I get it. It can be overwhelming at first. There are a million little details which mean a million little things to plan for. And even if you’re planning something small, you have to start somewhere. Here are some good starting points to get you ready for that big day!
1.Get a planner or binder : Having a main hub for your wedding plan is important! I’m a huge paper planner anyways but I think something like a wedding definitely deserves it’s own planning hub.
If you’re okay with buying one, Michael’s has a couple really nice ones. Like this Gartner Studios Wedding Planner or this David Tutera Wedding Planner. But if you’re not looking to spend anything on a wedding planner/agenda no worries! There’s plenty of FREE and fabulous resources on-line! You can go ahead and customize your own wedding binder. Wedplan.com has an out of this world 32-page wedding checklist that’s #amazing. I definitely suggest checking out the page anyways for some inspiration and ideas. You can also check out this free printable here for more DIY wedding planning printouts.
If paper isn’t something you’re a fan of, there are several great apps for the bride on the go. I suggest Wedding Happy which is not only free but just overall an outstanding app that has everything you need to plan to the T. Another great one is the Wedding Planner by The Knot. I’m sure as a bride to be, you’ve checked out the Knot so you can trust the app and make it a one stop shop.
2. Figure out a budget: Before you start the real fun stuff, you have to talk about the not so fun stuff: MONEY.
Weddings are expensive; they are a business within themselves and things can add up quickly. It’s important to start thinking of a budget and use that as a guideline as to what you can and cannot do. The first thing I thought of was the budget for my dress, so if you’re at lost as to what to budget just start off small. I told myself I wouldn’t spend more than $2,000 on a dress and I actually found the dress of my dreams UNDER my budget price. If you go to a good dress shop, the ladies will work with your budget and will find you something you love.
Figuring out a budget will always allow you to start thinking about WHAT kind of wedding you’ll have. Will it be something small and intimate? Or do you want something that will allow you to invite everyone and their mothers? 🙂 My fiance and I made the decision to not have an actual wedding party (ie. bridesmaids and grooms men) so this opened up other possibilities for us which in turn made budgeting easier.
3. The guest list: Going off of number 2, start coming up with a guest list. If you’ve nailed down (or even somewhat nailed down) a budget, then you can start a guest list. Remember this is your day so think about who you really want to invite. If you have a large budget and aren’t concerned about who you’re inviting then invite away, girl! It is a party after all. 🙂 Like I said, not everyone will actually have a bridal party but if you’re having bridesmaids and grooms men this is the time you could start picking out who you want.
Ladies, I know it’s an extra expense but little, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” gifts are so cute! Support independent and check out Etsy for some unique yet cute gifts!
Stay tuned for another post with my top picks for bridesmaids gifts via Etsy.
4. Start thinking of a theme: Now before some of the really hard stuff comes into play, start thinking of a theme. This can actually lead you to what type of venue you’d be interested in. Country side chic? This could mean a beautiful outdoor/barn reception. Victorian classic? A more upscale, soiree may be what you’re dreaming of. I think picking out the theme is the best part and allows your creative side to shine! If you’re not so creative and need that extra kick check out Pinterest! There’s literally every kind of wedding theme idea available. So whether you’re punk rock, to new age gothic to boho chic you’ll find something that will tickle your fancy!
I hope this post was informative and that there were some resources you could use! If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please share below! I love hearing your feedback. I know there could be something I’m missing so add anything you like below!
Until next time,
What app did you use to make the photo?
I use picmonkey.com for my blog and afterlight for my Instagram
Thanks!
This is all so perfect! I’ve been helping my father and his fiancée plan their wedding (I’ve been so thrilled and excited that she’s included me in the whole process!), and we’ve been really trying to figure out where to start. I’m going to share this post with her, and we can finally get some things rolling forward. 🙂
Wonderful! It is a hard process to start because there’s so many things you have to plan for! It can definitely be overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be. Congrats to your father and his fiancee! Wishing them the best <3 <3