He finally popped the question, and you said, “yes.”
Now it’s time to get down to business and plan your perfect wedding day!
We understand planning a wedding can be a daunting task. Finding the right wedding venue, the perfect wedding bouquets, and the ideal dress can sometimes be stressful.
But don’t worry, every new couple standing in your position has gone through this experience.
Hence, we are here to guide you through this exciting and exhausting process. Check out our comprehensive guide on planning the perfect wedding.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Perfect Wedding
Planning weddings can be very stressful, especially when there is a time crunch. Many times, this leads to misunderstandings between couples.
Hence, be calm and plan the perfect wedding. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you.
Set a Budget (and Stick to It)
Setting a budget is the very first step you need to take toward planning a “perfect” wedding that you can afford. Ensure to discuss financial planning with your family and partner and their contributions.
Considering your wedding contributions and savings, set a realistic budget. Moreover, categorize your budget into sections under caterer, decor, flowers, photography, etc.
Remember to keep some buffer in case you run into any emergency or last-minute changes.
Lastly, don’t forget to keep some cash aside to treat yourself or have a short getaway with your partner during the planning time.
Sort Out Your Priorities
Discuss and sort out your priorities with your partner. It is paramount to sit and discuss what you two want for D-day. Although priorities vary from couple to couple, these are some of the basic ones:
- Wedding location
- Size of the guest list
- Live music on the day
- Children or no children
- Specific people doing toasts and speeches
- Flower bouquets
- Cuisine
Pro Tip: Whatever priorities you decide on, make sure it is a joint decision between you and your partner. The last thing you would want is to argue over priorities.
Get Organized
The key to a stress-free wedding is to stay calm and organized. You can create a wedding planner or digital folder to store your receipts, plans, contracts, and documents. Moreover, you can make a spreadsheet to track your budget and spending statistics.
You can further add deadlines or times of important deadlines. Having a planner with an additional checklist will allow you to stick to your plan. Remember to monitor and regulate your plans regularly.
Select Your Wedding Style
Your wedding style reflects your and your partner’s style. To seek inspiration, research wedding styles from Google, magazines, vlogs, and influencers, or simply ask your friends whose wedding you loved.
You can further create a mood board to visualize your thoughts and ideas effectively. Moreover, you can choose a theme or color palette that resonates with you and your partner. Ensure you clearly explain your vision to your suppliers and vendors.
Make a Wedding Planning Checklist
To stay on track with your plan, it is vital to create a wedding checklist. You can break down the whole planning process into tasks alongside a deadline.
You can include milestones like sending invitations, booking vendors, booking venues, and booking florists. This way, you will stay organized, stress-free, and never miss a single detail.
Set the Ideal Date and Time
Not everyone wants a June wedding at the Plaza! Hence, talk to your partner and select the ideal season and time to elope. Keep yourself flexible and consider having atleast four possible wedding days.
Remember, you can choose the ideal date based on your choice of venue and other considerations.
Furthermore, some seasons and days are more expensive in particular venues. You also need to consider guests’ availability dates and choose one that is best suited for everyone.
Select Your Venue
Your venue is literally the stage for your wedding. Research for venues you and your partner like. Then, choose the ideal venue based on research, style, budget, and availability.
Moreover, enquire about their wedding packages and what’s included. Dont forget to ask about parking and pay close attention to the size of the venue’s seating area.
Once you have selected your venue, make your payment and book the venue early on.
Make a Wedding Guest List
Selecting your guest is another vital element in wedding planning. List people you want to invite and categorize them into nice-to-haves and must-haves.
Then, create a final list based on the size of your venue and budget. Once you finalize the list, get their contact information and keep track of their dietary preferences and RSVPs.
Send Your Save the Dates
Notify your guests by sending save-the-dates about your wedding weeks prior to the wedding. In this way, they will have time to make arrangements at home or work.
Be sure to include the location, time, and date.
Select Your Wedding Suppliers
Your wedding suppliers are directly responsible for setting the tone of your wedding. Here are some of the wedding suppliers you might need:
- Photographer
- Florist
- Caterer
- Drinks and Bar
- Stationer
- Live Music
- Hair and Makeup
- Wedding Planner
We understand that every couple is different and has unique tastes. You can add anything to your wedding, such as fireworks, entertainment, wedding favors, and more.
Read Your Contracts Carefully
Every supplier or vendor will hand you a contract. It is crucial you read every clause before signing. Ensure you carefully read details about cancellation policies, payment schedules, and hidden fees.
Pro Tip: Do not hesitate to ask any questions. It’s better to be well-informed than before than to face issues on the wedding day.
Choose Your Wedding Party
Your wedding party is your support system throughout the wedding process, especially on the big day. Hence, it is important to carefully choose your wedding party.
Your wedding party generally includes your maid and man of honor (best man), bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring-bearers, and flower girls.
Ensure that they discuss their duties and responsibilities for the main day. Moreover, keep them informed about the wedding process and regularly update them.
Send Wedding Invites and RSVPs
Send out your wedding invites around six to eight weeks before your wedding day. Choose a wedding card that resonates with the theme of the wedding. Include all important information, such as the location, date, time, dress code, and additional information.
Further, include a pre-addressed and stamped RSVP card for physical wedding invites and an online RSVP selection option. This way, you will receive a response about which guests have accepted the invites.
Shop For Wedding Attire
Every girl dream of getting married in the best wedding gown, and we keep searching until we say, “yes to the dress.” Hence, take time planning your wedding dress and other wedding attire for the wedding party.
Dress selection and fitting must be done six months before the wedding. This allows time for the perfect fittings and alterations. Do not forget about shoes, accessories, and undergarments. Moreover, plan a wedding with a cohesive look with your partner.
Check Your Budget Again
With your wedding date approaching, ensure you track your budget. After spending money on wedding suppliers, venues, attire, and RSVPs, check how much you are left with. Remember to check if all your expenses have been paid and if any remaining balance has been settled. Moreover, keep some wiggle money for any last-minute expenses.
Buy Your Wedding Rings
One of the best parts about planning a wedding is selecting the wedding love bands. It is truly a symbolic and bonding moment for every couple.
Be on the lookout for your wedding rings months before the wedding to give time for alterations and fittings. If you want customized rings, ensure that you take them to a reputed jeweler who understands your vision.
Be Ready for Pre-Wedding Events
An exciting part about planning weddings is the pre-wedding parties and celebrations.
Parties like engagement parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, bridal showers, etc, are key to a wedding celebration.
Hence, delegate tasks to your wedding party and plan these events weeks before your wedding day.
Collect RSVPs and Set a Seating Plan
After you receive your RSVPs back, create a final guest list with people who have confirmed. After you have your final guest list, create a seating plan.
When assigning seats for guests, consider their relationship and existing conflicts. Furthermore, you should also keep in mind guests’ age group and temperament.
You can use seating chart apps or tools to visualize the seating layout.
Pro Tip: Send the seating layout to your caterers and venue to keep them informed about the plan and ensure a seamless service for guests.
Get Some Alone Time with Your Partner
Get some alone time together with your partner and brush off the stress of a wedding planner for a while. Take this time off to reconnect with your partner and relax.
Moreover, you can use this time to discuss your feelings, concerns, and expectations about the wedding. Remember, this is a crucial time for every couple, and maintaining an emotional connection is vital.
Hire a Professional for the D-Day
Though you might enjoy the excitement of planning your own wedding, getting an expert on D-day is important to the wedding to ensure everything is going according to plan.
This expert will take the load from your shoulders, and you will relax and focus on getting married. They will look over all vendors and concerns regarding any last-minute changes.
Hence, choose an experienced wedding coordinator with positive reviews.
Create a Schedule for the Day’s Events
Create a schedule to ensure everything runs smoothly on your wedding day. Outline each event from morning until evening.
This includes the timings of guests’ arrivals, speeches, entertainment, ceremonies, and meals. Remember, a planned schedule prevents delays, keeps everyone well-informed, and allows the happy couple to focus on each other.
Decide on Speeches and Toasts
Toasts and speeches are the most emotional part of your wedding. Hence, it is crucial to decide who will give the speeches. Toasts are mostly done by your parents, best man, maid of honor, and yourselves.
Choose the order in which people will speak and the duration of their speech.
Ensure to keep a microphone and speaker ready for clear speech. Moreover, remember to stay confident and speak from the heart when it comes to your speech.
Write Your Vows
The most personal and meaningful part of a wedding is writing your vows. Dont’ keep your vows to the last minute, and absolutely avoid making your vows on the spot.
That’s never a good idea. Hence, take time to write your vows. Write about what your partner means to you, your shared memories, and future planning.
Keep your vows authentic, and don’t copy and paste them from Google. Be the real you and prepare your vows.
Book Your Honeymoon
Planning your honeymoon further adds to the stress of wedding planning. Hence, remain calm and choose your destination in the early days of your wedding planning.
Discuss ideal honeymoon destinations that both partners prefer. Research destinations, check prices, and review reviews to find the best honeymoon spot.
Remember to book tickets, hotels, and other events months before the honeymoon. Plan your itinerary and pack only the essentials.
Check-in With Your Wedding Suppliers and Venue
As your wedding day reaches, follow up with your venue and vendors and ask for updates. Check if everything is going according to plan and recheck contracts and receipts.
Moreover, schedule final meetings and discuss the D-day timelines for events. Go over the setup, delivery times, and clean-up arrangements.
Through clear and transparent communication, you can ensure a stress-free wedding day.
Final Arrangements and Finishing Touches
In the final days leading to your wedding day tie up all loose ends. Confirm final guests’ seating charts and ensure all finances are in order.
Keep an emergency safety pack at the venue for emergencies along with contacts of important personnel like the police, fire station, ambulance, and others. Moreover, in this stage, you should finalize your decor elements and wedding favors (if any).
Don’t forget to rehearse your ceremony and ensure everyone is aware of their respective roles. Lastly, take some time off to relax, maybe get a spa treatment, and add the last personal touches.
Don’t Forget to Tip the Vendors
While this is an element most couples forget, it is vital to tip your vendors.
If your vendors have gone above and beyond to make everything perfect for your wedding day, it is only right to tip them for their service. Hence, keep some cash out of your budget to tip vendors.
Focus on the D-Day
Ah, the time has come…you are getting married! Forget about all worries and imperfections (if any) and simply bathe in the beauty of love and a new bond.
Remember, guests will not remember if your main decor was tilted slightly to the left, but they will remember anxious couples. Hence, relax and enjoy your wedding day!
Wrapping Up
It is an undeniable fact that planning weddings is very stressful. However, you can achieve your dream wedding with careful planning and organization. We deeply hope you have a beautiful wedding and use these tips in your favor.
Remember, the end game is to have a wedding that lasts for a lifetime. It is not simply about the event but the life-long commitment you are about to enter. Hence, relax and plan your wedding using tips from this detailed guide.