No two couples are the same and the amount of adequate time needed to prepare for a wedding is different for everyone. However, expert event organizers usually put in at least 12 to18 months to properly prepare for a wedding. If you are one of the couples who decided to tie the knot without professional help, keep on reading and let us help you bring your dream wedding to life.
Be Organized
Working under a time constraint can be very stressful, especially if you decided not to hire a professional wedding organizer. If you are going to do most of the work, it is imperative to stay organized. You have to create a checklist and keep track of all the important things that need to be taken care of before the wedding date.
You can use a binder or a diary planner to note all the important dates and deadlines. Place all your invoice in one envelope because you wouldn’t know when you will need to show proof of purchase. It will also be helpful to create an email account dedicated completely to all wedding transactions.
Delegate Responsibility
Though brides usually take on more than half of the responsibility of planning a wedding, it will be beneficial to delegate. Don’t be shy to ask favors. For example, your bridesmaids can help book appointments like the salon and food tasting with the caterer.
There is also the maid of honor whose main role is to make your life easier. As your right-hand woman, the maid of honor should help you in important preparations like finding suppliers, ordering decors, and making sure that you are covering everything in your checklist.
On the wedding day itself, remember that you have your family and friends that can help. If you didn’t hire a wedding planner, you could ask the groomsmen and bridesmaids to help welcome and usher guests to their respective seats. They can be your coordinators in small little ways.
Choose a Theme
Looking on Pinterest for your wedding theme can be overwhelming. There are countless beautiful wedding themes on the internet, and deciding on one can be hard. However, you need to have a serious sit down with your partner about what theme you want because it is practically where the wedding concept will revolve around.
There are many seasonal trends that you will see online depending on the date or month your wedding would take place. However, remember that your theme should reflect your and your partner’s unique style. You can start by looking at your wardrobe and the common colors you usually wear. That can serve as your benchmark for the whole wedding color palette.
Save the Date and Wedding Invitations
A save-the-date is completely different from the formal and final wedding invitations. Save-the-date is like an alert that you send out to guests to let them know that you will invite them to your wedding in a few months. It is usually sent out at least 6-8 months before sending the proper wedding invitations.
Generally speaking, you should send the invitations out eight to 12 weeks before the wedding date. This will give your family, friends, and other guests enough time to prepare and clear the date on their calendar. This is the third on your list because once they RSVP, you’ll have a clearer idea of the total headcount of guests at your wedding. It will also help you finalize seating arrangements and your menu package with the caterer.
Shop for Dresses
In reality, this wedding planning phase is one of the most stressful for many brides to be. Finding the perfect one for you will take some time because of the many bridal dresses you can choose from. However, with proper organization, you can create a workable timeline like the one below:
- Nine months before the wedding — Buy a dress.
- Five months — Find a tailor and buy accessories.
- Three months — Your dress should arrive.
- Six to eight weeks — Have your first fitting.
- Four weeks — Hold your second fitting.
- Two weeks — Schedule your last fitting.
- One week — Pick up the wedding dress.
Keep in mind that it’s best to buy a dress after you have chosen a venue. The location is an important deciding factor because it may not be convenient for you to wear an elaborate ball gown on a beach wedding surrounded by sand.
Contact Vendors
Your wedding vendors are a crucial part of the wedding planning process. Being stuck with the wrong supplier you are not comfortable working with can make or break the whole wedding structure. You must build a vendor list that you and your soon-to-be husband both agree on. There are many types of services that you will need on your special day. Below are the most important ones:
- Photographer
- Venue
- Hair and makeup team
- Bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’ wardrobe
- Baker for your cake
- Florist
- Music
- Supplier for stationery and invitations
- Caterer
- Jeweler
- Supplier for giveaways
- Supplier for chairs and tables
- Transportation
- Lighting designer
Preparing for one of the most important days of your life should give you more joy than stress. Now that you have an idea of how to begin planning, there is no doubt that you’ll have the best wedding ever.
