Beginning Steps in Planning Your Wedding

You just got engaged and your wedding planning excitement is in full swing.  Your head is filled with colors, flowers, dresses, etc. You are trying to get a theme and color scheme in mind.  But that is not where you should begin your planning.  You don’t need a theme or color scheme.  As you plan your wedding, your colors and style will emerge naturally. 

First Step – Guest List:

After you have set your wedding budget, your first decision needs to be your guest list and the number of people you plan to invite.  You would hate to book a venue that is not large enough for the number of guests you are expecting.  So many of your decisions and costs are going depend on the number of guests you are going to invite.  Your guest list will consist of the collection of smaller lists; family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, attendants. The bride and groom list should be close in number. Each set of parents add who they wish to add to the list. 

Second Step – The Venue: 

          

Once you have finalized the guest list, you are ready to start your search for a venue.  There are two main ways to narrow your search; location and type. Save some time and do some research before you go to visit the venue.  Find out specifically what is included in the price; tables, linens, set up, take down, caterer on site or not, venue coordinator, etc.  It is not necessary for you to be totally in love with your venue.  You are not going to be living there…just getting married there.  If you can see yourself saying “I do” but the chairs or tiles in the bathroom are not exactly your style, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Now the rest…

Now that you have your guest list and your venue booked, you can start thinking about colors, flowers, music, menu and all the other decisions.  But don’t let those decisions stress you out.  Keep it simple.  You do need to have some color at your wedding. It can be colors that you like or colors that would look good on your bridesmaids.  If you are not sure what kind of flowers you want, talk with a florist, look at flower galleries, read real wedding blogs to find something that you like.  If the flowers in the pictures are out of your price range, let the florist know that is the color and look you like and have them suggest flowers that are more in line with your budget.  

You have a dress you love, a centerpiece idea,  foods that you definitely want…then build your wedding out from there.  

Happy Planning!!