Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times in your life! However, it can also be stressful and overwhelming. There are numerous decisions you will have to make and it doesn’t always help to have multiple 3rd party opinions coming your way. When you first get engaged, you may find yourself reaching out to friends and family who have already experienced the process looking for advice. That’s why we teamed up with one of Colorado’s top wedding planning companies, Promise Event Planners, to share 10 things you should know before planning your wedding. Instead of polling the audience, take advice straight from the professionals!
One: Pick your Top 3
Pick your top three most important things! As a planner, this is one of the first things I ask my brides to do. Take a step back and think about the three elements that are the most important to you and your fiancé on your wedding day.
Is an incredible photographer a must-have?
Do you envision a band playing instead of a DJ?
Are you obsessed with lighting and installations?
Or do you just want to eat some really good food?
Whatever your top three things may be, those are the things that will make your day exactly as you have always imagined it. These are also going to be the top three things you spend the most money on, so you will need to budget accordingly. What would your top 3 be?
Two: Budget, budget, budget.
Decide what your real true budget is and who all will be contributing to the day. You shouldn’t start shopping for your venue or vendor team until you know the real numbers! If you sign a contract for a venue before knowing your budget, you may not have much left to work with for the remaining vendors.
Three: Create a new Pinterest board!
When you’re ready to start planning, create a new Pinterest board. I know you most likely already have a dream wedding Pinterest board, and while I hate to tell you this, you’re going to want to start a new board from scratch. Although this task may seem daunting, it is in your best interest.
Pinterest is such a blessing and a curse when it comes to planning a wedding. It is an amazing place to gather ideas, find amazing photos, and be able to see all the things you love together in the same place. The downside of Pinterest though, is that it makes us believe that we have to have it all, and that is just impossible. Starting a new board will give you an opportunity to think about the most important vendors and elements of your big day!
Four: Love your vendors!
You spend a lot of time with your wedding vendors, especially your photographer, so you should love them! Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you want. Reach out to multiple options. Meet your potential vendors for coffee or lunch. Do a trial photo session with them or hair and makeup session. While some decisions must be made promptly, don’t rush into a costly contract without being sure of your choice!
Five: Why we love the first look!
A first look will save you time and give you the real emotion everyone wants! Here are a few reasons why we love the idea of doing a first look.
You Can Shake the Jitters:While you are getting ready with your girls and feeling every emotion under the sun, you can’t help but envision what it will be like to see your groom for the very first time. By doing a first look you have the opportunity to see the person you love the most and the person that knows just how to calm you down in a stressful situation. Seeing your groom will help you to shake the pre I do jitters and make you feel excited and ready for the day ahead.
He Can Be Himself:Some guys don’t exactly love crying in public…we get it. Doing a first look allows the groom to genuinely express himself without having to worry about all eyes on him. Come on ladies, we all want him to shed a few happy tears when he sees you on the big day. Doing a first look will give you the results you really want.
You will Remember Your Ceremony: If you decided against doing a first look, the first time you will be seeing your guy is at the alter. You will be nervous about how you look, if you wrote the perfect vows, and if the reception will look like you pictured it, all while trying not to trip over your two left feet. There will be so many emotions swirling around in your head that by the time you clear the emotional fog you will be saying I do and the ceremony will feel like a blur. Doing a first look helps you calm down and will allow you to be as present as possible during the ceremony. The ceremony is such a special and important time for the two of you as a couple, you won’t want to forget it.
It Saves You Time Later: As amazing as all the photos are, they take up quite a bit of time. I have some brides have a first look with their future husband, take all their bridal party photos, and even invite their family to take their formal photos all before the wedding. This allows the two of you to be a guest at your own wedding and even join your cocktail hour to spend more time with family and friends. I know this takes away some of the elements of surprise but it will give you even more time with the ones you love most.
Six: Things will go wrong…
Expect the unexpected! Things will go wrong and that’s okay! It’s the things that didn’t go as planned that make your wedding day memorable and completely yours! I’ve had bad things happen at weddings and the bride had no idea until I told her well after her honeymoon! No matter what happens you will be so obliviously happy on your wedding day and that’s all that matters! Don’t let a little rain or a forgotten table setting ruin the reason you planned this special celebration; you’re marrying the love of your life!
Seven: Make it fun!
Make planning fun! Do date nights where you talk about your wedding, be positive, don’t treat this planning thing as a job! It’s supposed to be fun!
Eight: It’s okay to say no.
Know this, you cannot please everyone! This is your day, not your mother’s or sister’s or best friends’ past experiences. Don’t be afraid to say no to all the unwanted wedding advice.
Nine: Spend time together!
Plan some time away with just you and your partner on the wedding day! Tell your planner to give you both 15-20 minutes 100% alone on your wedding day. The perfect time for this is right after your ceremony! Head to the bridal suite or a private area at the venue and simply just be. Sip on a glass of champagne and celebrate the moment that just occurred! You will be surrounded by people the entire day. Make sure to take some time away to celebrate the biggest day of your life with just the two of you.
Ten: Hire a planner. Trust us!
Hire a planner! I’m sure you saw that one coming…but it is so true. Hiring a professional takes the stress off of you, your family, and friends in the planning process and on the day of the wedding. We do this for a living, so we know how and when to get things done. Having a person to take on all the stressful details and preparation makes all the difference in the world. Hiring a planner is truly the best wedding present you can give to yourself and to your future partner. Enjoy the day and let your planner handle the rest!
Ready to start planning your day? Explore our “Start Planning” page to get started!
Located in Colorado and want to hire Promise Event Planners for your big day? Check our their packages.
You can also explore our Vendor Collective for more planners located within the Rocky Mountain region.
