Although the number of marriages in the US has been decreasing since the early 1980s, there are still plenty of people tying the knot. In fact, around 2 million couples say “I do” every year, which is still pretty substantial!
Are you going to be one of these lucky people soon? Then congratulations!
However, these exciting times come with a bit of stress. For example, you need to plan your wedding and everything surrounding it. You want it to be perfect, after all, so the pressure’s on.
To help you out, here are 7 things you should consider when you’re planning your wedding.
1. Set a Budget
Before you get started on anything, you’ll want to sit down and discuss your wedding budget with your significant other.
Like any other milestone in life, a wedding can be pretty pricey, even if it’s a simple one. You’ll want to get a rough idea of how much money you’re willing to spend on the wedding itself and how much you want to put toward other important things, such as your honeymoon and/or a down payment for your first house together.
Once you’ve set a budget, then it’ll be a lot easier to come up with a wedding planning list.
2. Determine Your Guest List
For some people, they have huge families and social circles; we’re talking hundreds of people! On the other hand, some people only keep a close few around them.
What types of people are you and your fiance? The answer will make a significant difference in how you plan for your wedding, especially if you’re sticking with a tight budget.
If you’re of the former group, it’ll be useful to start early on your guest list. For example, if your budget will only allow for 100 guests, 50 from each side, it might not be feasible (or reasonable) to invite all your second cousins and your elementary school teachers. In this case, you’ll have to whittle down your potential guests and determine which are most important to invite.
This is also a good time to think of who you want to include in the bridal party, such as your maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. You’ll want to send their invites out extra early to ensure that they can actually attend your big day!
3. Look at Venues Pronto
The venue you hold your wedding in is pretty important. In fact, we’d argue it’s the most important thing. Without the right venue, everything else might fall apart.
Because of this, you’ll want to look at wedding venues ASAP. The most popular ones will be reserved far in advance, some as far as a few years!
So we’re not kidding when we say that as soon as you get engaged, start looking at potential wedding venues. You might even want to start before that!
4. Pick the Perfect Dress
This will be the dress you wear on the day you become one with your soulmate, so you want to make sure it looks perfect. Start as soon as possible and go shopping. Don’t just settle for a dress that looks ok; pick one that looks amazing!
Not only that, but you want to make sure you pick something that’s appropriate for your venue. For example, if you’re having a beach wedding, you’ll want a dress that’s made of a light material so it fits the light, airy atmosphere and won’t weigh you down on the sand.
5. Think About Accommodations for Everyone
Did you know that 25% of weddings are destination ones? Even if yours isn’t, there’s still a good chance that some people are coming from out of town.
Because they’re making a trip out for your special day, you want to be considerate and arrange for accommodations. Whether that’s having them stay in your spare bedroom or renting a few hotel rooms for these guests, make sure you sort this out well ahead of time.
And if you’re having a destination wedding, you’ll want to look into several hotels to get the best rates possible. Most will let you rent out blocks, which are not only cheaper, but also allow you and your guests to have complete sections of the hotel to yourself.
6. Come up With a Wedding Planning Timeline
Wedding coordination might sound very overwhelming, and it can be if you don’t have a game plan. You’ll want to create a timeline and a wedding planning checklist that goes with it.
From there, you can handle all wedding-related tasks in small chunks so they’re more manageable. We highly recommend delegating some tasks to trusted people, such as your maid of honor or best man. This can help take a huge load off your shoulders so you’ll be able to remember the time before your wedding fondly instead of negatively.
7. Use Wedding Planning Sites and Apps
The beauty of being alive in this era is that we have the internet and smartphones. So take advantage of that!
Wedding planning sites and apps can help with sourcing reputable vendors, comparing prices, and finding available venues in your price range and on your desired dates. Some even come preloaded with tasks so all you have to do is check them off when the appropriate time comes.
Even if you use just one wedding planning app, this can already help tremendously.
Make Sure Your Wedding Is Everything You’ve Dreamed Of
With this list, you’ve got everything you need to make your wedding the most perfect one you’ve ever seen. Make sure you set a budget, make a timeline, determine who you’re inviting early on, visit potential venues, pick the perfect wedding dress, and take advantage of wedding planning websites and apps.
By following all of our tips, you’ll be well on your way to planning the perfect wedding, which is what you deserve!
Are you looking for a great wedding venue in Los Angeles, CA? Then book the Electric Loft now!
