With the new year come engagements.... After you have called all of your family and friends, went out and bought every bridal magazine and signed up for The Knot... the real planning begins. It can be very overwhelming when you first start to sit down and think about what needs to be done. I do advise taking a couple of weeks to soak it all in before planning. Here is a list to get you jump started when you are ready!
1. Set a date/Month/Season
Keep in mind that you may need to be flexible with your date. If the church/reception site is booked on your date you may need to have a couple other dates in mind if you aren't willing to find another location.
2. Book your church/reception hall
Without a venue booked you can't really "plan" anything else for the wedding. Everything will revolve around timing/location. This is a very important to book in the beginning and get secured to keep the planning going.
3. Set a Budget
There are so many tools out there to use to try and create/maintain a budget. I recommend The Knot for all of your planning tools. Sit down and see if family is going to help out and how much they plan to help with up front so there is no confusion later. You can find wedding budget worksheets all over the internet so be sure to keep looking until you find the one that will suit your needs.
4. Start a savings account
Once you start moving on the planning you will have to start putting deposits down for everything and a savings account is just what you will need to do this if you haven't already started one. You should try to make a separate account just for wedding expenses so that you don't use it for everyday items.
6. Book your photographer for the wedding/engagement photos
Usually you can get a good deal if you book these together with your photographer. If you haven't used the photographer its a good way to get a feel for their style and see what you like/don't like to do for your wedding photos.
7. Start a blog/wedding website
Through The Knot you can start a wedding website that gives details for your guests and wedding party on the details as they become available. Some people use this to put the bulk of their information on that can't fit onto their invitations.
All of your other components will fall into place after these main items are in the works. Don't feel like you have to rush to get everything checked off right away. Take time in researching vendors, talking about pricing and deciding on what is the best fit for you.
Look for Part 2 to this blog post soon on what you can book/plan further into your planning process.
Happy Planning!
Without a venue booked you can't really "plan" anything else for the wedding. Everything will revolve around timing/location. This is a very important to book in the beginning and get secured to keep the planning going.
3. Set a Budget
There are so many tools out there to use to try and create/maintain a budget. I recommend The Knot for all of your planning tools. Sit down and see if family is going to help out and how much they plan to help with up front so there is no confusion later. You can find wedding budget worksheets all over the internet so be sure to keep looking until you find the one that will suit your needs.
4. Start a savings account
Once you start moving on the planning you will have to start putting deposits down for everything and a savings account is just what you will need to do this if you haven't already started one. You should try to make a separate account just for wedding expenses so that you don't use it for everyday items.
5. Wedding Planner
Decide if you are going to need assistance with your planning process. Whether it be assistance with everything from the beginning, contract negotiations, day-of coordination or just someone to go to for advice and expertise.
6. Book your photographer for the wedding/engagement photos
Usually you can get a good deal if you book these together with your photographer. If you haven't used the photographer its a good way to get a feel for their style and see what you like/don't like to do for your wedding photos.
7. Start a blog/wedding website
Through The Knot you can start a wedding website that gives details for your guests and wedding party on the details as they become available. Some people use this to put the bulk of their information on that can't fit onto their invitations.
All of your other components will fall into place after these main items are in the works. Don't feel like you have to rush to get everything checked off right away. Take time in researching vendors, talking about pricing and deciding on what is the best fit for you.
Look for Part 2 to this blog post soon on what you can book/plan further into your planning process.
Happy Planning!
Such great advice!!! So true about starting a seperate account. It helps to keep everything balanced and on budget.
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