Three Golden Rules of Wedding Planning
So, you just got engaged and now everyone is asking you a million questions and you feel completely overwhelmed! Stop, drop, and read on sweet friend to learn the best first steps to take on your wedding planning journey.
I want to share with you the tools needed to set you up for a successful wedding celebration! With just a few concepts in mind, you and your fiance be laying a foundation to build a joyous and memorable event. And you will also be putting your needs first. A collected bride & groom who knows when & how to make decisions because of a peaceful foundation is the strongest asset to a smooth and successful wedding day.
The first golden rule of wedding planning is…
1. Set realistic expectations
Everyone wants their wedding day to be a dream come true. But sometimes reality can be a bit of a shock when you come down from a dream! When it comes to your budget, design, and vendors, be realistic with the resources you have. Don’t set yourself up for a letdown. First, take stock of your budget, really make things line up, and stick to it! That’s what making a plan is for.
Don’t be afraid to take your time in making decisions about how you spend your budget. Weigh your options and ask for expert advice when it comes to matters you are unsure about.
Second, pick the top three things that are most important to you at their wedding (venue, food, decor, music, etc). Make sure your budget is invested wisely in those elements first. Now you don’t want to go spending your whole budget in one place. But it’s nice to have set up from the get-go the line items you are not willing to compromise on and what elements aren’t a necessity for your day.
The first steps in wedding planning are all about finding the perfect balance. It’s not always good, it’s not always easy, and it’s not always cheap.
Pick your battles wisely based on your personal stress triggers and find your focus. To see a few examples of this in practice, take a look at this Instagram post!
Third, communicate clear expectations. Expectations come in many forms, from communication with your vendors to guest etiquette, and wedding day timeline. So be sure that you are open and communicate often with those around you who are involved in your day.
They can be a shoulder to lean on and also a reassuring sounding board. You want to make sure you have cultivated the right type of expectations so that come wedding day, no one is let down or left hanging. Especially not you and your sweetheart!
2. Be a Guest at Your Own Wedding
A lot of difficult decisions, countless hours, and probably some stressful nights went into making this day a possibility. And now you deserve to enjoy every single second of such a glorious and momentous day!
One of the first steps of wedding planning should be making sure you have trusted professionals on your venue team, as they provide priceless value and a return on your time investment.
If there are aspects of your wedding that you want to be on point hire a professional! It will save you stress & time trying to pull things together yourself.
A wedding planner can help you research vendors, construct a flawless timeline, and volley ideas that feel unattainable. A walk-through of a venue can lead them to see possible areas of concern and diamonds in the rough. A separate eye on the details can keep budgets balanced and guests happy all night long.
And your other vendors will thank you big time for having a point person on the big day! I even asked a wedding photographer to share why they think having a wedding coordinator or planner on board is so important.
If you are stoked to DIY your wedding and save money, there are many ways to do this without shying away from hiring professionals. These professionals have devoted their time to a craft and have the passion to invest in your day. They can save you the time and headache that come with trying to do it all yourself!
Having these individuals around you to educate you and make decisions on your behalf the day of, like a wedding coordinator, can greatly alleviate the stress of trying to balance joy & logistics.
You should feel free to soak in all the details and not have to make any last-minute decisions!
No cell phone, no clocks, no checking the timeline!! Have your maid of honor, best man, or someone else trusted to take your cell phones for the day. They can make sure to capture some candid moments between you and your partner. This golden rule of wedding planning will help you focus your energies in the right places.
3. Focus on Your Relationships
Speaking of your focus. It is so important to remember this is a day not just about the new covenant bond and family you are creating with another, but about the bigger family you are bringing together. Your friends and family members have influenced your life and personality in various ways. They have helped shape you into the person you have become, the person who is getting married today.
Your wedding day is a special time to celebrate ALL of these relationships and to allow your loved ones to honor and support this new relationship you are stepping into.
As you take the first steps into wedding planning, you want to make sure you are creating space for margin amidst the tasks and plans. This is essential because margin creates space for moments that last forever; space for relationships to grow, space for memories to be made, and space to be close to one another when it means the most.
Whenever you find yourself overwhelmed, feeling like you made the wrong decision, or exhausted by other’s expectations, take a moment to think about your favorite memory with your fiance! Also don’t be afraid to set aside time during wedding planning for date nights, getting together with friends (where you don’t discuss any wedding plans), or having a fun family dinner.
Keeping up with your relationships and being there for your friends and family as life moves forward is crucial! Honoring your loved ones and creating a planning atmosphere that nurtures your relationships is tantamount.
By implementing these 3 first steps early on in your wedding planning, you will easily navigate making your first decisions as a new family unit! A lot can change during wedding planning, not just your relationship status. Remember to take things slow, and always assume positive intentions (that’s our family motto).
After reading this you might be wondering, “Hey Sarah, I think I need someone like you on my vendor team. How do we make this happen!?”
We would be a GREAT fit to work together if:
- Your relationships with friends & family are tantamount to your event – more so than the “perfect” decor
- You want to have an intimate celebration that puts a new twist on modern traditional weddings
- Making decisions isn’t something you shy away from once you’ve researched all your options
I’d love to hear all about wedding dreams and your love story, so hop on over to inquire and see if I have your date open!
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