So, he FINALLY popped the questions? YAY! You’re engaged! Wait…what now? Don’t worry…after shooting literally HUNDREDS of weddings, I am here to share with you 5 things to put at the TOP of your Wedding To Do List! To assist me and make things pretty, you can also oooh and aahh over this romantic winter proposal I got to shoot last weekend! This proposal was set up by the AMAZING team at The Yes Girls!
Engagement season is in full swing around here!
1. Make your Wedding Budget
YUCK! Does this really have to be the first thing on your Wedding To Do List? Sorry, but it really does. Imagine you skip this step and forge ahead with no idea of your budget…you find wedding vendors and fall completely in love, only to realize later that you can’t afford them. BUZZ KILL! Set aside a quiet night at home to sit down with your fiance (and parents, if they are involved with the financial side). Make a list of wedding expenses (use Wedding Budget sheet to help you remember everything). Then prioritize. What is the absolute most important to you? It might be the photography? Maybe it’s your dress? Line them up. Then break up your budget by percentage you want to spend on each item. You may have to change things around as you plan, but at least this gives you a jumping off point!
2. Book your Wedding Venue
The SECOND thing that should be on your Wedding To Do List once you are officially engaged is to start shopping for your wedding venue. Venues, especially popular ones, tend to book up…some as much as 2 years in advance! DON’T WORRY though if you have less time than that to plan…there are so many beautiful wedding venues out there to fit every budget, style, and wedding timeline. Start with an online search for wedding venues in the area you want to get married in. Make a list of your 10 favorites, then sort them according to budget. Set aside a few days for you and your fiance to dedicate to touring venues. Call ahead to set up a tour of your top 5 choices. When choosing your venue, make sure to ask the right questions. Find out what exactly is included and what is NOT. Can you use your own caterer? What about the alcohol policy? Are there restrictions on open flames (this will be a big deal if you want candles or an sparkler exit)! Do they do the setup and cleanup? Will you be provided with a personal event manager who will be with you every step of the way?
3. Book your Wedding Photographer
Of course I am a HUGE advocate for booking your photographer early…whether it’s me or one of my thousands of amazing colleagues. But did you know that most wedding photographers are booked for the entire year by the end of January? YEP! Again, start with an online search. Referrals from past friends can also be an awesome resource for finding a wedding photographer. Make a list of your top 5 then set up consultations. I can’t stress enough how important a consultation is! In-person, if possible, but Skype works well too. You are going to be spending a LOT of time with this person, and it will be the most intimate of your relationships with wedding vendors. You need to make sure you have a good vibe and mesh well.
4. Find your Wedding Dress
Already, you might say? But my wedding isn’t for 12 months! That may be true, BUT here are a few things to consider. First, most wedding dresses are not purchased “Off the Rack.” They are custom ordered to fit your measurements. Some dresses can take as much as 8 months to arrive (don’t worry, there are a lot that take only 2 months). Once it comes, you then have several fittings and alterations to make sure it is absolutely perfect! The last thing you want to do is be stressing that your dress won’t be here in time for the wedding. Also, if you plan on taking bridal portraits, you will want to have your dress in plenty of time to get your photos back and print enlargements to display at your wedding!
5. Decide on your Wedding Party
It’s SUCH a tough decision to decide who will be in your wedding party, especially the coveted roles of Best Man and Maid of Honor. But, the sooner you finalize it, the sooner friends and family will stop bugging you about it. First, make a list of potential bridesmaids and groomsmen. Then, look at your budget. How many can you afford to have in your wedding party? And how many do you even want? Some brides want a small wedding party while some want as many as they can afford! You will need to provide the bridesmaid dresses and tuxedo rental, as well as possibly hair and makeup for your bridesmaids (at least for your Maid of Honor). Plus, it is customary to give each member of the wedding party a thank you gift on the day of the wedding. Once you have decided the number, look at your list again. This is the tough part. Try not to break up any “groups.” For instance, if you are having one sister-in-law, you should probably include all of them. Same with friend groups. If 4 of you are a close-knit group, try to avoid excluding anyone. In the end, though, realize that this is YOUR WEDDING! Feelings are important, but true friends will love you whether or not they are in the wedding party.
So there you have it! The 5 things to put at the TOP of your Wedding To Do List!
