, and nothing frames the beauty of a wedding like the sun shining down of the newlyweds. So, while it is up to you to decide what type of wedding you will have, make sure it is what you really want, and that you are in love with the idea.
Your Budget
The most important part of a wedding todo list is the budget itself. If you don’t have a set budget, get to work on one right away, otherwise you may find yourself neck deep in expenses you do not care to make. Even though your wedding planner will work on a budget with you, it is always a good idea to make your own, so you can compare and contrast both, and define a middle point.
With the excitement of a wedding in mind, and the wide selection of bridal products available to you, it can sometimes be difficult to get a grip on what you really want. This is the case of wedding dresses.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of gowns available to brides these days, with prices as varied as the designs. When selecting one, you should not only look at how well it looks on you, but also at the price tag, since you will very likely have to make adjustments according to how much you can really afford.
When working on your budget, make sure you contemplate the exact amount you have available, be it because you’ve been setting money aside for the occasion, or your parents are willing to help. The number you come up with, calculated on realistic expectations, is the maximum you can spend.
Remember, it is not a minimum, and going over it can put you and your family in debt for a long time to come. Weddings usually cost more than you would think. Make sure you check out post on budgeting a Canadian wedding.
The Venue
Now that you have taken the type of ceremony you want off your wedding checklist, you can get down to finding a venue. Most wedding planners have several wedding venue options available, and can make a good recommendation as to the services provided by each one.
Make sure you get all the details as to what the venue offers, whether the food is included in the price, will you have to hire servers, will drinks be included with the food, and whether they provide the music or you have to hire a band. Certain venues offer full wedding party packages that include food, beverages, servers, and music, while others only offer the hall and you must hire everything else.
Be very clear about what you want and expect, and don’t be afraid to discuss it with your wedding planner. Remember that your wedding day is all about you and your fiancé, and not what other people want. (Most often your parents will want to have input too…)
In the end, your wedding planner will take care of all the details required to turn your wedding into the event of a lifetime, but the big decisions are up to you, which is why writing a detailed wedding todo list is the biggest wedding planning help you can have, as it allows you to relax and enjoy the process that will bring you to the first day of the rest of your life.