Planning your own wedding is no easy feat. Instantly, you go from being engaged to an event planner for your big day. You’ll hear a... Read More
Planning your own wedding is no easy feat. Instantly, you go from being engaged to an event planner for your big day.
You’ll hear a lot of advice from well-meaning friends and family, but what’s most important during the planning process?
We’ve put together the best-of-the-best tips to keep you focused on what’s vital for planning your wedding day. Here are our 17 must-have wedding planning tips and tricks.
- Start early
“I’m so mad I started planning early,” said no bride ever.
You’re never going to regret starting the planning process early in order to save yourself plenty of time (and sanity!) close to your wedding day. - Determine your must-haves
Sit down with your spouse (and any friends or family whose opinion you want to honor) and determine your top must-haves for the big day.
What is most important and what things will you not compromise on? For instance, do you want to have the reception catered by a certain restaurant? Do you want to get married in a particular church?
Knowing what you will and will not compromise on will help decision making later on. - Know your numbers
From your wedding budget to your guest list, knowing these two critical numbers will help you make critical decisions, like where is my wedding going to be?
Both budget and guest list numbers also help make decisions around wedding rentals, catering, entertainment, favors, and everything in between.
- Don’t do it alone
Between your fiancé, friends, and family, there are more than enough helping hands to be involved along the way. Consider what strengths each person has and what they want to contribute, along with how much time they have. - Choose the right party
Speaking of helping hands, don’t forget about your bridal party. You probably have a good idea of the ladies you want by your side (and your fiancé might know too), but remember that these should be the women (and men) who will be in your life for years to come. They should also be prepared for the time and financial commitment it takes to be in a wedding party, so choose wisely! - Take your time choosing a venue
Since location is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day, it’s critical that the venue you choose aligns with what you and your spouse envision. Make sure you visit in-person to get a sense of what your venue has…and what it will need. - Choose vendors carefully
Think about what’s most important for your big day. Is the food? The photos or video? The location? The party?
Whatever your priority is, that’s exactly where you should invest in incredible vendors. - Stay organized
One of the best ways to keep track of everything in your head when planning is to get organized using lists. There are plenty of resources and template lists out there, so choose one that works best for you. - Include personal details
It’s the little things that make weddings unique and special, so use subtle opportunities to include special details to showcase you and your soon-to-be spouse. From invitations to your wedding dress and his tux to the table decor, your wedding should be the event version of you as a couple! - Think about your guests
Show your guests how thankful you are for having them at your wedding day. Whether they traveled far to be there, helped with wedding details, or simply brought a thoughtful gift, it’s important to show your appreciation.
Contact a local hotel and get a block of rooms for out of town guests; hotels will often give your guests a rate discount. In addition, give all of your guests a thoughtful favor as a “thank you” for coming to the wedding. - Give yourself extra time for setup
Just like starting early, you’ll be glad you gave yourself extra time for every part of the planning process – including the day of. Give yourself plenty of time to set up the venue and ask for help to do it! - Save where you can
Remember those must-have items you put together? Save money on everything else by borrowing what you need from friends and family, doing some DIY wedding decor, or looking for deals or sales. - Put a backup plan in place
Let’s face it: things aren’t perfect, especially when it comes to events. That’s why putting a backup plan in place (like a rainy day plan) is crucial for keeping your wedding day as close to perfect as possible. - Don’t forget the legal
To make your marriage legal, you’ll need a marriage license. Every state has different requirements, so be sure to do your research well before your wedding day. - Take care of yourself
No matter how good you are at planning your big day, wedding day planning can be stressful. Enjoy the process as much as possible by taking breaks from planning and taking care of yourself with healthy habits like regular exercise, good sleep, and drinking plenty of water! - Shrug it off
Things can (and will) go wrong in the wedding planning process. Try your best to shrug it off and have a sense of humor throughout planning. - Prioritize what’s important
You’re about to marry the love of your life. At the end of the day, celebrating that is all that matters!
That also means taking some time to think about what marriage will mean for you and your spouse – after all, the wedding isn’t just to celebrate for a party’s sake, it’s to celebrate a marriage!
Use these 17 tips and tricks to plan your perfect wedding day!
And for help with New England event rentals, give us a call at Sperry Tents Seacoast!