How to plan a wedding… Now, there’s a mouthful. Where do you even begin? There are so many people to consider, menus to review, twinkle lights to string, and fittings to be had. The time that’s ramping up to your “happily ever after” runs the risk of becoming a stressful charade.
And that’s no way to go about it! So, we’ve read the blogs, perused the magazines, and thought about all our favorite weddings of the past. Then, we consolidated a wedding schedule into five main categories.
If you can look at these as the “big picture” steps and fill in all the rest in a slow and steady manner, then we know your planning process will be a joyous occasion. Grab your clipboard, friends! Here’s how to plan a wedding with perfect peace and precision.
Table of Contents
Host an Engagement Party
Wedding timelines should begin with a perfect celebration of your happy news. Planning an engagement party can be as simple as a picnic in a park of as lavish as dinner at The Waldorf Astoria. The setting doesn’t matter as much as the tone.
You can DIY as much or as little of it as you’d like, too. Nowadays, you can send decadent engagement party invitations in a pinch. It’s also up to you how much you’d like to DIY the decor.
With just a few strands of twinkle lights, some romantic candelabras, and silver trays full of goodies, even your backyard patio can shape into a wonderful affair.
Set Your Budget
Believe it or not, a lot of people gloss over this step in their timelines for weddings. Meanwhile, it’s the most important one in the entire process! As you hone in on venues, sample dinner menus, snack on wedding cakes, and shop for gowns, it’s very easy to get swept up in the Cinderella magic of it all.
Before you do anything else (and, perhaps we should have listed this before the engagement party), sit down with your future hubby or wife and set a hard, inflexible budget.
Okay, you’ll have to flex a little here on twinkle lights and a little there on live entertainment, but try to be as rigid as possible. Use your budget as your compass in every decision you make.
Book a Venue
The engagement timeline heats up a bit at this stage of the process. With your budget in hand, it’s time to book some appointments to check out the venues of your dreams. Even if you’ve had your heart set on your local country club since you were nine, be sure to check out a few different venues.
You never know; you might end up in a lavish restaurant on the harbor in Rhode Island. Stranger things have happened! The point is, even if you’re fairly sure where you want to celebrate your big night, do yourself the favor of poking around at least three potential candidates before signing on the dotted line.
Scout Out Photographers and DJs
We included these two hand in hand because, after the venue, they’re likely to carry the largest price tags. Start by asking your friends and family for recommendations.
As you peruse various individuals and companies, take a close look at their portfolios. Do the photographers seem to have an eye for editing that aligns with your vision? Do the DJs sample playlists that align with your taste?
Get Outfitted
After the venue, menu, decor, photographers, and DJs have been secured, there’s one other item you want to start on as soon as possible: the wardrobe. Dresses tend to need alterations and suits or tuxedos tend to need a little pinch here and a little tuck there.
Make it an occasion. Whether you’re dress or tuxedo shopping, take your friends with you on a couple of outings; it may take some searching to find “the one.”
So, shop ’til you drop and then enjoy a little brunch to discuss your findings. Just like your engagement party and the big night itself, you can turn each of these steps into quite the occasion.
Your Essential Wedding Schedule
And there you have it! This is your “big five” essential wedding schedule. If you can lock each of these steps into place, then all the other details become fun little add-ons to the joy of it all. Here at Doffitt, we love to bring helpful, concise information your way, each and every day.
Whether you’re planning your happy occasion, getting ready to purchase your first home, or jetting off on the honeymoon to end all honeymoons, we hope you’ll keep coming back to check out our Lifestyle and Travel pages. They’re continually being updated, with your happiness in mind.
