Congratulations!!! You’re engaged!!! This is such an amazing time to soak up all the love and joy of getting to spend the rest of your life with your person. This is also a time of unknowns, worry, and a million thoughts all at once – when is your wedding date? Who’s invited? Where will it happen? What fabric should the bridesmaid dresses be? Buffet or Plated? What’s a floor plan? What’s your unity ceremony? AGH…..
It’s Ok! Breathe! All of these questions will get answered so you have a fully planned, well-thought out wedding. And, they will all get handled at the exact right time so you can focus on what to book first, and what can wait. As Minnesota wedding planners, we are here to guide you expertly through your wedding planning journey so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your engagement!
The First Step: Nail Down Some Details
The first 3 things you want to start planning are your wedding date, your guest list, and your budget. Starting with these three things is going to set you up for success as you make your way through this amazing journey, and they all are related to each other to make sure your dream is attainable.
Wedding Date
Before you start trying to inquire with venues or vendors, it’s important to have some idea of when you want to get married. Preferably, it’s best to have an exact date in mind so you can narrow down your options as you’re planning. If a venue or vendor is not available, that makes it easy to move on to the next option. Having a date is also important so you can inquire about peak season pricing if that is something your venue or vendors mix into their packages.
The exception here is if there is a venue or vendor you MUST have for your wedding day. Narrowing your wedding date down to a month or season is best, and then you can pick your date based on what that venue or vendor currently has available. Definitely do this earlier on in your process though, so your date is still one of the first details you have finalized.
Guest List
This may seem a bit premature so early in the process, but this is an important step to make sure you’ve got a good grasp on how much space you’ll need for the people you’re inviting. Start by jotting down all the people that you know you want to and need to invite to your wedding. This will most likely fluctuate throughout the planning journey, but if you can get the bulk of the list down, it will give you a better idea of how many guests you should plan for.
Wedding Budget
The thing most people struggle with – setting their wedding budget. Not necessarily knowing what they want to spend, most people have that number in their head already. But having a number in your head, that is REALISTIC for the vision you want, is the part that trips most people up. Typically, the easiest way to make sure you’re on the right track with your wedding budget is to work with a professional in the industry (ya know, like us!)
Wedding planners have valuable insight to help set your expectations appropriately so there aren’t any giant surprises down the road regarding costs. With our clients specifically, we focus on a budgeting workbook that lists “healthy percentages” of your wedding budget being spent in various areas. Knowing how much of your budget you “should” be spending on a certain piece has helped our clients find a realistic number for their wedding budget that fits their vision, so we can build the wedding of their dreams!
The Next Step: Vendors To Book First
Once a few details have been nailed down, you can start getting some of those hot commodity vendors booked. Getting these checked off your list early will ensure your top picks are available for your date, and give you peace-of-mind that you’ve got them locked in.
Wedding Planner
This might seem obvious, but if you’re using a full service wedding planner, this should be booked first, or at the same time as your venue. Securing your wedding planner first unlocks that expert guidance right from the very beginning of your wedding planning journey. With Ackin Events’ Full Service Planning & Design package, we include venue recommendations and visits because having a wedding planner with you is such a benefit. A wedding planner will be able to ask questions you never thought of, consider alternatives for specific ideas based on the space, and know to ask about candles – real or battery?
Venue
While we always recommend hiring a wedding planner first, booking your venue could also be the first vendor you book. Wedding planners can definitely help you select a venue if you are unsure about where you would like to get married, but having a venue selected first can help you factor in any potential travel fees to your wedding budget.
Photographer
This is definitely a hot commodity vendor, but should be booked last out of the three. Wedding planners and venues both likely have photographers they can recommend to you because they’ve worked with them in the past. This is especially helpful to save you from searching through the hundreds of photographer options in your research phase. The bottom line is – while there are hundreds of photographers out there, getting your photographer booked at the beginning of your wedding planning process means you have a better chance of getting your first choice. Having amazing wedding photos is so important!
The Final Step: What Can Wait
Now you should take a break and celebrate your engagement with your fiance!! It’s important to take the time to enjoy this season of your life, while still taking steps toward getting your wedding fully planned. Other vendors like a DJ, hair & makeup, Catering, etc. can wait for a couple months. Maybe start thinking about scheduling a dress appointment, but you don’t need to buy your dress until 12-14 months before your wedding. Start thinking about who you’ll ask to be in your bridal party (if you’re having one), but if you’re over 15 months out from your wedding, you can wait on officially asking them.
Make sure you download our “Wedding Planning Checklist” to keep yourself organized and on track during your wedding planning journey. This is a general list to consider as you move through wedding planning, but for a more specific list to YOUR wedding planning, we always recommend working with one of our expert planners. Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more and find out how we will serve you not just on your wedding day, but throughout the entire planning process.