First of all, if you are recently engaged congratulations! Being newly engaged is such an exciting time in your life but I know the stress of planning the perfect wedding can be tough! I wanted to share a few tips that I have learned or heard along the way that may help when you are planning!
1. The best piece of advice I have heard is not necessarily the easiest thing to hear... Your wedding will not be perfect, but enjoy every second anyways! You can plan for months and something unexpected will most likely still happen on your wedding day. Just know that at the end of your wedding day you are going to be married to the love of your life and that is really the whole point of the day! Any small things that didn't go quite as planned won't even matter at the end of the day.
2. Engagement photos in my opinion are a MUST. Not only do they help you celebrate such a fun time in your life but they help you to feel comfortable with your photographer before the wedding day. You will be a lot more at ease if you get to know the person that is going to spend the whole day with you on your wedding day! This is why all of my wedding packages come with a complimentary engagement session.
3. Choose a photographer that has a style that you love. Look at their social media and websites and make sure that you like their style and the moments that they capture. Once you find the photographer that you love reach out and book them sooner than later. Photographers are booking up super quickly for the next couple years because of all of the 2020 reschedules.
4. Once you have your date picked out reach out and book your top vendors. Again, because of 2020 do this sooner than later. Also, ask them about their Covid policies and rescheduling policies just in case the unthinkable happens. Feel free to ask your top vendors if they have recommendations for other vendors. Most vendors will know of great vendors they have worked with in the past.
5. When wedding planning make sure you are planning the wedding that YOU want. Don't do it for anyone else but YOU. Do you want a big wedding, do it! Small wedding or elope, do it!
6. No matter what kind of wedding you choose, start planning now. Don't wait until the last couple months or the last minute to get things figured out. The stress you will experience if you wait until the last minute just isn't worth it.
7. Consider hiring a wedding planner or a day of coordinator. If you get stressed easily a planner could be a life saver for you. If you are planning on your own consider asking someone you trust to deal with the important things on your wedding day like giving cheques to vendors.
8. Make a list - wants and needs. The needs are most important and you will be sure to incorporate. The wants are great but won't be the end of the world if they aren't included.
9. Communicate with your photographer if there are any family issues that they should be aware of. If there have been divorces or deaths or arguments that could make family photos awkward. It is so much easier to have your photographer (and/or your wedding coordinator) know rather than worry about it on your wedding day. I send out a questionnaire to all of my couples and that is one of the questions on there.
10. Feel free to skip extra expenses like party favors if you want to. Guests will remember the day more than something that they may or may not take home at the end of the night.
11. If you are supplying dinner or midnight supper do what you want. It doesn't have to be a big fancy meal but it can be if you want! If you want a taco truck, pizzas or bbq then do it!
12. Discuss a back up plan. I hope you never need it but you will be relieved to have one if you ever do.
13. Consider a first look with your soon to be spouse. I know tradition is to not see each other until you walk down the aisle but there is something very sweet and intimate about seeing each other first before you have everyone else's eyes on you. You get some one on one time to see each other for the first time. You can exchange your gifts and see each other open them. It also allows you some extra time for couples portraits which then allows you to have more time with your guests later on in the day.
No matter if you choose a first look or go the more traditional way just make sure you are doing what makes you happy.
Brides, I very highly recommend a first look with your dad or grandfather or brothers! It is always such a sweet moment!
14. If you elope or have a small, intimate wedding but still plan to have a reception later on make sure to actually plan it and set a date. Trust me, if you say that is your plan but don't set an actual date it will just keep getting pushed.
Lastly, remember your wedding is all about the love you have for your significant other. Nothing else really matters at the end of the day. Take time for the things you want. Make sure to plan some time for you and your new spouse on your wedding day. Even if it's just for a few minutes to say you did it!