How to Plan for a Wedding
Planning for a wedding is not an easy task. It could be an extremely stressful, and trying time, especially as the big day approaches. More often times then not, couples start their planning process by themselves, which usually leads to a stressful engagement and an exhausting wedding day. Eventually, most brides, get tired with everything they have to juggle and end up getting a wedding coordinator or planner.
Before jumping into planning an entire wedding yourself, allow me to give you some insight. I always encourage all my brides to take some of the stress off and look into hiring a coordinator (at least). Lets talk difference between wedding coordinator and wedding planner. A wedding coordinator is less costly and doesn’t quite do the heavy lifting that a planner does. Coordinators tend to help you along in your process of planning, answer questions you may have, give you advice, and help you find exactly what you want and where to find it. Planning on the other hand can start a year out (or more sometimes) from your wedding date and the planner will handle everything from the silver wear to the venue. They will schedule meetings, go to walk-thru’s, and communicate and book all your vendors for you. However, if you are one of those rare few that happens to loves putting in the time and planning out all the details, big and small like me, you might want to consider a career change, and become some sort of planner!
Now lets get started. Probably, one of the most important details of the wedding that a couple has to decide on is the actual date of the wedding. This is usually the detail that is taken care of first. Factors in choosing a date include: the availability of the venue where the wedding will take place. Availability of friends and family on the assigned date.
Some venues where weddings are held offer discounts on days when traditionally, weddings are not held. Also, the time the wedding takes place also become a factor in the expense. For example, mornings, and afternoon receptions are somewhat more cheaper that receptions held at nighttime.
It is also advisable to set a budget, even before a couple start to make plans. This way they’d be able to organize the details according to the budget they could afford.
Once you’ve done this, you can now choose a venue for the wedding. Some places offer discounts, depending on the time of year. Just after the holidays, would be a good time to hold a wedding, if you are considering the cost. This time is not considered a ‘peak time’, therefore the price tend to be less expensive.
For couples who are about to get married, it is important to talk about the size of wedding they both have in mind. The dream wedding of one person might not be that of the other. So it is necessary for couples to discuss details regarding the arrangement of the wedding, such as: the location of the venue/reception, the number of people who get invited to the wedding reception, and the choice of entertainment.
It is important to reach an agreement pertaining to the guest list and the entourage. Whether you want to keep the wedding an intimate affair, in which case the bride and groom will just invite their family and friends; or maybe, they’d want to make this affair, into the wedding of the century. In which case, the bride and groom get to invite the whole neighborhood, long lost relatives, high school buddies, etc., in addition to their friends and family. When making the guest list, consider the space capacity of your chosen venue.
Hire a professional to capture this momentous occasion. Sure you friends can take good pictures, and most of them own a camcorder. But for this special occasion, you would want something special, lasting, and visually presentable. So you’d have something to remember this occasion by. This way you could also share them with your friends and family.
Don’t forget the cake! It’s best to have a tasting first, before settling on a cake. Invite your family and friends, for the cake tasting. This way, this task becomes fun for everyone!
Order wedding invitations. If you want to get creative, you can always print your own invites. This way, you can customize them, and add a more personal touch to the invitation.
Don’t forget to start looking for a wedding gown months before the wedding. This way, the bride has plenty of time to make a selection. Also, the groom should make arrangement to rent or buy a tuxedo, preferably in advance also. Just in case you encounter some trouble with the fitting, you’d have some time to make other arrangements.
Couples who don’t have enough time on their hands, or just find the preparations that go into planning a wedding too overwhelming, can always just hire a wedding planner! This way, everything gets organized and coordinated for them.
