Not sure how to tackle the immense task of planning your wedding? Learn everything you need to know with this wedding planning for dummies checklist. Use these seven tips to make planning the wedding a stress-free, seamless experience.
1. Get the Inside Scoop
The wedding industry is massive, and people in the business know each other. This makes for great networking opportunities. Venues with their own preferred lists can recommend the best caterer to choose, while your photographer might know a great florist.
It’s always great to do your own research, but listen to people who do this for a living. They’ve got the inside scoop and will be able to steer you in the right direction for optimal service. One vendor can easily lead you to another.
2. Cut the Guest List
Learn how to narrow down your wedding guest list. An extravagant wedding with all your friends, family, and acquaintances might be your dream, but the cost of a lavish guest list will soon bring you back to reality.
Everyone invited to the wedding plays a part in the wedding budget. A larger guest list means picking a venue with a bigger capacity, while inviting more guests means more mouths to feed, adding up to a larger catering bill.
3. Keep a Paper Trail
Whether it’s a digital archive or physical printouts, wedding planning for dummies requires a thorough record of every vendor you work with. From booking confirmation to deposit payments, keep tabs on what’s done to avoid confusion or late payments. If you’ve customized any clauses in vendor contracts, ensure they’re written down to steer clear of mishaps down the road, knowing you have the record to prove it.
4. Brush up on Marriage Licences
Your marriage won’t be legal without the right licence. Whether you’re getting married in a religious ceremony that requires an officiant or you’re signing papers at City Hall, brush up on the paperwork necessary for sealing the deal.
Applicable fees, how to apply for a licence, and getting the certificate itself should be dealt with ahead of time so you’re ready to go on the big day.
5. Pick the Right Menu
Wedding planning for dummies means knowing not all your guests are as adventurous with their food as you are. Start thinking about the best way to feed guests at your wedding. An evening reception denotes a sit-down or plated dinner, while it makes more sense to serve passed appetizers at a nighttime reception. Factor in dietary restrictions, allergies, and the rest.
Caterers with this knowledge can create wonderfully delicious options to please every wedding guest, ensuring nobody leaves hungry.
6. Divide the Responsibilities
Dividing tasks between the bride and groom is a win-win for everybody. The bride will haveher own task list, and so will the groom and groomsmen. You will both have your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as interests. If your groom doesn’t know anything about flowers, he probably shouldn’t be in charge of choosing the florist.
Put one person in charge of calling venues while the other handles the band. When you’re both tackling different aspects, it’ll be less overwhelming than leaving it all to one person.
7. Be Realistic with Time
Even if you plan the entire day down to the last minute, it’s unlikely to pan out the way you envision. Don’t stress over this—everything will happen the way it should. From starting the ceremony on time to moving on to the reception, it’s okay if it doesn’t meet the exact second.
When it comes to booking vendors, buying a dress, planning the shower, and the rest of it, the earlier the better. Wedding planning for dummies allows ample time to complete task sahead of schedule, while allowing extra time to account for smaller details or eliminate issues that are no longer a concern.
