Where to Start with Wedding Planning ✨💍
Photo by studio 13 twelve
Wedding planning doesn’t have to be a chaotic stress spiral everyone makes it out to be. We don’t do that here. We are having fun and actually enjoying the process.
but it can be overwhelming. you’ve never done this before. you shouldn’t know what to do first! So here is a guide on where to start.
guest List
I know you want to jump straight into dreamy venues and romantic Pinterest boards, but don’t give yourself unrealistic expectations. You cannot do anything until you book a venue, and you can’t book a venue until you know how many people you’re inviting.
Start with your VIP list: the non-negotiables. Your ride-or-dies, immediate family, and the people who you would notice were missing if they couldn’t be there.
Then Make a second list. this is the “if budget allows” crew. This keeps things flexible without forcing you into awkward cuts later. because again, you have never done this before, and you don’t know what it costs.
come up with a budget
Pick a number that is actually realistic for you. Not Pinterest fantasy. Not “well maybe if we…”—no. Real life. talk to parents or anyone else who may have offered to contribute, and get one solid number to work with.
pro tip: don’t start breaking it into categories yet. I know it’s tempting to say “$5k for venue, $3k for photography…” but unless you have a planner or have done hoursss of research, those numbers are just guesses. and usually wrong ones. we will redo everything you already did.
hire the planner (or research yourself)
If you can hire a planner, do it. They will tell you exactly how to split your budget, what’s worth it, what’s not, and save you from making expensive mistakes (yes, there are still places that hide fees and screw you after already booking. don’t let it be you.)
If that’s not in the cards, that is Totally fine. You’re just entering your research era.
Start looking up real pricing. Reach out for quotes. Stalk vendor websites. Get a feel for what things actually cost in your area. This step is what turns your budget from “vibes” into a real plan. it will be extremely time consuming, and you’ll lose track of who you’ve reached out to. we’ve worked for years to know this information for you, which is why a planner is recommended. wait, you guys don’t plan weddings everyday??? ;)
lock it downnn
Once you know your guest count and have a realistic budget (and how much to put toward venue), it’s time for some fun. Start with venue shopping. again, will be time consuming because there is such a huge range of venues with different price points. when in doubt, take it to your city’s Facebook group. they’re out there. trust.
When you find the one, Book it and lock in your date.
we need this to build everything else. no one will book without a date and place!
one thing at a time (begging you)
After your venue is secured, you might feel the urge to reach out to everyone at once. Florals! Photographer! Catering! Rentals!
No ❤️
list everything out in order of priorities and go down the list. Book one vendor, then move on to the next. Trying to juggle multiple decisions at once is how you end up overwhelmed, confused, and second-guessing everything.
And most importantly? You’re allowed to have fun with this. It’s your wedding era! lean into it ✨