Congratulations on getting engaged! Are you trying to figure out where to start? So many couples can get overwhelmed quickly, so here’s our top 5 list of things to do when starting to plan your wedding:
1. Start by Talking to Each Other
Sometimes we find that our couples get swept up in the planning of the wedding before they’ve really talked about what they each want for their special day. We encourage you to find out what you both want your wedding day to be and what is important to each of you. Spend some time exploring ideas and options with each other. Maybe ask each other these questions:
- Do you want to get married somewhere local or do you want a destination wedding?
- Have you always envisioned it in a church or chapel, outdoors or somewhere else?
- What do you think your wedding style is? Modern, Romantic, Glamour, Rustic?
- Do we want a small, intimate wedding or do we want a large group to celebrate with?
- Who do we want involved in helping us make decisions?
It’s important to brainstorm ideas together, before getting input from anyone else. Find out what is important to both of you!
2. Set Boundaries
EVERYONE wants to help and has ideas when it comes to your wedding. Before the chaos descends, we suggest setting some boundaries. Who do you want involved in planning? Who will contribute funds? Do you want them to have decision making power? Consider letting your friends and family know you will set a date and let them know about plans in a month after the engagement, so you have some time to just enjoy being engaged.
Don’t forget to set aside time free from wedding planning. Maybe designate a day a week that you don’t talk wedding, so it doesn’t overwhelm you both. Setting boundaries now, not only for yourselves, but for friends and family, will help you have a smooth wedding planning process!
3. Start a Wedding Guest List
Your guest list sets so many things, from the size of venue you need to how many invitations you’ll order. Start gathering names, not just from the two of you but from parents or anyone else you feel needs to contribute to the guest list. It doesn’t have to perfect with full addresses and such, the intent is to give an idea of how many you’ll be inviting. We suggest starting a Google Sheet that you can share with anyone that needs to contribute names to the list, so you don’t have to try to combine different lists everyone will send you.
4. Talk Money
Talking about money can be stressful but figuring out your financial comfort zone will help you make sound decisions from the beginning. Start with how much the two of you want to contribute to celebrating your big day. DO NOT start by researching how much weddings cost. Statistics may be helpful later, but right now, just figure out what number you are comfortable with and can afford.
If someone else is contributing, how much they want to contribute. If you have an idea how long out you are planning for, say a year, you can also look at how much you might be able to contribute monthly to your wedding fund. Another thing to consider when it comes to money is if someone is contributing, how are they contributing? Are they gifting you money to spend as you will? Are they willing to pay for certain services or products? Or are they managing payments and will have direct input on all decisions? Ironing out the process now will help make planning smoother so there are not any miscommunications, or anyone left out of the loop that needs to be included.
5. Hire a Planner
The purpose of hiring a planner is one hundred percent to make planning your wedding easier. If hired at the beginning, experienced planners can help with creating a budget that works for YOU, helping you set priorities and helping you sort through ideas. They can help find the perfect venue for you that fits your style and budget, making a list of all the possibilities that you may not know about or find in your Instagram searching and TikTok video scrolling. Wedding planners can help keep everyone on the same page, making sure no one is left out of the loop. They are also great at preventing surprises by asking all the right questions and checking all the details. Preventing you from overspending and busting your budget right out the door is also a great wedding planner skill!
Need help finding the right planner for you? Sign up for our email list to get our free PDF on Finding the Right Planner For You. Starting with these 5 steps will definitely set you up for success and help make your wedding planning process as smooth as possible! Need help? Just give us a call!