He popped the question, and it was the happiest moment of your life. But now that some of the excitement has settled down, you’re ready to get down to wedding planning. Here are five things you can do today to get the ball rolling when it comes to your happily ever after.
1. Decide on a wedding budget.
The budget you have for your wedding will affect nearly every other decision you make when it comes to wedding planning. Before you do anything, you should sit down and determine exactly how much you can afford to spend on your wedding. Include contributions from families as well as what if any part of the wedding will be totally taken care of by family. For example, some grooms’ families are more traditional and will pay for all alcohol served at the wedding. While this isn’t the most fun conversation you’ll ever have, it’s one of the most important in terms of wedding planning.
2. Set a timetable for wedding planning.
Once you figure out your budget, you can then set a timeline that you will follow when planning your wedding. While most people think you can just pick a date to get married on, the actual wedding date typically depends on when the venue of your choice is available. So, rather than go off of an uncertain date, choose a timetable to base your planning around. For example, if you want to get married in around nine months, plan out the steps you’ll take during this time to ensure you are prepared come wedding day.
3. Create a mood board.
There’s no better way to get into the wedding planning spirit than with a mood board. This is where you can throw everything that speaks to you – think colors, designs, table cloths, dresses, seating arrangements, signs, etc. – all into one place and mix it together for something beautiful. Start saving images to your mood board today and keep going back to it every time you come across something that inspires you or you just need to get into the mood (pun intended).
4. Start your wedding registry.
If you think it’s too early to start adding gifts to your wedding registry, think again. You ideally want to have your wedding registry complete before your engagement party and bridal shower, and these events will be here before you know it. Take some time to decide where you want to register and the type of gifts you and future hubby want and need. Consider choosing gifts that have a similar style so that you can be sure everything will look great together no matter what your friends and family pick.
5. Pick who will be in your wedding party.
Choosing who will be in your wedding party and “proposing” to them is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. The sooner you ask your besties to be in your wedding, the sooner they can begin preparing (and start helping you!). Let everyone know all the details as soon as you know them, including attire expenses, bachelorette party plans, and other important info they will need.
As your wedding photographer, I hope I can take a little bit of the stress and craziness that is wedding planning off your shoulders. I work hard so that your photos are as beautiful as you are and that you are nothing short of madly in love with your wedding pictures. Have questions? Email me! Let’s plan your perfect day together.