When getting started with their wedding plans, many brides want to save money while making their dreams come true just like they imagined the day as little girls.
From choosing your venue to creating your decorations and invitations, there are several tasks to take care of. Find a few tips below on how to get started with your wedding plans.
1. Announce Your Upcoming Wedding
Sure, you can have your announcement in the local paper. But won’t it be more personal if you create and send a simple card (you can get them printed at your local printers)? Choose a cute theme, color, and envelope, and send out the announcements to the people who matter.
Start with making a list and gathering addresses (you can later use these addresses when getting ready to send out your wedding invitations). Want something a little different and fun? How about an animated version of your wedding announcement card? If it’s created to be an invitation, share it only with those you want to invite, however if it is merely an announcement go ahead and share it on social media.
2. Pick Your Wedding Date
You’ve got a lot of things to take consider when choosing your wedding date, such as when you and your fiancé are free, when your desired venue is available, and (especially for outdoor events) seasonal weather patterns.
If you’re like some couples, you have a specific date (such as the anniversary of your first date). Other couples are more flexible, such as anytime in August, or wanting a Fall wedding.
You may want to make sure that your desired wedding date doesn’t fall into any type of “scheduling conflict” with your parents and other people who are so special to you that you can’t imaging them not being at your wedding. Just remember that this is YOUR wedding, and not lose control of choosing the date.
3. Find Your Venue
If you’re flexible with when to have your wedding, you may want to look for a venue before having a definite date chosen, then finalize your wedding date based on your selected venue.
During your venue search, don’t just pick one hotel or banquet hall to visit; interview several, and choose the one that offers not just the best price, but the one that has the best combination of price, service, amenities, and décor/look. A venue that has an exquisite ambiance may cost more to rent, but will need minimal décor, whereas a venue that is more “bare bones” and plain costs less, but you can end up spending more in décor to achieve the look you want.
Before you go venue-searching you’ll need to know the number of people you would like to invite (or at least a good estimate). This will help to calculate the cost, and you’ll avoid looking at venues that would be too small to accommodate all of your guests.
4. Create a Menu
Some couples find creating their wedding reception menu as one of the most challenging tasks of their wedding plans. Others find it quick and easy.
Regardless of which one you fall under, there are still a few things to keep in mind. You probably know the tastes of your friends and family members, so you may want to consider offering an entrée that is a known favorite. And be sure to see if any of them have any food allergies, preferences, or dietary needs. These days most caterers offer more vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free, and other types of menus.
You will also have a wedding cake to design and order. It’s possible that you have a friend or family member who can help in its creation, or recommend you a company that will offer you a customized service.
5. Select Your Dress
Image via Pexels
You might already have an idea about what you want to wear on your wedding. From simple white dresses to elegant lace combined with diamonds from diamantes certificados, there are many designs that suit your wedding budget and style.
Instead of roaming the shops, you can look for designs online and in magazines and create a shortlist of designers, dress styles, and elements of dresses that appeal to you. When you do visit wedding dress shops tell them your dress budget right from the start. But if you happen to fall in love with a wedding dress that you can’t afford, check with a local dress maker or seamstress to see if they can recreate the look for less, if you provide the materials.
6. Choose Your Bridesmaids
The bridesmaids you choose will be your helpers for organizing your wedding, so you have to make sure that you pick capable and reliable people. Many brides find this task one of the easiest of their wedding plans, and some even had in mind their wedding party choices even before they were engaged.
Even if you already have somebody in mind, you’ll need to sit down with them and have a chat, to make sure they have enough time (and finances) to spend helping you with your wedding, and other pre-wedding events.
7. Get Crafty and Create Your Decorations
Image via Public Domain Pictures
You can personalize your wedding by creating your own decorations. Whether you want to have a few simple rosebuds on the table or go full in and get chair covers and silk drapes to cover the windows, you will need to get creative. Visit your local DIY store for inspiration. Use paper and other fabrics or decorative materials, and get custom printed napkins to make your wedding personal and unique.
8. Send Invitations
Once you have the venue and catering arranged, the theme and style of your wedding will have taken shape. A few months before your wedding, don’t forget to get invitations. You can create your own wedding invitations and design them to fit your wedding theme and style. Designing them yourself can save you a few hundred dollars, and your guests will remember your date by adding a personal touch.
When sending your invitations, make sure that you ask for RSVP confirmation. You can include a separate card for people to return to you, or include your email address or phone number at the bottom of the invitation for potential guests.
Alternatively, set up a simple website where you feature all the information about the wedding and allow people to contact you, including a section for them to RSVP and even leave a personal message.
9. Arrange Transportation
You want to make sure that you and your guests can get to and from your wedding venue easily. You might want to book a limousine or party bus, or appoint drivers if you want to save money.
While you are not obligated to provide transportation for your guests, giving them options, particularly if your wedding venue is a more remote locale, is a generous and well appreciated gesture. You might hire a bus for all your guests to be picked up. When you pick your transport company, ask them about their hourly rates, tell them of all pick-up and drop-off points.
So it’s time to get started with your wedding plans. List all the main elements you will need and want (venue, dress, flowers, etc.), and decide which elements are the most important to you. Also list the small details you’ll have to take care of. Delegate some tasks to other people, and allow yourself time to think through the different options you will have. Carefully research venues, catering companies, and florists, and all other types of vendors, to make sure your big day will the fun day you’ve imagines since you were a little girl.
* This is a contributed post
I hope you found this information on starting your wedding plans useful!
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
For planning help and unique ideas for your wedding call or text me at 937-581-3647, or email me at [email protected]!
