The first 3 steps to wedding planning
Congratulations, Lovebirds! Let the Wedding Planning Extravaganza Begin!
Ah, the blissful days of engagement, where you find yourself caught in an endless loop of ring admiration and that “just engaged” glow. Your social media is on fire, and you’re probably spending more time in the honeymoon stage than you did during the actual honeymoon. Bask in the love, my friends—it’s a special time. But now, let’s dive into the wonderful world of wedding planning! Brace yourselves because the wedding industry is like the Olympics of pricing competitions—everyone’s vying for that gold medal. Regardless of whether you’re rocking a $20,000 or a $75,000+ budget (or somewhere in between), it’s a substantial chunk of change.
When I got engaged, I had grand visions for my wedding that rivaled a Hollywood blockbuster. I created a Pinterest board that could have doubled as a blockbuster script, only to realize that some of my ideas were a tad… ambitious. Okay, maybe a lot extra.
Step #1: Establish a Budget
First things first, let’s talk money. I know, I know, you might be thinking, “Don’t I need to shop around first?” But trust me, decide on a budget early on, and you’ll save yourself from a symphony of phone calls, emails, and meetings with vendors who might already be playing in a different league. The average wedding takes 250 hours to plan, and I’d rather not waste any of them. Have a sit-down with whoever’s contributing financially, tally it up, and boom—first step done!
Step #2: Guest Count Matters in Wedding Planning
Now, I might sound a bit crazy suggesting you decide on a guest count right out of the gate. But hear me out—it’s tied to step #1. More guests equal more moolah spent. Think about it—they all need a seat, an invitation, food, drinks, and the list goes on. Vendors often have packages based on minimum guest counts, so whip up a draft guest list to help with your vendor shopping. It doesn’t have to be final, but you need it for the vendors, trust me.
Step #3: Pick a Season, Any Season
Now, let’s talk seasons. Are you dreaming of a summer soirée or a winter wonderland? Be ready to flex those wedding plans because vendors often hike up prices at the start of each year. Your venue, the behemoth of your budget (taking up about 50%), might have a price tag swing of thousands of dollars just a week apart. I’m not kidding—weather can be that influential. I got hitched in Arizona, where a mere 10-degree temperature drop in a week meant a $7,000 difference in venue prices. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, every state has its peak wedding season, affecting your food and beverage minimums.
Now that you’ve cracked the code to these three questions, you’re officially armed and ready to start wedding planning! Happy planning, and may the budget odds be ever in your favor!
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