Many women dream of planning the perfect wedding, but it can be a huge task! There’s so much to think of, and so many tiny details that the bride often has to deal with. Of course, you should have people to help you out, family and friends, and maybe even a wedding planner! But also, you will end up doing a chunk of the work, because it’s your day after all!
When do I Start Wedding Planning?
If you’re serious about planning the perfect wedding, with everything going exactly as you want to, you start around a year off. It sounds ages away, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly the time goes and how much you have to do. Of course, you can plan in a few months, but it’s a lot easier with time. Wedding planning involves diplomacy, flowers, invites, and lots more! So here’s a basic checklist to make sure you have the dream wedding, especially when you’re planning a wedding in a year.
Tips for Planning the Dream Wedding
There are some basics we need to cover when it comes to wedding planning. One of the most important things is with regard to finances.
- Are you planning to have a budget wedding or a lavish, all-out wedding with all the bells and whistles? Either way, you need to start budgeting for your wedding so you can keep track of everything.
- Decide what you’re going to prioritize and allocate more money there. Are you going to offer a lot of options when it comes to food, or restrict it to a few? Would you rather spend more money on a grand venue or on decorating a simple place? You have to crunch the numbers on this, a bride’s work is never done!
- Don’t keep the numbers set in stone (obviously, you can’t go far above your overall budget, but in terms of what amount you assign to which part). A month before the wedding, you’ll be scrambling to change this and that! So budgeting for your wedding is super important.
1. Make your lists
Figure out who you’re going to invite and who needs to be left out. Are kids going to be at your wedding, and who would your parents and family like to invite? Wedding invites often cause a lot of issues among families, so try to be careful and cool-headed about this, keeping in mind how much you can afford and what the venue can hold. Planning a wedding in a year will give you time to consider this properly.
Planning the Dream Wedding2. Choose your venue and theme
Venues are heavily reliant on your budget, and what kind of wedding you want to have. A small and intimate church wedding, or a large banquet hall? Your call. Many people like to have themed weddings, but it’s up to you whether you want to keep it classic or go whacky.
3. Hire people
A wedding basically needs a small army.
- You have to think about hiring a caterer, unless you’re self-catering your wedding or someone is doing it for you as a favour. You have to offer options for a few dietary preferences, usually.
- You might need to hire a decorator, unless you’re willing to take that on. And a florist!
- A DJ or a band might be required, or you could choose to play music to cut costs.
- Most weddings have a photographer/videographer to capture the great wedding moments.
4. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Of course there are lots and lots of other things you need to do, apart from these basics. For a bride, a big part of the wedding is picking out her dress or outfit (and alterations to said dress or outfit…). You need bridesmaids and gift registers, maybe a wedding website if you’re into that kind of thing. You need to choose designs for, order and send out your wedding invites, sample wedding cakes (delicious!) and do a ton of other things. Arrange for gifts for practically everyone (parents, your spouse, and so on..)
Wedding PlanningDon’t forget to actually make sure you’re getting your marriage licenses on time, that would be a disaster otherwise! As the day’s inch closer, you need to make sure you’re on it with your wedding hair and makeup, and that your venue is picture-perfect for the dream wedding.
Basically, a bride has a lot of work to do! But hopefully, your to-be spouse is willing to shoulder their share, and your parents and friends are happy to help. Make your big day one to remember!
Also Read: Guide To Planning A Wedding During Quarantine
