Planning a wedding can be tough, but it doesn’t always have to be. If you’re wondering how do I plan a wedding, here’s a few tips that might help.

1. Plan early, be thankful later

The sooner you begin the planning process, the less stress you’ll have on your wedding day. Create a focused and clear plan for your wedding so that as it gets closer to the big day, you know exactly what needs to be done, where and who is doing it.

 2. Be bold, be creative, have fun

This wedding day is about you two and the story that is your relationship. Cover your wedding day in as many details as you’d like to reflect and showcase the things in your lives that brought you together.

It could be college, nature, video-games, your love of Disney, etc. It’s your story, tell it how you want, there really is no wrong way to have your wedding!

3. Find your budget

Until you know your budget, it’s a little hard to know what you have to spend for the wedding day. Before you start booking your dream venue, make sure you know how much you are able to spend in each vendor category.

You’ll also want to know what the retainer / deposit requirement is and payment schedule. You can plan out as you need once you know your budget and costs. The earlier you start planning, the more time and budget you potentially will have. 

4. Invite the ones that matter, first.

The guest list is one of the biggest things to determine a lot of things. Catering costs, venue size, number of photographers, etc. You can totally go big with the guest list, just invite your closest ones first and go from there.

Who comes to your wedding is up to you and your partner and no one else. Don’t let anyone guilt trip you into inviting people you would rather not invest your money into.

5. Keep it close and centralized

When you’re deciding on the wedding location, think about the logistics and travel time. Try to keep your wedding more centrally located so that it’s a little easier for your guests and you. Try to squeeze as much time out of your day as possible, it happens fast.

If you’re going to have a long break in your day, try to think of something your guests could either do, visit or see to stay busy till it’s time for the reception. Hotels and even AirBnBs nearby also help your guests out a lot.

6. Stay organized 

Whether on a digital spreadsheet or an old-school three-ring binder, be sure to stay organized. Keep a record of your vendor contracts, invoices, budget details as well as inspirational images for your day. Having it all in one place really helps calm the nerves.

7. Ask lots of questions.

The vendors you choose should be experts in their field, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions and tell them exactly what you want for your big day. They’ll help you understand what will work with your budget.

Things to ask your wedding vendors

• How many weddings have you worked?
• Can I see a full wedding gallery of images?
• Are you insured?
• Is there a backup plan?
• What’s the payment schedule?
• What do you need from me?

 With that last item, let them know what stage of planning you’re at and they might have more suggestions for you.

8 Ask about the rules

You will want to ask both the ceremony and reception venues for the list of restrictions. Some churches don’t allow photographer to use flash or go beyond the second pew. Knowing what you can and cannot do before you start making all these plans for your setup and décor, just makes life easier.

9 Keep your partner involved

Your wedding day is for the both of you, make sure each partner is involved in the process. The day is a ceremony and celebration of the love you share for one another, so do it together. Major decisions require them to be done together as well as you want to be willing to compromise.

10 Avoid being overwhelmed

Do each wedding task as them come and one at a time. Don’t get yourself over worked, stressed out and buried in deep. Prioritize your time, budget and energy on the more important things.

This day is supposed to be fun and memorable! You don’t want to get yourself bogged down by traditions or trends that a year later you won’t even care about. This day is about you two, the people around you and the moments throughout it.