Congrats! You and your boo are engaged and ready to begin the next chapter of your lives together! You fire up your computer and start browsing Pinterest for inspiration. And before you know it, you’re overwhelmed. It’s easy to be steamrolled by all of the different themes, ideas. and possibilities. So we’ve compiled a list of a few wedding planning tips to narrow down how you should start.
Remember: Planning is supposed to be fun, not stressful. So do what you can to make it so!
1. Budget is a priority
Right out of the gate, give yourself a budget to work with. Things add up much quicker than you would expect, and the overwhelming feelings can quickly come flooding in. Your wedding should be one of the most important days of your life, if not the most important. So make sure it’s one that gives you everything you want while also making sure you can afford any financial burdens you place on yourself.
2. Quality over quantity
When it comes to who you’re inviting, think of those you’re closest to. Who do you want to share your most special moments with? Just because your third cousin you haven’t seen in years invited you to her wedding doesn’t mean you’re obliged to invite her to yours. At the end of the day, the only necessary people at your wedding are you and your partner. Everyone else should add to the splendor of your day.
3. DIY what you can
There is often a large price point associated with floral pieces, invitations, name cards, and other small things. Luckily, you can achieve the same look for much less if you do these things yourself. Many people also have talented friends who would love to give you their talent as a wedding gift.
For my wedding, I had one friend help make stickers for our favors with her Cricut machine. I had a blast making our centerpieces using artificial flowers (for a much lower price point), and my guests and I will get to keep them forever.
4. Weddings can be held any day of the week
If you’re trying to save some pennies, remember that Saturdays are usually the most expensive because they’re in high demand. Weddings held any other day of the week can cost much less. But make sure that you give those you want there ample notice to make arrangements.
5. Give yourself time
A long engagement is okay. There is no reason to rush. Enjoy the process of planning and ease into it. The reward at the end will be much more worth it if the buildup was longer as well. Personally, we are getting married 18 months after we became engaged and that still came quicker than we thought. I couldn’t imagine having a tighter timeline to work with.
6. Prioritize what’s important
When you envision your wedding day, what are the things you think about the most? Is it your outfit, the food, or the location? Spend some time discussing your wishes with your partner and make sure to prioritize what you want the most. If the location is important, you may want to allot more of your budget to that. Guests will not necessarily remember the food they ate or the colors of flowers you had, but they will keep in mind the joy and celebration they shared with the newlyweds.
At the end of the day, have fun with the planning. Take time to find inspiration. Drive around. Have many discussions with your partner and alleviate the pressure of a tight timeline. Have you planned a wedding and have any helpful hints? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image via Leonardo Miranda on Unsplash
