Engagement 101: How to plan your perfect wedding

Congratulations! You’re engaged and ready to start planning. But the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start creeps in. When your man gets down on one knee, no one hands you a guide on what to do next. Consider this your ultimate Engagement 101 guide for how to plant the perfect wedding. 

PLANNING BOOK

Consider a planning book the dumpster for all the information collected during the planning process.  Every inspiration photo venue phone number, catering quote, and other contacts will be placed here. Consider it a “catch all” to store your hopes, dreams, and plans. This will be a helpful resource in collecting and storing information that’s organized and easy to look back on when you have a question or decision to make. 

Purchasing

Wedding planners can help you stay organized. It brings structure to chaos and ordered ideas to scattered thinking. Purchase a planning book that fits your needs and how you would like to stay structured during your months of planning. 

Here’s a few we recommend:

• Linen Binder
• Organizer for Bride
• Budget-Savvy Organizer

DIY AGENDA

Creating your own wedding planner is for the bride who has a vision and wants to get things done! The great part about making your own planner is that it is personalized to your wants and needs while staying organized the way you hope. 

To start, take a binder, grab some dividers, and start labeling. You will want a section for Venues, Photographers/Videographers, Makeup/Hair, Dress Shops, Inspiration/Ideas, Caterers, Décor, and DJ. In these sections, you can store options, quotes, contacts, and begin to create timelines. 

HIRE A PLANNER

Wedding planning should be considered a full-time job – oh wait. It is! At least for some people. Taking on the responsibilities of planning can be difficult when you already have other responsibilities in life weighing on you. Hiring a wedding planner will add another cost into your budget but one worth investing. Your wedding planner can help the planning process go smoothly and efficiently as you navigate decisions and manage your timeline. This ensures tasks get done when they need so you are not scrambling last-minute. Wedding planners are also a great resource for coordinating vendors and using their connections to help you find what you are missing. 

SMALL STEPS

Remember small steps make the largest impact. You will feel the need to get everything done in one week – don’t try to do everything at once. Set goals and due dates for when you would like to have things done by. Don’t beat yourself up if it isn’t done – your planning process most likely will not have everything go smoothly. Shocker, I know. Expect roadblocks and prepare for things to take longer than you expected. Don’t beat yourself up for things outside of your control. Breathe and know that tomorrow is a new day. Improvising is key to successful weddings. 

KNOW YOUR BUDGET

When you know the financial situation you are working with, it’s easier to know how to best spend your money.

 First, prioritize what parts of your wedding are most important to you. Is it your dress, the photos you will look back on, or the venue? When you know your priorities, it makes budgeting easier. 

Second, communicate the areas you are willing to compromise on if needed. Depending on your budget, you may not be able to have everything the way you originally imagined, but there are always other options and ways to cut costs to save money. 

USE YOUR RESOURCES

As soon as you get engaged, there will be moms, friends, mom’s friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins ready to throw advice on you after you’ve worked all day or gotten little sleep. Advice doesn’t have a clock-in and clock-out button, unfortunately. While multiple opinions can be overwhelming, don’t completely shut it down. Listen to the advice! It doesn’t mean you have to follow it, but it is helpful to listen to other ideas and gain new perspectives on how to do things.

Also, don’t be afraid to delegate – give tasks family members and bridesmaids. They are most likely more than happy to help; they just don’t know how to help until you let them know. If you delegate, it is important to communicate exactly what you want. Show them inspiration, let them have access to your Pinterest board, give them an example. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid of using your resources to secure vendors or decorations. Reach out to connections to see if they would be willing to help for your big day. Most people want to help, and if they can’t, they will let you know. 

Planning a wedding isn’t supposed to be perfect, but following these five steps after you get engaged can help the process go more smoothly. Best of luck on coordinating the wedding of your dreams!