Steps For Planning a Wedding - Wedding Planner

There is no easy shortcut to planning any wedding. There are so many decisions to make and things to organize, the task can get a little overwhelming, if you don't know where to start. If you can't afford to hire a wedding planner, the next best thing is to buy a great wedding planning guide that will help you plan your wedding, just like a professional but without the hefty price tag.

Steps For Planning A Wedding

You first have to set a realistic budget. If you are paying for the entire wedding yourselves, you will need to work out how much you can afford to pay for your wedding. Then work out a savings plan for the months leading up to your wedding, to ensure that you will be able to meet your budget.

If your parents are contributing to the wedding financially in some way, you need to get them to tell you how much they are willing to spend. You will also need to ask them how they are going to pay, either upfront or in payments. It's important you know what to expect, so that you don't find yourselves owing money, but not having the funds in time to make the necessary payments.

Pre-Wedding Plans

Before you can even begin the planning process, you need to do a little research. A fun exercise is to collect as much information, including brochures and pictures, of all the things you would like included in your wedding. As part of this task, you should also collect quotes from the various suppliers, to get an idea of how much these things will cost.

Choosing a theme and a color scheme for your wedding, will give you a reference point to help you focus on what things you need to look for, that will fit in with your choices. Doing as much of the preparation work beforehand will help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the amount of planning you have to do, especially when all the emotional turmoil sets in during the planning process. After all, the last thing you need is to be stressed out when planning one of the most important day's of your life.

The Ceremony

A traditional wedding is usually held in a church, however these days more couples are choosing alternative options. Some lovely choices include the beach or a riverside ceremony, if being by the water appeals to you. The botanic gardens or a local park is also a great setting for the warmer months. You may need to obtain a permit from your local council beforehand, to get permission to use public facilities. Another option would be to combine the ceremony and the reception at the one venue.

The Venue

Make sure to shop around to get the best value for your money. There are many options open to you in regard to what style of reception will fit in with your theme, and what type of menu will compliment your choice. An important tip is, don't pick just one option and then risk being disappointed if it works out to not be suitable or doesn't fit within your allocated budget.

Bridal Attire

The second biggest expense is usually the bridal attire. Check out the discount bridal stores for bargains on everything including your dress, veil, shoes, gloves etc. You don't always have to go for a traditional wedding dress, you could look at places that sell evening gowns for something a little different and unique to you.

Wedding Accessories

Once you have organized the basic elements of your wedding, you can then begin to plan for the other important details such as the cake, flowers, photographer, invitations etc. It is in the small details that can lead to derailing the best of plans. Therefore, you need to keep a close eye on every part of your itinerary so that you don't forget anything. When it's something as important as a wedding, it's important that you personally double check every detail and not leave the responsibility to someone else.