#WeddingWednesday: The Getting Started Guide
Calling ALL new bride-to-be's! These highly requested #WeddingWednesday posts are for you! I decided to start participating in this weekly topic now because we only have 5 months left until my big day! I know I have done a couple wedding posts on how to start planning your day, but I figured since I am starting a #WW series, I needed to start from the beginning just to recap everything I have previously said.I'm by no means giving away any details of my big day, but I want this to be helpful for everyone in the same position as me with the same questions I had. Unless you have planned a wedding before, you will have no idea where to begin, but as time goes by you learn and either love it or never want to plan another wedding in your life.Today, we are going to start with the basics as I take you through a step-by-step guide after the proposal. Sometimes the first step is the hardest especially when you are constantly being asked "do you have a date?", "do you know where you want to get married?" etc. Believe me, the questions will never end.The very first thing you need to concentrate on after the proposal is CELEBRATING. This is literally the best time of your life and you'll never have that shocked feeling of just being proposed to again. So bask in all of these emotions, take those countless ring selfies and celebrate for the week, month, or however long you decide before the overwhelming part begins! Here is a funny little blog post from WeddingWire that is 100% accurate - click the link here to see The 6 Stages of Being Proposed to!The next step: GET INSPIRED. This used to be more difficult before Pinterest was created. People had to buy wedding magazines to see the latest + greatest in the wedding biz. Now all you have to do is type in "elegant, classy wedding" or "rustic, chic diy" and 1000's of ideas pop up on Pinterest. Free & quick plus you get to keep boards of everything you like.Figure out a BUDGET. One of the very first things you need to do is set a budget. Find out who's paying. Is it the bride's parents? The grooms? Or maybe you are needing to save up to pay for it yourself. Make a list of the most important items you want to splurge on all the way to the items you really could care less about. For instance, my venue, dress, photography and videography were top priority and the cake and invitations were lowest on my list. This changes for everyone so find what works best for you and starting adding numbers.You may think it is early in the game, but create a rough draft GUEST LIST. You're probably thinking why? I promise you, it'll help in the long run. The first two questions EVERY VENDOR will ask you is "What is your date?" and "How many guests are you inviting?" That way you have an estimate when they ask you these questions. Don't worry, you can add to the list or subtract from the list as the days go by. What I have learned to do is make an Excel sheet of "For Sures" and "Maybes". Once you know how much you will be paying per person, it will make it 100% easier to decide.Now it's time to SET A DATE. The question every one has been asking since the minute he proposed. There are many factors that go into setting a date and staying in budget. There are certain months that are considered "off-peak" and "peak" seasons so be careful and pay attention to those details.
One extra thing I encourage everyone to do is create an account on WeddingWire. They help you plan your wedding and keep your planning process organized which is so helpful. You can also type in the location of where you are getting married and they select vendors, such as DJs, florists, calligraphers, bakeries in the surrounding areas to help you out during your search. What I love best about WeddingWire is how they help me keep up with my budget. Every time you book a vendor, you type in the price you paid and it deducts from your budget. Isn't that amazing?! So go check them out and let me know how you like it.
Thank you everyone for reading my first #WeddingWednesday post. I had so much fun writing it and can't wait to write more! :) If you have any topics you are wanting to see or have questions - please feel free to message me! I love talking wedding talk!