You’ve been dreaming of your wedding day since you were a little girl. The dress, the dance, the look in your husband’s eyes when he sees you looking like a dang princess! You’ve planned it all out…hypothetically. Now that it’s time to do the actual wedding planning, however, it seems like the devil really is in the details and it’s a little overwhelming. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “Every journey begins with a single step,” and as my father later added, “That first step is the hardest darn one.”
So let me help you take your first step of wedding planning! What needs to be established before you make a single call? Your budget! Here’s three little pointers from the professionals on how to organize your budget in a way that will serve you well throughout your wedding planning process!
Dream up your ideal wedding & write it down
If time and money were not factors, what would your perfect wedding day look like? The bougiest princess ball gown? A seven layer ice cream cake? A venue that looks like a castle? Dream big and write it all down! What are the moments you envision when you dream up your wedding day? Those are the ones you won’t want to negotiate!
Decide what parts of your dream wedding are actually not that important to you or are simply impractical (i.e. having a fondue fountain in the bridal suite with all the fancy dresses). Either cross the items off, or move them to the bottom of the priority list!
Rank your Vendors by importance to you
Now that you know your non-negotiables, you should budget for them first! Maybe the number one thing you want at your wedding is a kickass dance party; your priorities will probably favor an incredible DJ and a venue with great dance space! Maybe your top priority is the luxurious atmosphere of your wedding. Well, if you want to get married in a mansion, write it at the top of your list! You should probably also have a space reserved at the top for photography & videography. If you’re going to invest money in a day that happens once, invest in the quality vendor who will help you relive it!
This will help you think about your vendors: the ones you absolutely have to have and the ones that are negotiable.
Leave a financial buffer
You may find, once you start making calls, that vendors have certain deals and packages that cost a small amount more than you had planned on. It’s truly in your best interest to have some wiggle room! For instance, you may plan to pay $4500 for a quality photographer, but actually have $5500 set aside in case they have a special deal or you want artwork for your home later. It’s better to set aside that money now instead of (1) going into the negative to get what you want or (2) not getting what you want!
It doesn’t have to be complicated, just get started! You’ll find that once you take that first step, the momentum accumulates and soon you’ll be enjoying planning out all of your precious details without stress! Happy Wedding planning!!
For help planning your COVID Wedding, check out our 6 Simple Steps to Your Perfect Wedding
While your planning your perfect wedding, don’t forget about your bomb engagement photos! Check out our resources on Where to Go for Your Engagement Photos and How to STUN! We’ve got you covered on all fronts, girl!
Finally, don’t forget to check out our current 14 Favorite Wedding Venues in Charlotte and see if your dream venue is on our list!
