Hello! My name is Sierra, of Sierra Joy Nutrition, and I’m a certified Nutrition Coach. I’m here to share some nutrition tips that may help you navigate the busy times leading up to your big day and manage the chaos on the wedding day itself.
First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! And kudos to you for choosing the best Wedding Planner! Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful. Balancing the preparations for such a significant life event with your everyday responsibilities can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, there are ways to make it a little bit easier!
Before Your Wedding Nutrition
During this hectic time, focusing on good nutrition can be a lifesaver. It helps keep everything balanced and maintains your sanity. With all the celebrations and stress that come with this season of your life, it’s tempting to disregard nutrition and indulge in whatever’s convenient. But let me explain why it’s crucial to prioritize good nutrition during this period.
Helps you sustain your energy
A steady intake of quality nutrients will help you avoid that dreaded crash. You have so much on your plate, no time for crashing!
Helps you with mental clarity
Foods high in omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, chia seeds), antioxidants (blueberries, green tea, dark chocolate), and vitamins like B12 (eggs, yogurt) support cognitive function and reduce stress. And no matter how prepared you are, wedding planning can be stressful!
Helps immune system
A diet abundant in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins (chicken, fish), and whole grains can strengthen your immune system, helping you fight off illnesses that could slow you down. You have no time for sickness when you’re this busy!
Helps with mood stability
Nutrient-rich foods can positively impact your mood, reduce irritability (no bridezilla here!), and promote a sense of well-being.
Helps with better sleep
We all know the importance of sleep! A balanced, nutrient-dense diet can enhance sleep quality, helping you wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day (and wedding planning!).
With these general nutrition tips in mind, you’ll be well prepared to stay balanced and energized during the busy lead-up to your wedding.
Wedding Day Nutrition
Now… it’s the big day! It’s here! What can you do nutritionally to help make it the best day ever?
Stay hydrated
For every mimosa while getting ready, have a glass of water. Staying hydrated will balance your energy levels and help make your skin GLOW for all those beautiful photos!
Remember to eat
With nerves and excitement, it’s easy to forget to eat before your big moment. But it’s essential! No one needs a fainting bride. Start your day with a balanced breakfast that includes protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to fuel you for the festivities.
Keep it light
Try your best to avoid heavy, greasy foods that won’t make you feel sluggish or upset your digestion.
Pack snacks
Have some easy-to-grab, nutrient-dense snacks on hand. They will help keep your energy steady and avoid any hunger-induced irritability.
Avoid too much sugar & caffeine
Too much sugar or caffeine can lead to energy crashes and jitters. Aim for moderate intake to stay steady.
Listen to your body
Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and try to take a moment to enjoy your meals amidst the excitement. After all, you did pick out the best caterer!
Remember that taking care of your nutritional needs can have such an impact on how you feel during this exciting yet hectic time. By following these tips, you can maintain your energy, clarity, and overall well-being, allowing you to truly enjoy every moment leading up to and on your big day.
Here’s to a joyful, stress-free wedding experience, and a lifetime of health and happiness!
Get In Touch with Sierra Joy Nutrition
Join me over on Instagram (@sierrajoy_fit) to follow along my nutrition journey and join my waitlist for 1:1 Nutrition Coaching!
Check out this Rustic, elegant wedding in November. This couple utilized our Wedding Management service to get the wedding day of their dreams. Interested in a similar wedding style? Contact us!
Names: Morgan & Matt
How long have you and your spouse been together?: 2 years
What was your wedding date?: November 9th
How did you meet your spouse?: On hinge, as much as we hate to give credit to the dating apps
How did they pop the question?: Matt popped the question at my family cabin, as we were posing for a casual photo. He also custom built my ring out of bits and pieces I liked on various rings, so I was blown away just seeing the perfection that is my ring! He did so well! 🙂
We met Morgan & Matt at a bridal expo in St. Paul, Minnesota – just recently engaged and looking to cross a bunch of things off their list. She signed up for my raffle and when we chatted, we instantly clicked. She ended up scrolling through my instagram and found a wedding inspiration reel we made and instantly scheduled their free consultation.
Once we were in our consultation, it was clear that us working together was the perfect choice. We understood each other, they communicated exactly what they needed, and we put them at ease with the ways we would serve them on their wedding day. This rustic elegant wedding was going to be amazing and we couldn’t wait to get started!
When it came to planning your wedding, what was most important to you?: Feeling prepared, and putting our priorities in perspective
What was the best part of your wedding day?: Marrying my best friend! And also, Sammy saying “He wins” while mic’d up after our vows 🙂 But really, everything! The whole day we were just on top of the world!
What made you choose Ackin Events?: We immediately clicked in our personalities and what we needed for our day, and also the reasonable pricing for such above and beyond services was a huge bonus!
If you could provide a tip to another couple planning their wedding, what would it be?: Plan ahead and organize! The more you can have prepared ahead, the less stress you have to deal with the day of.
We absolutely loved serving Morgan & Matt on their wedding day. It was a pleasure to work with them and provide them a multitude of services on their special day! We worked with them for about 5 months before their wedding day to ensure all the small details were taken care of and their ceremony was perfect and personal to them. We were also able to help fill the gaps on decor items to help them complete their wedding day vision.
Services Provided:
Wedding Management (What we call “Day of Coordination”)
Officiating (They included a full group selfie from the officiant’s POV – SO fun!)
This wedding had an amazing team of vendors working hard to give Morgan & Matt the absolute BEST wedding day. From the execution of the first look, to the execution of the all-guest group photo, you can see from their own words how appreciative they were:
Everything was truly wonderful. Thank you for giving us peace of mind that execution of our vision would just happen and we could enjoy our day and be guests of honor! -Morgan & Matt
As wedding planners, we travel to you on your wedding day, wherever that may be. Because we travel, we have worked at many different venues over the years and we want to talk about it. If you’re at the very beginning stages of your wedding planning, congratulations! You’re in the right spot. In this post we’re going to list our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota and why we love them so much!
How do you choose wedding venues in Minnesota?
What a loaded question! How do you choose a wedding venue? Well, the simple answer is, you can either research a bunch, or enlist help from a wedding planner. But that answer doesn’t really give you anything. Let’s get into it.
First things first, consider the season you want to get married. Minnesota has four distinct seasons. So, wedding venues in Minnesota with outdoor options might be out in winter (unless you’re going for winter wonderland – then go for it!). Outdoor options are also going to look different in the fall (are there going to be pretty fall leaves or browned and dead?)
Second, how many guests are you expecting to accommodate? Create at least a ballpark number before you start your venue search. This helps so you can immediately eliminate venue options that are too small, or WAY too big. For example, if you’re going to have about 100 people attend, you wouldn’t want a venue that holds over 400 people. Why? Well, if it’s too big, the cost will be more than needed and the design won’t really work. You want the right size.
Third, location, location, location. Are there hotel accommodations nearby? If you’re having the ceremony and reception in separate places, are they within 15 minutes of each other? What’s the parking situation like? Can you provide a shuttle service? While these questions aren’t always at the top of your mind, they should definitely be considered in your research so you can start to understand how your event is going to flow and what the guest experience will be like. We have a list can can help!
Finally, is the venue available for your date? This should definitely be one of the first things you find out. Nothing is worse than falling in love with a venue just to find out it isn’t available for your wedding date. Do this at the beginning of your search to avoid unnecessary heartbreak.
Now that you know how to choose, let us share our favorites as promised.
Below are some of our favorite places to work! This is not a full list, but these wedding venues in Minnesota have some great attributes and have amazing staff that will work hard to make your wedding day the best day. There is nothing better than having a rockstar team of vendors taking care of you on your special day!
We LOVE Ahavah! The team is absolutely amazing, the space is gorgeous, and the flow of your event will be really enjoyable for your guests. Below, we will highlight some of our favorite things about this venue.
Ceremony Location
This venue has two possible ceremony locations, but our favorite is the outdoor space. A nice paved path leading your guests to their seats, white double doors for a dramatic reveal during the processional, and gorgeous foliage make this space like a dream. The space is so beautiful on its own you don’t need to have a ton of decorations for your ceremony.
Photo by Blue Earth Creative
Bar & Patio
The bar area leading to the patio is a great space for cocktail hour before the reception area is open to your guests. The venue has a bartending service, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your bartenders know the space, and are comfortable handling all your guests. The large garage doors connect the patio and bar area so on good weather days your guests can mingle comfortably. The best part? Have your dance on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather all night long!
Pinewood is such a unique space that we can’t leave it off our list! Wonderful staff, amazing backdrop for your outdoor ceremony, and beautifully updated getting ready spaces make this venue an amazing option for your wedding day.
Outdoor Ceremony
This location does offer an indoor ceremony space should there be any inclement weather. But the real showstopper is the outdoor ceremony space backdrop of trees. VERY TALL trees. It’s guaranteed to be a topic of conversation with your guests. I mean, just look at it!
These updated spaces are perfect for gathering your bridal party as you prepare for your day. The upstairs suite is spacious to hold a lot of people, and has ample vanity space for all your hair & makeup needs. A balcony overlooks the ceremony area so you can get some great shots of your ceremony from a “bird’s eye view”. The downstairs space includes shuffleboard and lounging furniture so you can relax before the ceremony and photos. Each of these spaces are made for function and for great photographs.
If you’re looking for a blank canvas in downtown Minneapolis, then this is the place for you! The large open concept space, centralized location, and amazing staff make this a great place for those that want to build their vision from a blank canvas.
Downtown Location
This downtown space is a great option. Right off 35W, this venue is easy to get to so your guests won’t have to navigate too far from the interstate. With multiple parking options nearby, and an underground parking ramp available, this venue’s access in a downtown location makes your guest experience great.
This venue has everything you need all in the same place. There are separate rooms for each side of the bridal party with ample space to accommodate a larger group. The kitchen and bar are in the center of the space, so they are easy for your guests and vendors to access throughout your day. The openness of the grand room makes it easy to host a larger wedding without feeling overwhelmed by a small space. They even have a patio area on the first floor so your guests are nowhere near the room flip.
Next Chapter Winery is such a beautiful place and has so much character! You get a location for each event of the day, confirmed rehearsal on-site, and great staff to make your wedding day the best day!
Location versatility
This venue has some great versatility when it comes to where you will host each part of the day. There is a permanent outdoor ceremony space set up, a tent for your meal service, and the barrel room that can do it all. Whether you host all your events in separate locations, or you want the entire event to be in the barrel room, the versatility of this venue is magical!
Rehearsal is usually forgotten about until the last minute (well, not when you have us!). Sometimes your venue will get booked on the day you would normally want to do your ceremony rehearsal. Not at Next Chapter Winery! They have a designated rehearsal spot that has a similar setup to the outdoor ceremony location. We always love rehearsing in the space the ceremony will be in (or a similar space), which makes Next Chapter Winery one of our favorites.
Located in downtown St. Paul, Abrazar Events is one we recommend not only for your wedding day, but also for the other wedding events you’ll have during your engagement. The staff is wonderful, and the versatility of the space is a huge benefit!
Wedding Day Versatility
Are you planning a smaller guest count for your wedding? Then this is the space for you! With an open concept, you’re able to have your ceremony and dinner tables set up at the same time. No room flip? Amazing! The bar is able to move where you need it to, and the prep space in the kitchen is very large so your caterer can be comfortable all throughout the evening. Decorating the space is a dream because of the blank canvas available to you!
When you’re planning your engagement party, or a family member is planning your bridal shower, this venue is great for the events you may not have thought you needed a venue for. The open space works well for having a great flow to your event – mingling space, tables set for a meal, and more. This space is perfect for a rehearsal when you can’t have the rehearsal at your wedding venue. Similar to a smaller wedding, you could have your ceremony space and dinner tables set up at the same time!
We know this blog is about our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota, but we couldn’t post about our favorite venues to work at without including one just over the border in Western Wisconsin. Cady Acres is a such a lovely space and a great barn venue if that’s what you’re looking for. You get a full weekend rental, multiple locations on-site for different events, and the staff is always there for you whenever you need them.
Full Weekend Rental
This venue offers one flat price for the whole weekend. You have access to the venue on Friday afternoon for set-up and rehearsal, Saturday for your wedding festivities, and Sunday morning to pack your things. The convenience of having the space for the entire weekend is one of our favorite features of this space. It really takes away some of the overwhelm of finding multiple locations for rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and Sunday morning breakfast/brunch because it all happens at the same place. Talk about a relaxed weekend!
Want to have an outdoor ceremony and indoor dinner? What about an indoor ceremony and indoor dinner, but no room flip? Both are options for you at this venue! There is a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space with lots of lush green trees, or an open air ceremony space overlooking the scenic backdrop of fields. The barn serves as the main hub for cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, with enough space for everyone to feel comfortable. With so many options, this space is perfect for small and large groups.
When you’re ready to check out any of these places, let us know here! Our full planning clients have venue visits included in their service package. We can’t wait to show you our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota to be at.
Melander Kreations is a woman-owned small business I started in 2020 for my wedding. When I began selling wax sealing stamps and beads, I was looking online, but was only able to find the same designs everywhere I turned. Any customized product would take weeks or months to get, and sometimes they would not arrive at all – I did not want that. I wanted to provide uniquely designed products, with the best quality, and also be able to get it to people much quicker.
Why are your products necessary for weddings?
My products not only add class, flare, and uniqueness for the couples that choose to incorporate them in their wedding invitations, but they can also be used for place cards, scrapbooks, save the dates, and bridal showers. Whether you’re color-coding seated dinner options, or sending ‘Thank You’ cards, there are many things they can be used for throughout all your wedding events.
How do your services/products transform a wedding?
Elevating Aesthetic Appeal: Wax seals give stationary a vintage, elegant look, evoking a sense of tradition and sophistication. This adds a personal, handcrafted feel that enhances the overall visual appeal of letters or invitations.
Personalization: Custom wax stamps allow users to imprint their initials, logos, or unique designs, turning standard stationary into something highly personalized. This can be especially appealing for wedding invitations, formal events, or branded correspondence.
Creating Memorability: The use of wax seals makes a strong first impression, distinguishing the stationary from ordinary forms of communication. The tactile experience of breaking a wax seal adds a layer of anticipation and interaction for the recipient, making it memorable.
Brand Identity: Businesses can use wax seals to reinforce their brand identity, providing a sense of luxury and attention to detail. The custom designs on stamps can feature company logos, giving high-end products or correspondence an extra level of professionalism.
Combining Tradition with Modern Use: While wax seals originated in older times, their use today transforms modern stationary into something with historical charm. This contrast between past and present adds an element of timelessness to any stationary.
These qualities help wax sealing stamps and beads transform otherwise ordinary stationary into a meaningful and artistic form of communication.
How much do your services/products typically cost?
For a custom stamp, please see my website for information. For a single standard stamp, such as single letters of the alphabet, or pre-made designs, they start at $13.00 (US). I also offer kits, beads, and other options to make your dream wedding exactly what you would like. I do offer bulk pricing for weddings, or businesses, as well as bundle pricing for the purchase of multiple items. For the best pricing on these options, please reach out directly to me through my website, and I will be happy to work with you and answer all of your questions.
If you could let couples know anything about your services, what would it be?
Wax stamps do not only need to be used on invitations, or something going through the mail. They are great additions to your decor to pull your whole wedding vision together. If it is something you want to use, but don’t want to use them on ALL the invitations or place cards, you could us them on immediate family or bridal party only!
We’re so excited Maria could join us for a vendor spotlight blog! For more information on how to work with Ackin Events, fill out our contact form here!
Era of Moments Jewelry Co. is a curated experience for personalized jewelry pieces. From customized traditional clasp pieces, to infinity and clasp-free jewelry, Era of Moments is here! When celebrating your commitment to love, your jewelry should represent your new Era together, and bring adoration for years to come. Inviting Megan, the owner and jeweler behind the name, will surely add memories to your experiences.
Why are your services necessary for the big day?
You can include Era I M jewelry in everything from bachelorette parties and bridal showers, to engagement parties and morning preparations. Even the wedding reception itself for you and your guests! Infinite jewelry offers a memorable opportunity for everyone because it’s tangible, long lasting, and meaningful. Having infinite jewelry for your guests will only enhance all their memories of your special day celebrating your love and commitment.
How do your services transform wedding activities?
Jewelry carries so much intention. So, a few of us take it off every night, and sling it back on in the morning. But for the rest of us, we get out of the house and snap our fingers that we forgot our necklace on the bed stand! The idea of having something on for longer than a day, a week, and even a year, will bring meaning to your pieces, and begin to carry stories. These pieces are lightweight and durable, so you leave the remembering part out of the routine. So, Just enjoy!
How much do your services cost/what should you budget for?
With a range of jewelry pieces, there are many ways to include Era in your entire wedding planning process! Whether it’s a smaller gathering, or as favors for your reception guests, you’ll always receive a special piece as a gift for the important time in your life. Piece prices range from $10-$400 to accommodate all budgets, so we love this idea for all couples!
Are there any misconceptions that couples should know?
Some people hear the words “permanent”, or “infinite”, and think the jewelry is indestructible, but it’s not. Things can happen, breaks can happen. The chain is never ever garbage! Hold onto it, reach out, and we will re-attach or put a clasp on it for you to continue to enjoy!
Anything else you’d like to add?
You can find me on Instagram @eraofmomentsjewelry and online here. You can include Era I M jewelry in everything from bachelorette parties to bridal showers, engagement parties to morning preparations, and even the wedding reception itself for you and your guests. It will be a joy for us to be part of your special day!
We loved having Megan join us for a vendor spotlight blog! For more information on how to work with Ackin Events, fill out our contact form here!
The topic a lot of people always question – do I do a first look? Or maybe a first touch? Maybe neither and you won’t have any interaction until you’re walking down the aisle? Each one has its positive qualities and as wedding planners, we always will do what you want for your day. But people always ask “which one is better?” so we thought we’d offer our opinion. We love first looks and want to share the 4 reasons why we think they’re great!
Photo by Venture North Media
Nervous Jitters Disappear
Your wedding day is nerve wracking because of the excitement of getting to marry your best friend. We love that a first look gives you the opportunity to get all those nerves out before standing in front of people at the ceremony.
A first look lets you rest in the calming presence of one another as you join together as one. It’s the fact that you’ve seen each other and spent time with each other beforehand that makes your ceremony easier to handle.
Photo by Gysland Photography
A Private Moment
As wedding planners, we are always there to make sure the first look goes off smoothly. You deserve to get this special moment all to yourselves. We will make sure there’s no one standing in the corner with a cell phone interrupting you. It is our job to make sure your wedding day is about you, and we do everything we can to make sure that happens.
Photo by Venture North Media
The first look is an opportunity for the two of you to truly be with each other and have the experience of seeing each other without any interruptions or a bunch of people staring at you. It is a great way for each of you to be able to emote your feelings in whatever way you need to without others as a distraction (this is where you shed those tears!) Being able to experience seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day without others makes it more enjoyable.
Timeline Ease
Having a first look, it makes it easier to get a majority of your photos done before the ceremony. Normally when we write out a wedding day timeline that includes a first look, we are able to get all the bridal party photos done before the ceremony. This makes it super easy to get family photos done right after the ceremony and you don’t have to worry about people waiting around or getting pulled away when you need them.
Photo by Venture North Media
The other plus side is if you have a larger bridal party that will take longer to get ready in the morning, you’ve got the ability to have a later ceremony time since you’re getting most of your formal photos done in the afternoon. Doing a first look really gives you more freedom in your wedding day timeline. We’ve also written How to Build your Wedding Day Timeline that you can check out!
Be Present During your Ceremony
We’ve talked about the nerves and the private moment between the two of you. We think the best part about doing a first look is being able to truly be present during your ceremony. Since you’re not nervous about seeing each other for the first time, and you’ve been able to experience a private moment between the two of you, you can actually enjoy and be present during your ceremony.
Often we hear couples wish they did a first look because it takes the pressure off during the ceremony. The whole point of your wedding day is the act of getting married. Wouldn’t you want to be as present as possible during the ceremony to enjoy getting married?
Photo by Gysland Photography
Summary
We think it’s super important that you get the wedding day of your dreams. As wedding planners, we are here to make that happen for you! If you prefer a first touch, we are there to make sure that neither of you sneaks a peak. If you are seeing each other at the aisle, we will execute the moving parts so that there are no interactions before the ceremony.
We absolutely love first looks! They’re so wonderful because of the overwhelming peace, the ability to experience seeing each other for the first time without an audience, wedding timeline freedoms, and getting to be present during your ceremony. If you’re looking for more helpful tips while planning your wedding, schedule a consultation to start working with us! We can’t wait to elevate your wedding experience without exceeding your budget.
So you’ve gotten engaged, started your planning to get everything booked, and you have NO idea where to begin when building your wedding day timeline. Where do you start? What time do you have to wake up? What time are you going to walk down the aisle? How much time do you need between activities? There’s so much to consider that it can be overwhelming.
Well, you’re in the right place! We’ve laid out many factors that come into play when creating your wedding day timeline. While everyone’s wedding day is different, these are some guidelines you can use to give yourself a place to start. Wedding timelines are also affected by your location, or locations, so this may not work for everyone. There are a lot of factors to consider, so let’s start with things that would add to the time needed on your wedding day.
Photo by Venture North Media
Factors That Add Time to your Wedding Day
One of the biggest schedule drivers for the wedding day is location, or locations. If your ceremony and reception are not in the same place, you’re going to need extra time between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception for travel. If you are having the ceremony and reception in different locations, try to keep the travel distance between them to under 30 minutes. Your ideal target is 10-15 minutes, but it is not uncommon to be 20-25 minutes away either. This is really common with backyard ceremonies, church ceremonies, and public park locations.
The next factor in your wedding day timeline is how many people are getting hair and makeup done. The bigger the bridal party, the more people that probably want hair and makeup services. The large number of people contributes to the time when only one or two hair and makeup vendors are booked. This is something to consider when making your timeline. The more people you have, it’s likely you’ll be waking up earlier.
Photo by Gysland Photography
The last large factor that will add time to your day is if there are “extra” events you’d like to include in your day. This could be anything like a longer ceremony, dance events, special moments with family or friends, and so much more. When you plan “extra” events, be sure to plan the added time to your day. It’s not an issue – you should have your wedding day be exactly the way you want it! Be aware and plan for the time!
Where to Begin
Now that we’ve talked about the things that could add time to your wedding day, let’s get into where to start. We always think it’s best to begin building your timeline around your ceremony time. So, how do you choose your ceremony time? There are a couple of things to think about.
First, do you plan to do a first look? Your ceremony time may need to be later in the afternoon to account for getting ready and wedding party photos before the ceremony. Second, are you doing a room flip? This will add more time to your cocktail hour so an earlier ceremony time might be better to avoid a late dinner. Thirdly, how many photos do you want captured? This can add time in a couple of different spots and affect the start time of your ceremony. Lastly, and maybe the most important, is time of year. If the sun is setting earlier in the day, your ceremony time will probably be earlier to accommodate good lighting with photos.
Photo by Gysland Photography
Morning Activities
Once you’ve figured out the best time for your ceremony to take place, you are ready to work on the next part of your schedule! We split the day at the ceremony time and work in two pieces – before the ceremony and after the ceremony. Working on smaller chunks is a great way to make building your wedding day timeline less stressful.
The important thing we want to add to our morning schedule is “buffer time”. When you build in small pockets of “buffer time”, you give yourself the opportunity to avoid a late ceremony. Things happen, it’s just life! But that doesn’t mean the ceremony needs to start late because someone didn’t arrive on-time, clothing was left in a vehicle, or your mom couldn’t stop crying long enough to get her makeup done in the time allotted. Build in buffer. You’ll be glad you did.
Photo by Gysland Photography
There are a ton of things that will affect your morning and how long it will take you to get ready for your day. The biggest things that come into play are hair and makeup services, fun bonding activities, number of bridal party members, and where you are getting ready.
Hair and Makeup Services
Hair and Makeup is an important part of the morning for some people. You may be asking a friend or family member to do it, you may be looking for a vendor, or you may even be doing it yourself/not need hair and makeup time in your schedule. Depending on how hair and makeup will be done, consider needing to wake up earlier.
Ask yourself, “How many people do I have that will be getting ready and may need these services?” Based on how many people are getting hair and makeup services, you might need a second or third vendor/family member to help. There are a lot of small details that will need to be discussed prior to making your wedding day timeline when it comes to a hair and makeup schedule.
Photo by Gysland Photography
Fun Bonding Activities
There are many times that a couple and their supporters will do something fun before the rest of the busy day. Or maybe the couple will do something together just the two of them. These events are great to enjoy your day entirely so add the time to your schedule. These events could be anything from a round of golf, to a 5k run, to a fun breakfast date. Whatever you choose to do, just remember that if you want to plan these extra events, you’ll probably need to wake up earlier than you originally expected.
Number of Bridal Party Members
The size of your bridal party really matters when you’re creating your wedding day timeline. The more people you have, the more time you’re going to need. Regardless of any activities or hair and makeup services, you’ll need more time so everyone has a chance to use the bathroom space to get ready and everyone has time to travel to the next event. This is one of the biggest factors we consider when adding in “buffer time” to a wedding day timeline.
Photo by Venture North Media
Getting Ready Location
This factor is pretty simple – are you getting ready at the ceremony space, or not? If you are getting ready at the ceremony space, that creates a nice transition and could make your wake-up time later in the morning. If you are getting ready at a different place, make sure you include extra time for travel both before and after your “getting ready” time.
Photo by Gysland Photography
Evening Activities
Once you’ve set your ceremony time, and your morning scheduled, we recommend building the last part of your wedding day timeline. It is important to make sure that there is a flow between the events happening after your ceremony. One of the most detrimental things that can happen to a cocktail hour and reception is not having a flow, and your guests don’t know what they should be doing. Don’t lose guests!
Let’s talk about the things that impact the timing of your reception. Guest count, time of the year, and additional events are three of the biggest factors to consider when creating a flow through your reception.
Photo by Gysland Photography
Guest Count
This seems obvious, right? Clearly, if you have more guests it’s going to affect your timing. But we point it out because there are multiple different reasons a higher guest count can impact your timeline. If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, it takes longer to transfer more people. If a lot of your guests are family members involved in photos, those photos are going to take longer. A higher number of guests will make your dinner service longer. The length of time you schedule for dancing depends on your crowd. There are so many evening activities that are affected by your guest count. It’s important to consider this when building your wedding day timeline.
Time of the Year
Photo by Gysland Photography
This is particularly important when it pertains to photos, therefore impacting your timeline. If you’ve got a later sunset, you can have a later ceremony time. Having a later ceremony time pushes dinner service later. If you want to have dinner around 6:00pm but sunset is 6:10pm, that’s not going to work if sunset photos are important to you. Time of year plays a huge role in how you schedule your wedding day. You might say it’s the most important factor…you might say.
Additional Events
The main thing that can alter your evening activities is if you plan to do a first look moment or not. That determines if you can fit any bridal party photos in before the ceremony. The next additional event to consider is a cocktail hour. This can be altered by a variety of factors, including if your venue requires a room flip. Venues that need a room flip often require you to have a cocktail hour of a specific length of time. This gives them the proper time to prepare the space between ceremony and reception. Speeches, individual dances, and regional or traditional events also have an effect on how to schedule your wedding day.
Photo by Gysland Photography
Photos
One piece that troubles many people is when photos should be taken. As much as we’d like it to be a cut and dry answer, it’s not – go figure! There are many things that matter when deciding how to schedule your photos throughout your day. Do you want photos getting ready in the morning? Are you doing a first look? How many first looks? Are you doing family photos? How many people are involved? How much daylight do you have? Can you have photos being done at the same time in separate locations? What are your priorities for photos? There are certainly more factors to consider.
Photo by Venture North Media
Since photos are such a huge factor of your wedding day timeline, we always recommend that planners work together with the photographers on the timeline. At Ackin Events, we always build the timeline with our couples, and then send it to the photographer first to get their thoughts and approval. Planners and photographers both have a duty to give the couple a spectacular wedding day experience, so they work together often to make those dreams come true. Put the planners and photographer(s) on the same team. Browse our services to find out how your planner can best help your wedding day!
Photo by Gysland Photography
Photo by Venture North Media
Building your wedding day timeline can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. One thing that we always hear from couples when planning their wedding is that they know they need a timeline, but they are lost getting started. We use these tips when building all our wedding day timelines! Schedule your consultation today to work with our planners so you have the BEST flow on your wedding day!
You said, “Yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations! It’s time to celebrate your engagement and start wedding planning. But the question is, when? In short, 15 months, but it’s not that easy. Let’s talk.
When isn’t always the easiest to answer, since there are many things to consider before setting out to plan your wedding. Do you have a specific date in mind? Do you already know specific vendors you MUST book? Are you keeping the wedding local or having a destination wedding? Do you want a small elopement or a larger wedding? All of these questions will help you determine when to start planning your wedding.
Specific Date vs. Time of Year
If you have a specific date in mind, this will help determine when to start wedding planning. We recommend securing your venue and wedding planner within one or two months of your engagement, or about 15-18 months out from your desired date. You want to make sure you’ve got a location and planner locked in right away so that you don’t have to compromise that special date because someone else grabbed them: the venue and planner have already been booked.
If you’re looking at a time of year, and a specific date isn’t your top priority, start your planning about 12-15 months away from the beginning of the season you want. By planning ahead, you’ll be able to secure a venue and planner, even if you’re searching for a date during the busy season. You can be flexible on the date if a vendor you want to work with already has some limitations in availability.
Specific Vendors vs. Researching Vendors
Similar to having a specific date you have to get married, having specific vendors you want to use will mean you begin booking those vendors earlier. While the first vendors booked are usually a venue, planner, and photographer, you may know a makeup artist you LOVE and absolutely MUST book for your wedding day. If that’s the case, you’ll want to get on their calendar as soon as you know your date to make sure they are available.
If you don’t have specific vendors you need to work with, we recommend looking at venues and wedding planners about 15-18 months out from your desired wedding date. Normally, wedding planners will work with you starting 12 months before your wedding, and can get you vendor recommendations to help secure the other vendors you’re missing.
Local vs. Destination Wedding
If you’re choosing to have a destination wedding, we definitely recommend planning the big things further in advance so your guests have time to plan their travel and lodging. Select your date and location about 18 months in advance. Start looking for venues at this point so you can lock something in sooner rather than later. You should send out “save the dates” at least 12 months before your date to give guests enough time to plan their trip.
Local weddings can be planned in a shorter amount of time. The average time to plan a local wedding is about 12-15 months, pending your needs list and wants list. As we’ve covered already, some things should be booked further in advance of this so you make sure you get what you want to have the wedding day of your dreams.
Small Elopement vs. Large Wedding
If you’re looking at doing a smaller elopement with just you and a photographer, or you and 15 of your closest friends and family, you could plan your wedding fairly quickly. If you aren’t partial to any vendors, and those closest to you don’t have terribly busy schedules, it’s possible to plan an elopement wedding in 6 months.
If you’re going for a more traditional wedding with 100-150 people, or more, we always recommend having more time. Having a minimum of 12 months to plan a larger wedding like this will ensure you can find a space, secure quality vendors, and take full advantage of a wedding planner’s full service package.
While there isn’t an easy answer always to this question, around 15 months is that sweet spot to begin planning your wedding. Starting your wedding planning 15 months from your desired wedding date gives you the opportunity to select the perfect date, secure an expert wedding planner, and enjoy planning the wedding of your dreams! Click the link to schedule a consultation with us today to begin planning your dream wedding!