We’re engaged…. now what?
Here is a Wedding Planner’s Guide to Your Big Day
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your proposal! One of the days you’ve been dreaming of your whole life is now a speck on the near horizon… but what’s next?
The wedding planning process should be a time for celebrating your journey of love and bringing your special day to life - not a dreaded, lengthy checklist that’s hard to navigate and leaves you feeling overwhelmed. In honor of National Proposal Day, we’re paving your roadmap to the altar with these five helpful steps to a headache-free planning process.
Step 1: Dream Up Your Day
You’ve officially made it to the next stage of your relationship, which comes with a fresh new title - fiancé. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably been saving wedding inspiration to your Pinterest boards since you started dating or might have even been your first board, but for those who are opting for a clean slate, here’s a guide to start the process of dreaming up your special day:
Put together a mood board with images, colors, symbols, and words that represent your love for one another
Find inspiration through social media or designers’ work portfolios (see our’s here)
Start a list of must-haves and have-nots and decide on what you’re willing to compromise on vs. what you can’t imagine not having when your day comes
Ask your married friends and family for ideas and advice on what they loved about their weddings or, in hindsight, what they would have chosen to do differently - see what resonates with you and leave the rest.
Step 2: Envision Your Setting
Outlining a rough setting and relative time frame can help you to start piecing together parts of the planning puzzle. Ask yourself questions like:
What time of year makes the most sense for our life and wedding vision?
Do we want a summer beach vibe or a traditional chapel ceremony in winter? How about a springtime country club moment or a festive fall reception?
Can we see ourselves having a big celebration with everyone we can think of or an intimate vow reading with just our closest circle?
While you’re not yet at the point of needing a definitive answer, having organized thoughts and ideas around your day will help you in picking the right wedding planner to take the lead on turning your ideas into a beautiful reality.
Step 3: Who You Work With Matters
The wedding planning process is composed of a bunch of moving parts and loose ends that require careful attention to achieve the ultimate goal of your graceful walk down the aisle.
Don’t be fooled at the common misconception that these events are an easy walk in the park - full of beautiful florals, timeless place settings, and delicious cake trials. If you want your dream wedding to come to a full fruition, then it’s important to understand that it’s equally about the logistics, as it is design, and that involving a skilled planner in your event coordination is key to pulling off a flawless day.
When looking for a planner, focus on ensuring that your vision AND values align. You should leave your meetings feeling understood vs. overwhelmed and inspired vs. tired.
Here are a few things to consider when searching:
Does this designer’s portfolio align with our personality and aesthetic?
Do they have my best interest at heart?
Does this planner’s services fit within my budget?
Do they have the necessary resources and skill set to ensure that everything we are hoping for can be done? (Vendors, locations, etc.)
Are they well-equipped to handle the project management side or is their expertise limited to just design?
Do they have tools and systems in place to help me stay organized, with easy access to all of our project materials?
Finding the right planner is much like finding the right spouse - don’t settle until you find the perfect match.
Step 4: Collaboration + Trust = Perfect Planning
As the future bride & groom, your job is to share your vision and our’s is to bring it to life. Collaboration is so important throughout the planning process. After all, no one knows how to paint the picture of your love story better than you.
That being said, guided expertise from a trusted professional can help relieve much of the heavy lifting that comes with the wedding planning journey. Their ability to manage the necessary timelines and effectively communicate with vendors & venues, will ensure that all objectives are kept on track until the wedding bells start ringin’.
Step 5: Sit Back & Enjoy the Ride
We know, it sounds cliché, but it’s true. This is a day that you’ll never forget (hopefully for all of the right reasons) and the planning process should be, too! Avoid the stress and take the time to soak up the engagement-phase of your relationship and plan your future together. Use this time to reminisce on special memories and all of the reasons you fell in love in the first place. Then, take that love and personify it through a beautiful wedding day design.
We wish you a day full of love and light as your two worlds officially collide. Cheers to you!
To learn more about our client journey and our full-service event planning options, click here.
