When you think about all the tasks and details that you will be dealing with when planning your wedding, it may seem overwhelming at first. But every wedding moves according to the plan that you have established. The better THE PLAN the better THE PLANNING will be. And an essential tool is a wedding pre-planning checklist. I love a checklist. It helps me to not forget something, and it feels so good when I can finally check something off that list.
But . . .
You have to know what you want before you can plan it!
Before you make any definite plans or sign any contracts, you need to do some pre-planning, and this wedding pre-planning checklist is made just for that. Think of it this way – you’ve got to know what you want to plan before you can plan it. How do you envision YOUR wedding? What do you want it to be like?
So . . .
You need to sit down with your partner and follow this wedding pre-planning checklist. This will lay a foundation so to speak, upon which all of your wedding plans will be built upon. Then check things off when as you go.
Your Wedding Pre-Planning Checklist
- Determine your wedding budget. Figure out how much you’ve got to spend and what the sources of those funds are, (savings, parents’ contributions, money set aside from your paychecks, etc.). As tempting as it may be, do not pay for your entire wedding with your credit cards, unless you can pay comfortably it off each month. Starting your marriage off in debt is not the way to go.
- No time? No experience? Scared of where to start? A wedding planner or consultant will be a great help. Especially if you are a busy person, or just feel a little lost, a professional can be invaluable in putting together your ideal day and can often save you money.
- Do you want a large wedding, or a smaller and more intimate event?
- Decide on the type of wedding you want. Morning, afternoon, evening? Formal, informal, something in-between? Weekend or weekday? Religious ceremony or secular? Indoor or outdoor/tent?
- Decide what season you want to have your wedding. Spring? Summer? Fall? Winter?
- Decide on a wedding date and book your venues for your ceremony and reception. [Wedding Date Tip – Check to see if your desired wedding date falls on the same day or weekend as a local festival, trade conference, charity event, or other event that could compete with hotel block availability, as well as affect traffic].
- Do you have a wedding theme in mind? Keep it in mind when determining your wedding date.
- Start working on your guest list. Begin by listing everyone you’d like to have attend, then pare back so you end up with a list that 1) includes the people that are truly the ones you want to celebrate with, 2) you can afford to host, and 3) will fit into your desired venue. (Knowing the maximum capacity of your venue is very important).
- Create an organizational system so you can keep all of your wedding planning notes, etc. in one place. You’ll want someplace to keep copies of your contracts, receipts, meeting notes, brochures, pictures torn out of magazines, and miscellaneous lists of ideas for your wedding. What organizational method – file folders, binder with separate tabs, shoebox – should you use? Pick whatever method works for you.
Wedding Planning Tip – The better THE PLAN the better THE PLANNING will be
Know that you’re going to have many other decisions to make during your wedding planning journey. But by using this wedding pre-planning checklist, and taking care of these decisions is key, as they will provide a structure for you to follow as you choose the different options and details for your wedding.
Do you have any suggestions for other items that we should add to the wedding pre-planning checklist? Let me know in the comments below!
Photo Credit:
Norma Dorothy via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for fun ideas, or need help with your wedding plans?
Weddings From The Heart can help. Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
