WEDDING PLANNING: Your FIRST 3 decisions!

hey friends!

Last month we had a bride literally DEVASTATED when she tried to book us for her wedding in 2018, and we were booked. She was soooooo sad. We referred her to some other photographers, and THEY WERE BOOKED TOO. This bride had been getting “sorry, we’re booked” emails back from venues and vendors ALL WEEK.

In sadness and desperation, that bride emailed us again and said, “I had NO IDEA vendors booked up so quickly, I wish there was a book like “Wedding Planning for Dummies!!!!!!”

Immediately, we decided to write a post to help with this! We hope this “Wedding Planning 101” guide helps you simplify the first steps of planning!

 

So, you just said “YES!!!!” and are wearing a shiny ring on your finger – you’re getting MARRIED!!!!! But….. What do you do next? SO OVERWHELMING where to start!

Here are our FIRST THREE DECISIONS we think you should make after getting that ring:

Surprisingly, DO NOT CHOOSE YOUR DATE FIRST!!!!

 

STEP ONE: Immediately talk with your parents, your fiancé, or whoever is helping to PAY for your wedding to discuss and choose a BUDGET. The average wedding in Raleigh, NC costs $34,475, so you need to be transparent IMMEDIATELY to see what you can financially afford.

STEP TWO: Write a list of your MOST IMPORTANT vendors, according to YOUR WISH LIST!!!! To some couples, they’ve had a DREAM VENUE that they just haveeeee to get married at. If so, put “Venue” as your #1. Some couples have always dreamed of working with a specific PHOTOGRAPHER, and couldn’t imagine anyone else capturing their day. If so, put “Photographer” as your #1. Continue down the list: Photographer, Venue, Wedding Planner, Band/DJ, Caterer, Cake, Videographer, etc. in order of importance to YOU both!!!

 

***IMPORTANT TO REALIZE*** Vendors/Venues book up to TWO YEARS in advance!!!!! Seriously!!!!! This is why writing out your “Dream List” BEFORE YOU EVEN CHOOSE A DATE is soooooooooo important!! If your date is FLEXIBLE, you can reach out to your #1 dream vendor and have WAY MORE chance in booking them if your calendar is open to THEIR availability.

STEP THREE: After you’ve booked your #1 Vendor, it also means you’ve chosen your DATE! If it’s in your budget, next book a Wedding Planner!! They’ll help you plan everything from guest lists to napkin colors! In our experience, weddings WITH planners run so much more smoothly, our brides are NOT stressed, and it’s easier on the entire family the day of the wedding!!!

 

If you’d like to PIN our list to your PINTEREST BOARD, use the list below:

 

Once that first month of booking your main vendors happens, we PROMISE the craziness calms down and the rest of planning is a breeze!! Securing your favorite vendors and then choosing a date is the HARDEST PART. The rest will be super easy!!

 

We hope this helps! Good luck!!!

love, Tiffany & Phillip :)