Steps for planning your wedding

So it’s now official, you’re getting married! Take a few days and let the excitement sink in. Share this time with your family and those close to you. Once your excitement is under control, you can focus on planning your wedding. In the beginning this can seem like a very daunting task, but with a little preparation and help from your friends and family everything is going to come together.

Your first step should be to pick the date of your wedding. This is important because so many aspects of your planning will revolve around if the date is available with the vendors you chose. Most importantly, you will want to see what venues are available on that day. You will also need to know this so that your friends and family can save the date. No one wants to miss a wedding, and it can be hard to recoup any deposits on hotels or any other expenses related to out of town guests.

Next, you will need to decide who you want to invite, and choose your bridal party. You will need to know an approximate number of your guest list so you know which venues can accommodate the size of your wedding.  Knowing the number of guests also helps with other aspects of planning, such as chair and table rentals, catering needs, and how much money you will be spending.

Another decision you should make early on is if you will need the help of a Wedding Planner or a Day of Coordinator.  You might also decide to simply do without any assistance in this area. Often brides will underestimate the amount of time needed to plan a wedding and the amount of stress that comes with it.  Being a planner, we often get calls from brides with only a month of two to go until the wedding and they are in desperate need of help.  A planner is someone to help you come up with ideas, someone you can call when you are worried that it isn’t going to come together and if something does go wrong, chances are they have dealt with it before and will have a quick solution to ease your mind. A day of coordinator is just that, they coordinate and keep you on schedule the day of your wedding.  Don’t confuse a day of coordinator you hire and the Coordinators that work for the venue.  When you hire a Day of Coordinator they work for you and your best interest.  The Coordinator working at the Venue work solely for that venue, not you the customer. Also, most times, your coordinator can work out special deals or discounts with other vendors that we pass on directly to you.  This is because you hired us and contracted us to work for you, and that is exactly what we do.

Choosing your venue can be difficult because there are so many beautiful places available.  Try to find one that fits your personality, and can accommodate all your needs. You will need to keep in mind the amenities and capabilities of each venue.  Some venues are more restrictive than others, some can accommodate only a small number of guests, and you don’t want to have more guests than a venue can handle. Being overcrowded will not be comfortable for you or your guests. Others have time requirements for how long you can actually have the venue. Make sure you have a list of all your requirements before you go looking for a venue. Rules should be made for the safety of you and your guest, but don’t be afraid to question rules that are not for this reason.  

Pictures are pretty much the only tangible reminders of your big day, so you need to book a good photographer early. Always choose a photographer at the top part of your budget. You don’t want to skimp on this because a true professional will be able to handle anything that might happen on your wedding day, be it pouring rain or bad lighting at the venue, etc.  A professional will also always have a backup of his work. Definitely ask to see their prior work and go with someone who you think is the best fit for you. The most important thing you need to know about the photographer is how long he or she is willing to spend with you on your wedding day.

Food and Bar is a big deal for all your guests and, of course, you. Try to keep in mind that you have a large group of friends and family and they have different opinions on good food. Having a variety will help out greatly here, and request information such as food allergies, so everyone can enjoy their dinner.  Also, your wedding day will be hectic leading up to the ceremony. Try to remember to drink lots of water and eat something to keep you going until the ceremony begins.  

When planning your wedding the most important thing is to know what you want, and stay organized. Having an organizer will be a huge help for you. We encourage using one that you can take notes with and has lots of pockets and dividers for each vendor you’re using.  We provide our brides with an organizer so we know they will be just as organized as we are.  One more reason using Exceptional-Event will help you immensely.