How to Start Planning Your Dream Wedding
+Free Wedding Planning Checklist below!
Yay!!!!!! You’re engaged!! …Now what? It’s time to finally start planning the wedding you’ve always dreamed of…but where do you even begin?? Before you let out that deep breath in you just had to take...don’t worry, I got you!
Planning a Wedding is like planning a family gathering………. well maybe a little bit more on steroids. Okayyy, I guess now’s when you can let out that big exhale!
There are a LOT of moving parts here to consider, but remember to take it piece by piece. Not everyone is a Vincent Van Gogh right out of the gate! It might take someone helping you to pick the right paint colors and where to make your brush strokes. I promise, you can create this masterpiece!!! Let’s paint by numbers your stunning Wedding!
I’m sharing the 4 Foundational Wedding Planning topics to discuss with your partner after getting Engaged to start you on your planning journey. I’ll be covering:
Identify your “must have’s” and “absolute no’s”
Set a budget
Start your guest list and estimate your guest count
Figure out where and when
I’ll show you how valuable each is and how they build on each other to start making decisions when planning for your big day!
4 Foundational Wedding Planning topics to discuss with your partner after getting Engaged
Ahh you’re finally engaged! Now the trickier part in finding time to plan in-between your busy lives. Creating a vision as a couple and getting on the same page will make you the most successful from the start. Whether you continue to plan together or one takes the lead is entirely up to you, but having an overall agreed direction is important. Remember this day is about celebrating the union of the both of you!
And as in any partnership, communication is key. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to sit down with your partner…I recommend to grab a drink of choice to celebrate and have a nice discussion to get some initial details figured out!
Identify your “must have’s” and “absolute no’s”: Explore with your partner your absolute “must have’s” and also make sure you know each others “hell no’s”. You want to start laying down the ground work to build the rest up from and make sure it meets both of your desires.
Set a budget: Setting a budget during this initial discussion is key. Find out what the two of you are willing to commit and if there are any outside parties that are contributing funding sources. The “must have’s” list should be at the top of items you’ll want to keep in mind when creating your budget. This can help you make priority decisions if you need to be a little more creative with where the funds go.
Start your guest list and estimate your guest count: Begin discussing with your partner the guest list and estimating what your guest count will be. Are you wanting a small intimate wedding or a grand bustling affair? Who are those important people in your lives that you want to make sure are there to celebrate the special day with you? The budget you set may guide your decision on how many people you’re wanting to invite on your special day. Getting your ‘Save the Date' invites sent out to individuals will occur in the earlier stages of planning, so ironing this out sooner is best!
Figure out where and when: Deciding on a location and at least around the timeframe you’re looking to set the date of your wedding, is helpful for following planning steps. Are you going to stay local or will it be a destination wedding? Being a little flexible on the exact date might be preferred, due to aligning vendor availabilities. Depending on who’s invited, keep in mind busy times of year or typical conflicts that are valuable to those you’re wanting to attend.
You will want to start exploring venues too! This will be one of the first vendors you will want to get booked! Are you envisioning a rustic barn, on the beach, or right in your backyard?
Woo hoo!!! Not everything has to be set in stone as this time, but getting an outline started is such an accomplishment. Big picture details are forming and you are starting to build a great foundation for your wedding!
As you start to gather more details along the way, there are amazing tools, apps, and spreadsheets, etc. to utilize in order to keep you as on top of things and organized. I recommend even creating a vision board with your partner to capture the essence of what you’re really wanting together. List your must have’s and any inspiring pictures that invoke your desired wedding day. Keep this to turn back to if you’re ever struggling to make a decision and you can always add to it along the way!
I’m so excited for you to have started your wedding planning journey!!! You’re starting to explore the first major foundational details as you continue planning all the things!
This is just the beginning! I’m sharing my FREE wedding planning checklist to help keep you on track throughout! Use the form below to get INSTANT access to this easy and amazingly helpful worksheet!
FREE Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist
Stay on track and make sure you don’t miss any major planning milestones! Subscribe below!!
