Newly Engaged? How To Start Planning The Ultimate Wedding
One of our readers, already feeling overwhelmed, recently asked us: “Where do I even start to plan my wedding?”
Most couples will start with Google or Pinterest, thinking all the answers will be delivered packaged with a little bow. Sadly, this isn’t the case in an industry with far too many options and not enough transparent information.
Instead of feeling joyful and elated that they’re getting married, couples are met with a confusing set of tips and tricks focused on the month or two leading up to the wedding rather than the critical first few months right after engagement. But the beginning of planning is where you set the tone for the rest of your experience.
Will you easily make decisions on decor, florals, and venues that match your vision, or will you feel completely paralyzed by the amount of tasks you have to accomplish? The choice is yours.
We believe that the first few steps of planning your own wedding are actually more important than what you’ll experience in the last weeks leading to your wedding day. When you take the time to properly think through what you envision your wedding to look like, how you will feel, and who will be with you, it makes everything else simple.
So, where do you start? We created our Wedding Foundations video series to jump-start your planning process. And we always start with your vision. This doesn’t mean choosing your wedding colors right away or even deciding between a rustic theme or something more modern. Your vision goes beyond those details. Think of who you are and what makes you and your partner unique. What are you known for among your family and friends?
For example, an introverted couple that enjoys hiking might opt for a smaller outdoor wedding where they can gather their closest friends and family to celebrate on the edge of a stunning mountain cliff. Alternatively, an extroverted couple who loves art and visiting museums may feel a larger gathering in an artistic venue is the best option. Every couple is different, and when you finalize your wedding vision, it should feel authentic and comfortable to you.
After you have a wedding vision, the next steps are building a guest list (using a template like our Plug & Play Guest List Builder) and deciding on a wedding budget (made easy with The Every-Kind-Of-Wedding Budget Tool©).
Finally (and maybe most importantly), don’t forget to take care of yourself during all of this. Your engagement should be enjoyed, and planning with no clear direction is a fast-tracked way to bring stress into your relationship.
If you need more guidance to feel confident in your decisions and make your planning feel effortless, Wedding Foundations may be the perfect place to start.
