Wedding planning ideas

I’m getting married!  Now where do I start?  What is wedding planning?

The excitement of the Engagement can be overshadowed by the anxiety of the thought of planning that one day in your life that you will remember forever.  This one day will either be the “best day ever” or a day you would rather forget.

Hopefully, if you start planning early, this will be the most relaxed and fun day of your life!

So, where do you start?

The first question I would ask is, do I want a Wedding Planner?

If you answer yes to this question then I would suggest interviewing at least three wedding planners to get a good feel for what they have to offer and how they price, make decisions, organize, etc.

Remember, Wedding planners recommend people that they have worked with, but this does not mean that they are necessarily the best for you.  Always do your research before accepting who someone else recommends.

Right in line with importance of the Wedding planner is your date.  Set a date that you both love and don’t tell anyone until you have secured your location.

If you decide to go at it without a Wedding planner than I would suggest sitting down and making a list of everything that you can imagine you would like at your Wedding.  Browse through Pinterest and look at Weddings that are in the area you like and record everything that you want during your Wedding day.

With this master list of wants, now you can prioritize what is most important.  Contact the 1st priority vendors or details and make sure that you secure them for your Wedding.

Of course you will need a budget to work with.  Keep in mind that it is common to go over budget 20%.  If you really want to keep to your budget you need discipline.

Work your way down the master list of priorities until you run out of money or you finish.  You know what that means, you are done!

Make sure to interview at least three people for each item, vendor, etc.  This will give you a good reference when selecting the one you like best.  If you have time to interview more then for all means do it.  If nothing else you might learn one small bit from a person you contact.

When the day gets closer you will want to have someone who contacts all the vendors and makes sure everything is set with payments, times, etc.  If you do not have a Wedding planner assign this job to someone who is overly organized.  This weight off of your shoulder can make a huge difference on your Wedding day.

When the day comes, you don’t want to make any decisions.  Be fully prepared, finished, and ready to party.:-)

I hope you enjoy your Wedding and make sure to Plan, Plan, Plan to minimize your stress.  Cheers!

Northern Michigan Destination Photographer