When it comes to your wedding, there are a number of things you either need to know long before preparations begin. Knowing things such as how much money you have to spend on making one of the biggest days of your life as grand or as personable as possible, who you want there to share in your special day, and what day you even want it to happen are all things that you should either figure out as quickly as possible or know already. It makes planning a lot easier if you don’t have to scramble to find a wedding date or panic when you realize you’re out of money. Below is a list of things to make sure you have taken care of long before the big day arrives.
Set A Budget
Much of what you can or can’t do will depend on what you can or are willing to pay for. Having a budget set before you start will give you an idea of what you’re willing to pay for using a limited amount of money. This would include the money you and your partner are willing to spend, as well as any donations from friends and family. If it can be used for the wedding, it should be accounted for in the budget.
When planning out what you’re going to do or spend, be ready for a dose of reality, as most couples are unaware of the entire spectrum of expenditures involved until it comes time to sit down and figure everything out to the last detail. Once you’ve determined exactly what you want to do, you’re all set to move forward with contracting services, venues, and the guest list.
Consider The Date
Choose a few preferred bridal dates and strive to be flexible, if feasible, so you are not confined when booking the wedding location and suppliers. Consider external aspects such as how certain popular dates maybe for other brides-to-be (causing scarce availability and increased costs). You should also take into account whether the dates would be ideal for your guests and the price variances of venues and providers across seasons.
Put Together the Guest List
Taking decisions concerning the guest list may be a difficult process that is heavily influenced by your budget and venue. Create a shortlist of guests with your fiancé and essential family members. You’ll almost certainly have to perform some cuts. You’ll also need to determine whether or not to invite kids and who would be given a plus one.
Explore Venue Alternatives
Before you sign the papers, make sure to compare costs, packages, and any constraints (such as guest count and minimum budget spending) from the different probable wedding and reception locations. Even if you find a location and a package pricing that you genuinely like, keep exploring other options. Before deciding on a price, check around and learn what other locations are charging.
Get Wedding Rings
Take a minute to appreciate your engagement status before going wedding band shopping. Custom wedding rings are an excellent choice if you want something really unique, as designing your own rings makes everything that much more personal between you and your partner. You can either create something new or redesign an old ring to better fit your tastes, either way, the rings become something special to you.
It might feel overwhelming to take care of so much in preparation for your special day, but it’s because you are the one in control that you’re able to make it special. You get to decide everything, from the guest list to the venue to even what your wedding rings look like. As long as these things are taken care of before the big day, you’ll be able to spend your wedding day focusing on what’s important: you and your partner getting married.
About the author:
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.