Planning any event or party – however big or small – requires effort. And when it comes to planning your own wedding, there are a million things to think about, plan, and coordinate. We’ve put together a quick wedding planning to-do list of the main things so you don’t miss anything.
Guest List
It makes sense to start your wedding plans knowing the approximate number of guests you intend to invite. Your venue, the size of a cake, and amount you spend on food and drinks will all depend on how small or large a crowd will be present. Remember that right now, this is just a preliminary guest list, and can be adjusted as you get further into your planning.
Venue
Many couples have a dream venue for their wedding, or at least have in mind the type of venue they would like (for example a beach, a church, or a destination wedding). Choosing a venue depends on a lot of factors, the primary ones being whether it is large enough to accommodate all your guests, availability, and whether it fits into your budget.
Transportation
This might not seem important but wedding transportation is a crucial part of the big day. Not only do you have to get to your wedding venue on time, you’ll need a vehicle that will be comfortably accommodating too. Make sure you can easily get into it while wearing your wedding gown. And style will be important if you want photos of your arrival or grand exit.
Décor and Flowers
Ok, so the venue is decided. Getting to the venue is sorted. Now how to give it that special ambience so it looks and feels like the special day you’ve envisioned! The decor and floral decoration can make or break the overall feel of your wedding celebration, so give this some serious thought. A good starting point is choosing a theme – it can make other decisions such as deciding colors and choosing flowers much more streamlined.
Food and Cake
If you are planning to serve any type of meal, another important decision is to make sure your menu caters to the likes and needs of all your guests (you don’t want anyone to go hungry at your wedding because of dietary restrictions or allergies).
Another important decision is your cake (or whatever type of dessert you choose). Make sure to choose something you like. And make sure it looks good too, as the cake/desserts table is often a focal point (and something your photographer will be getting plenty of photos of). Why not make it as delicious and awesome looking as you can? After all, it is your wedding cake!!!
DJ/Entertainment
Having good music will complete the overall vibe of your wedding day. Think about what style you have in mind. Do you want fun party/dance music or just something playing in the background? Think about genres, songs, and artists that you’d like to hear on your wedding day (as well as those you don’t).
Photography/Videography
Of course you’ll want all of this captured for posterity. So hire a great photographer and videographer, someone that you have a rapport with. Your images will be even better when you’re comfortable with the person behind the lens. Different photographers and videographers specialize in different styles, so talk to several and look at all their portfolios so you can find one who fits your and your partners style and budget.
Wedding Gown
This is your special day and every bride deserves to feel and look her best. Choosing your wedding gown is no small or easy decision, so take your time on this one. See different designs, try different designers, ask for opinions but at the end of the day, go for what your heart truly desires. As the saying goes: if the dress fits, it was meant to be. And if your wedding “gown” happens to be a knee-length dress, or a pantsuit (or something else not gown-y) that’s fine too.
Gift Registry
Creating a wedding gift list is a sensible and practical thing to do… unless you want to end up with twenty dinner sets and fifteen decorative vases! Think about all the items you want or need for your new home. It doesn’t have to be dishes and bed linens, but fun stuff like DVDs, books, or board games. Think about – it will make wedding present shopping so much simpler for your guests, and lessens the likelihood of receiving duplicates or something you and your partner really don’t want. It’s a win-win situation for sure.
Invitations
And last but not the least, the invitations. Make them pretty and design them as you wish, but above all, let your personality shine through. Nothing makes an invite better than giving it a personal touch. Give your guests a “peek” of what your wedding day will be like, and lets them know how much you care about having them be a part of your wedding celebration.
Image Credit:
Arek Socha via Pixabay
* This is a contributed post
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
I hope you found this wedding planning to-do list to be helpful with the start of your wedding plans. If you need help with your wedding plans, or want a more detailed list let me know. You can type your question into the “Ask Jean” box at the top of this page or in the comments below, or shoot me an email at [email protected].
