My Best Tips for Planning Your Wedding

The number one question I’m asked at every consultation is, “How can I make the wedding planning process go smoother?”

1. Set your budget.

According to The Knot, the average wedding costs around $30,000. Not only is this because of inflation, but weddings are back to pre-COVID sizes – which means more guests and bigger parties! While you can have a luxury dream wedding at $30k, it doesn’t mean you have to spend that much. You can have the wedding of your dreams, no matter your budget. But you need to set a budget.

This will come in handy when researching fees for each of your vendors and figuring out what you may need to compromise on or DIY. You may find ways to save by choosing a date this is on a weekday or during off-season, or perhaps buying an off-the-rack dress instead of made-to-measure.

Over half of polled couples go over their planned budgets, so don’t beat yourself up if you do go over. An experienced wedding planner can help you to stay within budget while having the time of your life.

2. Prioritize your vendors.

Some couples have their heart set on a particular venue, or save their dollars for a DJ and band who can keep the party going. Others prioritize photography (hi! hello! me!) and some couples hire a planner and leave it to them to plan, decorate, and coordinate.

Know what’s most important to you, and plan on allocating your budget towards those priorities. If you are planning a microwedding or elopement, photography and travel may be your biggest expense and require the most research on your part. If you are planning a bigger wedding, most of my couples prioritize the venue, catering, photography, and the dress.

The best and most highly sought-after vendors can book up quickly – popular wedding dates during peak season can book out up to 2 years in advance! So if you are set on a certain vendor for your big day, don’t hesitate to reach out to them and have a retainer ready. The closer you get to your wedding day, the more limited your options will be.

I do want to let you in on a little secret though – planners and coordinators are worth every single penny. Couples who pass on coordinators tend to leave the job to a well-meaning family member or friend. The job is stressful and can leave them frazzled and unable to enjoy the party. Experienced coordinators ensure your day runs smoothly, and you can relax and celebrate your marriage with your friends and family.

3. Know what you want to do.

I want you both to sit down with a notebook and your favorite pen, and daydream. Dream about what your perfect day will look like. What traditions will you take part in? What will you completely toss aside? If money weren’t an object, what would you do together, and who will be there? Let the perfect day take shape on paper.

Your wedding is about your union, and should reflect you in the most authentic way. If you don’t want to toss the bouquet, don’t do it. If you want to marry at the edge of a canyon wall, go for it! Have conflicting opinions on what your wedding should look like? This is a wonderful time for you both to collaborate and create something beautiful.

After you’ve dreamed together, create a Pinterest board and start pinning some images that reflect your perfect day. This will become your wedding mood board and help you pull details together.

4. Create a timeline.

This is absolutely necessary, and something I help my couples with all the time. A timeline is absolutely necessary to keep your day running smoothly. Not only will your bridal party and guests know what’s happening, but your vendors will know when to be in the right place at the right time.

If you want a certain style to your photos, definitely talk to your photographer about help creating a timeline. Your photographer will know when the light will be best, where you should be during certain times of day, and how to manipulate your timeline. If your planner has a timeline in mind, this is a wonderful time for you, your planner, and your photographer to collaborate.

5. Pay attention to the weather!

Whether you’re planning a destination wedding or a celebration right at home, pay attention to the climate and weather around your chosen date. A mid-summer wedding here in Texas may mean an indoor ceremony and reception because of triple digit temperatures. You may want to consider a sunrise ceremony if you’re considering a destination Colorado mountain wedding during the monsoon season. There’s a reason spring and autumn are considered peak wedding season – the weather is usually pleasant and mild. Usually. Always have a backup plan in case of inclement weather.

6. Know your guests.

From my personal experience in the wedding industry, 10-20% of those invited don’t RSVP, and about 30% of those that RSVP don’t show up. Of course, this number becomes a lot smaller with microweddings.
To mitigate this heartbreak, make your guest list as tight as possible. Only invite those that really care about you and want to celebrate with you. Grandma’s second niece’s cousin that you met once at a family reunion 15 years ago? You can probably leave them off the guest list. Not only will tightening the guest list save you the stress of wondering if your guests will show, you’ll also save some money per head.

Also consider the guest experience that you want. It’s totally okay to want an adults-only celebration. Just make sure you inform your guests in your invitation beforehand. To make sure all guests feel wanted and included, consider hiring childcare at the reception or somewhere nearby.

7. Trust your vendors.

Your vendors are wedding professionals and want nothing more than to make your wedding day the most magical experience for you. Seriously. We will go above and beyond to make sure you can relax and enjoy your wedding day exactly how you envisioned it. Especially if you can give your creative vendors creative freedom. Your florist, photographer, videographer, designers, and more can take your vision and turn it into something even more incredible. That’s why we’re here, and that’s exactly what I want to do for you.