#WeddingWednesday Tips

If you’re newly engaged, chances are your mind is now racing with all the things you need to have planned. It can be overwhelming to think about all the things. Periodically, I’m going to share some tips for #WeddingWednesday for couples planning their wedding day!

 

Enjoy being engaged!

This is the MOST important thing to remember. Whether you’re planning your wedding in 6 weeks or 2 years, enjoy being engaged! It’s such a fleeting time period in your relationship and you should enjoy every moment of it. Get your nails done and show off that bling. Go out to dinner with your FIANCE (I know, don’t you love using that word now)

Everyone is going to ask you soon after, “Do you have a date yet” but don’t let that stress you out. Enjoy being engaged. Put the phones down, turn off social media and let the excitement of forever linger just a little longer. You won’t regret it!

 

 

Talk about your wedding plans together

So maybe you’re like me, and you’ve planned every wedding detail on Pinterest. But it may not be the best time to bust out “Here’s what I want”. Because guess what? It takes two, and while most guys are ok with being hands off, your fiancé may want a say in some of the wedding planning.
My husband started off with, “Whatever you want babe” and then I would make a decision and he’s like, “But I wanted this”. Talk about frustrating. So we sat down and decided what he wanted to decide on and that was food, drinks and a good DJ. Cool!

Talk to your fiancé about what you want, but make sure you listen to what they want too. It’s a day to celebrate the both of you, so make sure it’s everything you both want. Maybe you’ve wanted an outdoor wedding, but his Catholic family really wants a church wedding. You can compromise with a church ceremony and outdoor reception. You’re Jewish and he’s not – hire a justice of the peace instead of a Rabbi.

Your life is now being shared with someone, and compromise is part of the deal. And at the end of the day, you’re getting married to your best friend, and that’s really all that matters.

 

Make a list of dream vendors

This is the fun part! There are so many options for venues and florals and photographers and makeup and hair and dresses and the list goes on and on! Start google searching vendors in the area where you want to get married. Check Instagram hashtags like #fresnoweddingphotographer or #sanfransiscowedding.

Heck even the #WeddingWednesday hashtag can showcase some cool vendors, photo ideas and wedding planning tips! You should look for vendors and make a list of dream vendors you’d like based off of their style or their reviews.

 

Visit venues and pick a date.

Before you start contacting photographers and florists and DJ’s, you need a wedding venue. Vendors typically don’t book a client without a date, and without a venue, you can’t pick a date.

Talk about what time of year would be best for a wedding with your jobs. If you’re planning the honeymoon right after, does summer or winter work better for you guys. Then, talk to venues. Visit them, tour them and see what they have to offer and what dates they have available. Oftentimes, the dates are dictated by what the venues have open during your desired month. And some venues book 12-18 months in advanced!

 

Decide on a budget

My parents said, “Cash or a wedding”. Trevor said cash. I said wedding. Guess who “won” that one. So I made a list of vendors and estimated a budget for each vendor. You can get an idea on prices by inquiring with vendors, or using a site like Wedding Wire, because most vendors list their starting price range. This will help you determine what you can and can’t afford, so you don’t end up like every bride on Say Yes to the Dress wearing a $10,000 gown with a $900 budget.

Also, just a vendor tip – it’s ok to ask if they can work with your budget, but don’t expect a vendor to slash their prices in half to meet your budget. There is always a vendor within your budget, but if you want a specific vendor, you may need to adjust your budget to accommodate those needs.

 

Start contacting important vendors

Like I said before with the venues, vendors book pretty far in advanced. As soon as you have a date set, start e-mailing your dream vendor list. Let them know your venue and your date so they can provide an accurate estimate for you. Set aside some time to meet with important vendors that will be spending a lot of time with you on your wedding day like your wedding planner, photographer, and videographer. These people will likely spend most of your day with you, and they’ll be some of the vendors most invested in your vision, so it’s important to get to know them to make sure you click.

 

Ask the bridal party

What is a wedding without your besties there to celebrate with you! There are tons of cute ways to ask your bridal party to be a part of your day, or you could be boring like me and just call them and ask. Both ways are totally acceptable and get the job done so you do it whatever way feels right. Remember that being in a wedding party is a financial commitment. There are bridesmaid dresses and tuxedo rentals, showers and parties that sometimes involve expensive trips, so keep in mind that not everyone will be able to make that commitment. If they can’t commit, find another way to involve them in the wedding preparations! And if they can, hug them and cheer and get excited.

 

I hope these #WeddingWednesday tips help you begin the wedding planning process. It can be overwhelming, and I know the never ending e-mails and vendor meetings can seem daunting at first, but putting together a vendor team that shares your wedding day vision will not only help create the wedding of your dreams, but it’ll make for some truly beautiful memories.

Are you an #MHBride? Find out here.

 

What do you want to know for the next #WeddingWednesday post?

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