Congratulations, You just got engaged!
Within minutes of announcing your engagement, you will get suggestions on how to plan a wedding. You likely will start getting questions from friends and family. When are you both getting married? Do you have a date set yet? Where are you planning to get married? What will you be wearing? Moreover, you will get many suggestions, bridal magazines, invites to different wedding-related Facebook groups etc. If you or any of your family members don’t have experience planning a wedding, you are left wondering how to plan a wedding once you get engaged.
Things can get overwhelming as you feel the pressure of wedding planning. We will say no matter how hard it is, wait a bit before you start planning your wedding. Give yourself and your partner some time. Enjoy the feeling of being engaged. Stare at your ring 24/7. Celebrate! You will never get back those first days and weeks after you get engaged. Share your happiness with friends and family before you worry about how to plan a wedding.
First step in how to plan a wedding
Now that you both took some time as an engaged couple, we suggest you start planning your wedding one conversation at a time. The first conversation is how long you want to remain as an engaged couple. The length you choose will be your wedding planning timeline. Furthermore, a long engagement is a luxury as it will give you enough time to plan. Do you have a dream vendor you always wanted to be part of your wedding? Ask them for a few dates for which they are available in the month you are planning your wedding. If not, pick 3 or 4 dates and let’s get organized and do some vendor shopping.
Being organized is key to planning a wedding.
If you are a pen & paper person, a wedding binder or a book is the way to go. You can be environmentally friendly, use a One Note, Microsoft planner or even an excel document. The advantage of Microsoft Planner is you can assign tasks to people and set deadlines. It will ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and deadlines.
Start a Wedding Checklist
Firstly, get this Wedding checklist printed or use it for reference. Secondly, based on this Wedding Checklist, we recommend creating your version of the Checklist based on your Wedding date. Cross off your tasks. Always take notes after every conversation with a vendor.
Time for 2nd conversation: Wedding Priorities
Now it’s time for another conversation. What is most important to you when you think of your dream wedding? Each of us has different priorities and personalities. So have this discussion with your partner and decide what’s most important to you both. What do you care about the most? Best Venue? a beautiful dress? décor, throwing the best party, spending time with friends and family? Do you want to have a big wedding or a small intimate one? Ask yourselves all these questions. Accordingly, you should be able to choose your priorities.
Let's talk Wedding budgets
It is one of the questions or concerns we always get from couples. One tip to save some wedding costs is by reducing the guest lists. Another option is looking at your earlier discussed priorities again. Choose what is important to both of you and spend only on that. Do what will make you happy.
How to Plan a wedding on budget?
Let’s talk about how you can budget your wedding. It all depends on the priorities you discussed above. You can get married by spending as little as possible to as much as you can afford. On average, couples spend around $40000 for 150 guests at their wedding. Here are some cost breakdowns that might help you in your Wedding planning.
The price here is average. It will change based on the venue or vendor you select.
$4,000 Venue Rental
$6,750 for $45/plate x 150 people ( this is lower end cost per plate) ⠀⠀⠀⠀
$2,000 for your drinks⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$750 for Bartenders⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$350 Officiant⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$4,500 Photographer⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$3,500 Videographer⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$2000 DJ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$450 Insurance, Liquor License + Marriage License⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$1,200 Hair + Makeup⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$3,000 Florals⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$3,500 Rentals + Decor⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$3,000 Wedding Planner⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$1,500 Limo/Limo Bus/ Transportation⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$1,000 Stationery + Signage⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$3,000 Couples Wedding Attire + Alterations⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$750 Cake/Dessert⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$500 Gifts⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
$1,500 Any misc costs
Task lists & Communication
Divide & conquer is the best way to get things done. You & your partner should be involved in every step. In addition, attend Wedding vendor consults together. Even though you have a Wedding checklist, communicate tasks and deadlines and discuss after each item on the list is complete. You both need to be on the same page.
Lastly, when wedding planning gets tough, take a break or switch to a different activity like creating websites, writing bio descriptions etc. Don’t stress about the planning. Instead, have fun, make memories and cherish the planning process. Still have questions on how to plan a wedding? Comment below
You are correct; everyone should create their wedding checklist. Wedding planning begins immediately after the engagement party with determining venue, reception site, date, flowers, etc. So make sure you create a wedding checklist of the list of things that need to be done, such as the budget, the venue location, & the number of people attending your wedding. Thank you for uploading this blog.
Thank you Frank. I am glad it was helpful.