So you’re engaged! You’ve got the ring, the amazing proposal, and the love is flowing! But what now? Between invitations, booking vendors, finding wedding attire, deciding on colors, telling your friends and family…Oh my! While the excitement is definitely brewing, so is the stress. Wedding planning can be an exciting time in any couple’s journey to the walk down the aisle. However, it can come with its own stress and excitement…which is where I come in!
Today we are talking about what to do first when planning your wedding and why. You may think that this is pretty straightforward and it can be, depending on what your wedding will consist of. That said, many couples make the mistake of focusing on the smaller details rather than the bigger picture too soon after engagement. Ultimately, you want to focus on these three elements of your big day first and get them finalized.
The first element will 
be the wedding date. This will determine everything else when it comes to booking wedding professionals, choosing a venue, and letting your guests know when and where to be to celebrate your upcoming excitement. This also impacts lots of decisions like when to start looking for those wedding pros, what deadlines you’ll need for any hotel room blocks or suit and gown alterations, and ultimately when to send out your “save-the-date” cards and your invitations.
The second item on the list to work on is budget! The budget for your wedding is very important. Obviously, this is pretty self-explanatory, but without a budget, you can’t really focus on what is important to you and what you are able to relax on when it comes to details. This can help determine what size wedding you’ll have and who and what to budget for when it comes to vendors, details, and guest count.
Speaking of guests, that brings us to the third item on the list for what to do first in planning! You’ll want to ensure that your guest count includes the people you love while also not getting out of hand. By determining how many people you are able to invite, you can also determine your guest count, and thus determine the venue size, feel of your wedding (intimate versus party atmosphere vs vintage vibe, etc.) and help you finalize the big vision which will help so much in narrowing down those pesky details that can get a little overwhelming.
Once you know your date, budget, and guest count – the real fun can begin! After all, it would be very difficult to book a venue without any of those three items. Knowing the guest count can help eliminate and narrow down your dream venue options and pair it with the budget – you and your future spouse can determine what elements you’re looking for in a venue. And, you’ll cross three very important to-do’s off your list rather quickly!
While there are many various details leading up to your big day these three key items will help you incredibly by keeping you focused on the big questions everyone will be asking. If you are stuck worrying, stress-induced, or just can’t decide, I can help! I offer budget tracking, venue selection, and more! I would absolutely love to help you determine these three large factors on the journey to planning your dream wedding. Call me today and let’s schedule a brain-storming session to discuss all of the big plans and get to the fun details together.
Photos by Eric Stocklin Photography
