You said yes and they said let’s go! Where do we go from here, you ask? Well let’s get right to it! I am happy to share 4 key areas to consider for a happy wedding plan. As a wedding planner who has seen a lot, I hope this breakdown will make your process easier. No matter what, at the end of the day, you are marrying your best friend. The wedding day is just that – a day you want to remember, not cringe over! These are my big 4.
1. Know your budget, speak your budget, and stay within your means.
Not your mom’s means or whatever Pinterest tells you. Every bride wants their wedding day to be special and unique. But when you dreamed of your fairytale wedding as a child, you did not imagine the itemized bill. Yikes! I’ve seen budgets spin out of control due to lack of realistic expectations. Decide who pays and where money can be saved early in the planning process. Start with your venue cost and work your way back.
Common wedding expenses include:
Venue rental
Flowers
Officiant fees
Marriage license
Catering (per person)
Wedding cake
Photographer
DJ or live band
Wedding invitations
Wedding gown
Groom’s attire
Hair and makeup
Travel Expenses
Wedding favors
2. Work with your partner to determine a realistic guest list.
Guests are great for a party but let’s be real, they are expensive! Food is not cheap. Your meal is determined by how many guests there are. Are you going to cater or potluck it? Either way, do you! Caterers are great to talk to when it comes to the planning phase, and talking is free. Make the calls and remember your budget. I cannot express that enough. There is no shame in making simple appetizers or finger foods, either. Your friends and family are coming to celebrate you, not for leftovers. And if they are… well maybe they should not make the guest list!
3. Ask your friends and family to help!
I know it seems cheesy, but your wedding day isn’t entirely about you. Your loved ones will be right there with you on the big day, so why not enlist their help? Brides can be so tense on their wedding day that they can lose sight of “the moment.” Remember, you have some highly creative friends and family in your arsenal or social media circle. Will it be as great as a professional? Maybe or maybe not! But it’s impossible to beat free, so make all your pennies count! You only have a few hours to be the bride. Stop a second and look around you, remind yourself why you are here and consider yourself lucky to be surrounded by awesome people sharing this special milestone with you.
4. Don’t miss your day!
If you can hire a planner, hire one! If one of your friends or family members is super organized and bossy, let them take the helm! Having someone there from the beginning or just the day of is worth its weight in gold. The goal is to remain sane and to be able to afford to live happily ever after when it’s all said and done. That means not overtaxing yourself or overspending. Flowers can wilt, cakes can topple over, and Aunt Karen may make a scene, but once you walk down the aisle, you will forget all of that and move toward your forever. And that, my friends, is priceless! Happy planning! OL
