Your Guide to Planning the Perfect Wedding

By Jenna Brown

Now that the love of your life has popped the question (and you’ve happily accepted), it’s time to get to work on planning your nuptials. You’re probably already aware that there is a lot to be done. Remembering it all and tackling each task, will take every bit of energy - and patience you have. Like most brides, you want your day to be perfect, and the only way to pull this off (well, at least close to perfect) is to make a list and start checking off those boxes. Here are some main things to add to your wedding planning list:

Start With Your Wallet

If you start shopping for wedding items without a budget in mind, you can bet your bottom dollar you’ll end up spending way more than is necessary. Weddings can cost more than sending your child to college for a year. Unless you have a large sum of cash to work with or money isn’t an object to you, it’s a good idea to get some ballpark figures. Talk to your partner about what they can afford and review your own finances to determine the same.

Save the Date

Most of your wedding plans will revolve around when you plan on getting married. Once you have a date in mind, you want to lock this in by sending out save the date notifications to your loved ones. You can send out paper save the date cards or email them to friends and family that you hope will attend the wedding.

Shop for Rings

Don’t wait until the last minute to decide to take your partner and shop for rings. Your wedding rings are a symbol of your everlasting love for one another and are also an important part of your ceremony. If you’re pressed for time, you can always look online at black diamond engagement rings with matching wedding bands as well as other trendy jewelry picks for brides and grooms. Shopping early on allows you to have the rings customized to fit your finger and personality.

Book a Venue

Your wedding venue will take a large portion of your budget and, therefore, should be one of the first things you tackle. Lots of couples book a year in advance so the sooner, the better. Be sure that you have a general idea of how many guests you’ll invite to ensure you select a venue that can entertain your guests. Though you may have a venue in mind, it can’t hurt to think of at least two backups in case your initial idea falls through. If you’re steadfast on a venue, you may also need to keep an open mind on the day and time of the wedding.

Book a Caterer & Baker

If you plan on having a wedding reception complete with food and beverages you’ll need to have a caterer. Some venues like wedding and reception halls already have catering and bakery options for their clients to take advantage of. However, if you’re renting out a location without a caterer, you’ll need to start looking for one. As you’re choosing the cuisine, personal preference should come first, however, keep things like religion, allergies, and dietary choices of your guests to ensure you choose dishes everyone can enjoy.

Think About Your Vision

Whether you plan on having some help with your wedding from professional or other members of your family, having a clear vision in mind makes the planning process run smoother. Start thinking about your vision. What colors do you want? Is there a theme you like? Do you want something quiet and low-key or more elaborate? Write these ideas down on paper for use throughout the rest of your planning.

Enlist Bridal Party

Chances are there are people you have in mind to stand behind you and your partner on your wedding day. As there are things they’ll need to plan, pay for, and be prepared for as well, it is ideal that you give them as much notice as possible.

Find a Florist

If you plan on having flowers at your wedding you’ll need to work with a florist. As you’re inquiring about bouquets, keep a few things in mind such as the season and type of flower you want. Often, the photos on Pinterest are a great way to find inspiration but realistically, your floral arrangements may come out different.

As you can see there’s a lot to get done if you want the perfect wedding and this is just the tip of the iceberg. You still need to do things like find an officiant, buy your wedding attire, reserve transportation, send out the invitations, and plan a honeymoon. You may be overwhelmed now, but after writing everything down and enlisting some help from your bridal party or wedding planner, you’ll find things to be a lot easier to master.