When it comes time to plan your wedding, you can find your head spinning. Flowers, dresses, venue, etc. There is a lot to do when it comes to planning a wedding and knowing what to start with can be a task in itself. Instead of guessing which task to do first or diving in rather haphazardly, a wedding planning checklist may be just what you need. This guide will give you the first essential steps that you should begin at least a year prior to the wedding date.
One Place For It All!
The first step is to find a binder or empty folder and designate it as your “Wedding Planning Folder”. Only information, paperwork, contracts, etc regarding the wedding will ever go in this folder. You can start browsing online, magazines, etc for ideas for your wedding and place those ideas in the folder to keep them all in one handy place. The more you are organized the better it will pan out later.
Budget!
Wedding planning will always revolve around a budget. So this is the first step that should be on your wedding planning checklist. If you do not have a budget, then how do you know how much to spend on flowers or the caterer? Designate funds based on the amount of money your family, yourself, or even the groom will be contributing.
Select the Wedding Party
Before you pick out dresses, a venue, etc, you need to know the wedding party. Yourself and your groom should sit down and select how many will be on each side and ask your friends if they will be your bridesmaids or groomsmen to ensure they are actually in.
Know Who To Invite
The next important step in wedding planning is the guest list. Now that you have a budget, you have a general idea of how many people you can afford to entertain at the wedding. Sit down with your family and the groom and go over who you want to invite. If your budget is rather limited, then cut whomever you can. Make a spreadsheet with the guests you are inviting and another column for whether or not they are really attending when it comes time for RSVPs.
Get Some Help
Not all of us can afford a wedding planner, but if you can, they can be useful to have around. Wedding planners do this stuff for a living and therefore are rather knowledgeable about what to do and when to do it. If you cannot afford one, do not worry. Many brides plan their weddings solo just fine with the support of their family and friends.
Start the Research Process and Book the Location
Research takes time and if you wait until the last minute you are going to realize there is not enough time to do it right. Research venues, photographers, florists, cake artists and more. Get a good idea of who is good, who has great reviews, which is available for the date you are thinking and their general pricing. At this point you are only researching, not purchasing. That way you will be informed enough that when it comes time to hire, you have selected the right person for the job.
Lastly, at least a year prior to your reception you should select and reserve your venue. Many venues, especially between April and August, will be booked well over a year out. To get the date you actually want, your best bet is to book early enough to get it.
Knowing what to do a year before the wedding is essential to making the wedding planning a lot less stressful. Though these are little tasks, by completing them you will be that much closer to ending the planning process and that saner when it is over.
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