Wedding Planning Guide

First, please let us congratulate you on your engagement! Planning your wedding is a journey filled with excitement, anticipation, and a spectrum of tasks that culminate in creating one of the most memorable days in a person’s life. This process can generally be divided into six key stages: Stage 1: Inspiration, Stage 2: Deciding Your Budget, Stage 3: Big Decisions, Stage 4: Small Details, Stage 5: Confirmation & Finalization, and Stage 6: Post Wedding Close. Here’s an in-depth look at each stage.

Stage 1: Inspiration

The Dream Begins
In this initial stage, it’s all about dreaming and envisioning your perfect day. This is where you gather ideas and inspiration. Your inspiration stage can begin even before you get engaged!

  1. Exploring Ideas: Couples often start by browsing through wedding magazines, websites, and social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. This is a time for endless possibilities – think themes, colors, venues, and styles.
  2. Creating a Vision Board: Collecting images and ideas that resonate with your dream wedding helps in visualizing the overall feel and aesthetics of the event. A vision board can be a physical collage or a digital collection, like Pinterest.

STage 2: Budget

Setting the Financial Framework
Budgeting is crucial in shaping the scale and style of the wedding.

  1. Determining the Budget: Decide on the total amount you’re willing to spend. This involves honest conversations about finances between the couple and, in some cases, with their families.
  2. Allocating Funds: Break down the budget into categories like venue budget, catering, attire (wedding dress + wedding suit), entertainment (bartending budget, photo booth, live wedding painter, etc), photographer budget, and wedding flowers and decor. Remember to keep a buffer for unforeseen expenses.

Stage 3: Big Decisions

Making the Choices
With a clear vision and budget, now it’s time to start making decisions.

  1. Wedding Date and Theme: This is when you decide if you want a local wedding or a destination wedding, what season you want your wedding in, pick your wedding date, decide if you want an indoor or outdoor wedding, a Saturday, Sunday or weekday wedding or even a day time brunch wedding.
  2. Choosing Vendors: This includes selecting the venue, wedding planner or day of coordinator, caterer, photographer, florist, and others. It’s important to research, read reviews, and meet potential vendors.
  3. Guest List and Invitations: Deciding on who and how many people to invite is crucial. Your budget and venue capacity will guide you in this.

Stage 4: Small Details

The Devil is in the Details
This stage is all about personalizing your wedding.

  1. Menu and Decor Details: Finalize catering menus, pick your signature wedding cocktails, decide if you want a regular cake and pick the flavors, or go for something unique like a cookie wedding cake or even a cookie dessert display, and, of course, decor specifics.
  2. Personal Touches: Incorporate elements that reflect your personalities and relationship. This could be in the form of custom vows, unique wedding guestbook alternatives, or even your garter toss song.

Stage 5: Confirm and Finalize

The Final Countdown
In the final stage, it’s about confirming all arrangements and smoothing out any last-minute details.

  1. Final Meetings with Vendors: Reconfirm arrangements and timelines.
  2. Last-Minute Adjustments: Be prepared for last-minute changes and have contingency plans.
  3. Rehearsals and Relaxation: Have a rehearsal to ensure everyone knows their roles and take some time to relax before the big day.

Stage 6: Post-Wedding Close

Wrapping Up the Celebration
This final stage is crucial for a smooth transition back to normal life.

  1. Thank-You Notes: Writing and sending thank-you notes to guests and vendors is a thoughtful gesture. Personalize these notes to show appreciation for their presence and gifts.
  2. Financial Reconciliation: Review all final invoices and payments to ensure all financial obligations related to the wedding are settled.
  3. Legal Documentation: If one or both partners are changing their names, this is the time to update legal documents, bank accounts, and other official records.
  4. Preserving Memories: Decide how you want to preserve your wedding memories. This could include creating a photo album, repurposing your wedding veil, framing pictures or extra wedding invitations, and storing your wedding dress properly.
  5. Feedback for Vendors: Providing feedback to your vendors is valuable. Positive reviews can help them, and constructive feedback can improve their services for future events.
  6. Reflect and Decompress: After the whirlwind of wedding activities, take time to reflect on the event and relax with your partner. This can also be a time for post-wedding gatherings or informal events with friends and family who were part of your special day.

Each stage of wedding planning plays a crucial role in shaping your special day. By understanding and embracing each step, you can navigate this journey with more ease and enjoyment, leading to a wedding that reflects your unique love story and leaves you with memories to cherish forever. Happy wedding planning!