Try not to let the thought of planning your wedding cause you a world of stress. Easier said than done, we know. But, remember that this is a happy, joyous time! After all, you’re engaged! Furthermore, there are first steps you can take to ease your worry and ensure the wedding planning process is a bit smoother.
When it comes to wedding planning, It’s important to first sit down with your partner and discuss the following top three steps, as they will likely take the most time. Once these are firmly in place, continue with the remaining tasks.
1. Talk about the budget
The dreaded money discussion should be the first thing to tackle. It is crucial that you set a budget before proceeding with any other planning. You need to consider the venue, food and your dream wedding dress are just the beginning of the larger costs. Don’t forget the little things like favors and simple décor touches. Things add up very quickly, so setting a budget and staying true to it can be difficult—but you need to hold firm!
2. Plan an estimated timeline
It is not necessary to set a date in stone right off the bat, but it’s smart to at least have an idea as to what time of year you want to have your wedding. This will give you a sense of how long you have to get things organized. For example, if you get engaged in the winter, having a spring wedding may not be enough planning time for you, depending on the size of the affair. This also plays into the budget, as certain times of the year are more expensive as far as venues go.
3. Start your guest list
The third step, starting your guest list, ties together both the wedding timeline and the budget. If you have limited funds, having a very large wedding may not be in the cards. Therefore, you will need to narrow down the guest list to a certain number. On the flip side, if your budget allows for tons of guests, you will need more time to plan accordingly. A wedding’s size determines where you’ll hold the event, the cost and whether travel will be involved. It is recommended that you both make a list–this includes lists from your family members. Of course, from here you can narrow it, but you need that jumping off point in order to move forward.