Tips to Plan Your Dream Wedding
Tips to Plan Your Dream Wedding
This is it: the moment you have been waiting for your entire life. You are finally saying “I do,” and tying the knot with the person you love. It is an extremely special and momentous occasion for you as a couple and both of your families. This is your chance to have the wedding ceremony you have always dreamed about.
As you may well know, planning a wedding is an incredibly stressful affair. It is tough when you have to do this while juggling other responsibilities. Unless you plan on just going to city hall, planning will take several months, if not a few years. For this whole process to go smoothly, you need to be as organized as possible.
Take a look at some of these tips to help you plan the wedding of your dreams:
Start planning early
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It is never too early to begin the planning process. You can even start years before the actual wedding date. If you do not want a half-baked and rushed wedding, you have to think far ahead. Most couples start planning at least 12 months before the wedding, which is a reasonable enough time frame.
Before you even officially begin planning, you and your partner should brainstorm ideas first. Have a conversation about what the two of you want and how you can combine those ideas together. If you get this out of the way early on, you will avoid petty and unnecessary fights down the line. You do not need to add more stress to the situation.
Set a reasonable budget
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Some people go a bit overboard when it comes to their wedding expenses. Yes, this is a significant milestone and you deserve to have the very best. However, you do not have to go crazy and go into debt for a one-day event. Try to have a budget that works for your current financial status.
There are no set rules or percentages you must follow. For your wedding expenses, make sure you have enough money saved up. If possible, ask for help from your parents or in-laws. Whatever you do, avoid taking out loans or going into credit card debt just to pay for your wedding.
Save enough money
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Once you have set a budget, you need to start saving money as soon as possible. If you plan on having a grand wedding, you might have to make some sacrifices money-wise until then. Work out a plan with your fiancé and open a separate savings account that you both will contribute to.
Choose a suitable wedding planner
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When it comes to choosing a wedding planner, you have to make sure they have your best interests at heart. Some will get you to spend more than you have to in order to get a higher commission. Do not fall for that trap, especially if you are on a tight budget.
A good wedding planner will take all of your ideas and desires into account. They might make suggestions based on their professional experience and expertise. However, they will always listen to what you have to say and tailor the details according to what you envision.
Organize your guest list
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One of the most important details to take care of is the guest list. This can be a difficult task to handle no matter what size your wedding ends up being. Naturally, you do not want to offend any of your friends, relatives, or acquaintances by not inviting them. However, there are ways to work around this.
If you plan on holding an intimate ceremony, you are probably only going to invite your closest friends and family. Should you want to squeeze in a few more people, though, simply adjust the other factors. Perhaps you can cut down expenses on the flowers, food, decorations, or the DJ. The same goes for larger weddings as well, and all you have to do is make the necessary adjustments.
Pick a good wedding date
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You will obviously want people to actually show up to your wedding if you invite them. On that note, you have to keep your guests in mind when blocking out a date. Be considerate of other people’s lives and schedules rather than just your own. Your guests have jobs, school, and their own families too.
When you pick a date for your wedding, it is best if you avoid any major holidays like Christmas. People often make their own vacation plans, and unless you send invites early, they might not make it. Big events like conferences could also affect your guests’ availability. Try to keep these in mind, and accept that not everybody will be free on your wedding day.
Ask friends to for local vendor referrals
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It is an open secret that many vendors increase their prices for weddings. If you ask friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family to refer you to vendors they know, you might get better deals. They might give you discounts or throw in freebies into their packages because there is a direct connection. This is one way you can trim your wedding budget down even further.
Send invitations early
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As previously mentioned, there is a good chance that not everybody you invite will be able to attend. To make sure you fill up your guest capacity, send out invites as soon as you can. This will give your guests ample time to file for leave of absences, and book flights and hotel rooms. Your loved ones will want to be there for you, but you have to think of their needs too.
Keep all your receipts and contracts
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If you received any receipts, invoices, or signed any contracts with vendors, keep them in a safe place. You do not want to be in a situation where someone is not holding up their end of an agreement. Keep records and transcripts of phone conversations and emails as well.
Have fun with it
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Planning a wedding does not have to be a frustrating or tiring experience all the time. You can still have fun while doing it. Enjoy this journey with your fiancé, and remember that this will all be worth it in the end.
The most important tips when it comes to wedding planning is to stay organized and think of every single detail. You should be as meticulous as possible now, so that you can be relaxed and worry-free on the day itself.
