Top things you need to do before your wedding

Planning a wedding can be one of the most daunting tasks in your life! There are so many factors and ideas, and people that go into making those 24 hours the most memorable experience of your life!

Luckily we’ve been to a wedding or two in this line of work so here is a quick guide to getting your wedding going!

Budget

First set a budget. Weddings can get expensive fast so make sure to talk with whoever is paying for your wedding first, before booking vendors. Your top most expensive things will be venue, photographer, videographer, catering, florist, and DJ. They are the main points of a wedding and usually what a large sum is spent on. Its worth it though. These vendors make or break the day.

Guest List

How many people will you have? Do you want a small elopement or a huge party? Make sure to know this before picking a venue so you can accommodate everyone. The amount of people will also determine the cost of food. Remember the more people there are, the more people you have to feed and entertain. 

Theme/Colors

What will the colors be? This will help determine the bridal party colors, flowers, linens, and invites. Try to stay away from super bright or neon colors because they reflect on the skin.

Planner/Coordinator

They truly are a life saver, time saver, and worth the extra money. If you have a busy life you are going to need someone to do all the wedding planning for you. Not to mention they are so much help on the wedding day. All the vendors will thank you .If you want a planner/coordinator get them before anything else, so they can help you with contracts and payments. 

Venue

Top things to look for in a venue is guest seating, lighting for your photographer, style, bar/alcohol rules, vendor policies, and is there a plan A and a plan B for ceremonies incase of bad weather. There are so many venues but make sure you get the one that fits all your needs

Photographer and Videographer 

Photographers vary in price range from $800-$8,000 It depends on a lot of factors like experience, style, equipment, and location. Don’t be afraid to look outside your local area for a photographer that has the right style for you. Before reaching out for a photographer, determine what style you want. Light and airy, moody and darker, true color, or highly edited. There are many ways photographers edit.

Videographer might be the most expensive vendor you choose but they are worth it. The best questions to ask a videographer is, how long is my final delivered video, is the color edited, does it have just music or voice sound too?

DJ

DJs keep the party going. They don’t just play music, they run the entire reception and sometimes ceremony. They keep everything going and running smoothly. A great dance floor can make a wedding super memorable for the guests and a fun and impactful reception will keep the guests busy and entertained. Check out our extraordinary experiences. 

Dress

There are many styles of dresses. A great way to narrow down the type you may want is figuring out what style of wedding you are having first.  Will your dress be boho, princess, elegant, classy, or more traditional. These are all great options. Next make appointments for fittings. You usually can not just walk into a dress store, you will need to make an appointment. Just enjoy your time. Try them all on!

Food

Decide if you are having a cocktail hour, appetizer, or just dinner. The more food, the more money. But the more food you have also makes guests happier. Happy guests equal a happy wedding. You can hire a professional caterer, food truck, or use a local restaurant. Will you need a bar too? A great question to ask is if the plates, cups, and silverware come with the cost of the food.

Register

First comes the ring, then comes the showers!!!! Top places to register are Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Amazon, Dillards, Macys, and Crate and Barrel. Register for it all! It might surprise you what big items your family will go in on together.

Officiant

You can be married by someone you know or ordained a friend. But not everyone has that special person. Check out Officially Wed if you need an officiant.

Hotels/Transport

Block off rooms at your favorite local hotel for family members from far away. That way they are ensured a great place to stay. If you know there will be a lot of alcohol at a wedding or a lot of out of town guests, arrange for a shuttle to and from the hotel.

Honeymoon

Top honeymoon destinations are St. Lucia, Bora Bora, Maldives, Fiji, Maui, Bali, Tahiti, Santorini, Kauai, Hawaii - The Big Island, Florence! You only honeymoon once! GO ALL OUT! Have an epic adventure!

Wedding Invites/Stationary 

Great websites for wedding invites are Minted, Vista Print, and Zola. But there are also many amazing local stationary makers. You will need a save the date, officially wedding invites, thank you cards, and shower invites at the least. Some extra stationary includes, venues, programs, table number and signs. Or you can have a wedding website if you are looking to save some money. 

Rehearsal

The day before the wedding you will need to have a rehearsal to make sure everyone knows what they are doing, and its a great time for all your family and friends to meet. Many venues offer a day before rehearsal at the venue. But a great alternative is a large space at a restaurant or open park. This typically lands in the grooms families responsibilities. 

Now that you have a list of things to do, don’t forget to enjoy the process, stay in your budget, ask for help if you need it, and don’t be afraid to lean on your vendors. That’s what they are here for!