Getting engaged is one of the most exciting things that could ever happen in your life. Finally, you have met someone that you are willing to commit to and spend the rest of your life with. While this is incredibly exciting, there is no doubt that the actual process of planning the wedding can be an incredibly stressful one.
It may well be that the initial thought of planning your wedding is already responsible for giving you sleepless nights. There are so many different things that you need to take into account, and every family and friend that you bump into is only ever asking about one thing, and that is how the wedding planning process is going. It's a sure-fire way to get yourself stressed, and as such, you should try and make the whole planning process easier by consolidating everything that you need to do into one list. This list will help you on your way as we discuss some of the most important things that you need to consider when it comes to planning your wedding.
The Venue
Choosing a venue should be one of the first things that you do, as then a lot of other elements will fall into place because your venue will show you the limits you have when it comes to planning. You should take the time to consider the kind of wedding that you want. For example, if you would like quite a lavish wedding with a venue that comes with an array of beautiful views, you will need to choose a venue such as that offered by Laurel Ridge Country Club and Event Center.
Before booking, though, you will need to take into account:
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How many guests can the venue actually hold?
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Is it within the budget that you have set for yourself?
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How easy will it be for everyone to get to the wedding venue?
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Is there any local accommodation for the guests to stay at?
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Do you need to rely on the weather in order for the venue to work?
All of the above will come down to what you and your partner are hoping to get out of your wedding and what both of your wants and needs are when going into the planning stage. You should create a list of what you want from your venue and then do some research on the different ones that are available to you.
Setting the Date of Your Wedding
Setting the date is also an important stage that you should get done early as this will then set up lots of other planning stages. You will need to talk to your partner and discuss whether you would like a winter or a summer wedding, or would you rather have it be somewhere in between? If you are struggling on actually planning it because of other commitments that happen year-round, then this is all the more reason to get this step ticked off the list early. Again, your budget could come into play here as if you are hoping to save some money on your wedding, then one of the best ways that you can do this is by looking at a time of year that is a lot less busy. You are likely going to get some discounts if you do this, which is always a bonus given how much the entire day can end up coming to.
Set Yourself a Budget
This has already been briefly mentioned, but it is such an important step that it is only right to cover it again. Before you agree to anything or make any bookings, you should ensure that you and your partner have a clear idea as to what your budget is like going into the planning. All of the little extras can add up, such as your clothes, the food, the music and all the finishing touches needed for the tables at the reception, etc. As such, you should decide how much you are willing to spend on all of this so that you don't totally break the bank on your special day.
Putting Together Your Guest List
You are going to need to put together a guest list, and doing this alone can already be an incredibly daunting task. A piece of advice: be selective with your guest list. It is very easy to fall into the hole of inviting A because you have invited B and then also deciding that if B is coming you should probably invite C. This is your special day. As such, you need to be a bit selfish when it comes to putting together your guest list and only invite the people that you actually want to be there. You will also need to take into account your budget when it comes to putting together a guest list, as the cost per head will really begin to rack up, especially if you're hoping to put some money behind the bar for everyone as well.
Get a Good Photographer
This is going to be a day that you want to remember for the rest of your life, and as such, you should make sure that you are hiring a top-quality photographer who is able to capture the day for you. It’s easy to try and skimp out on the price of a photographer so that you have money to spend on everything else, but the fact of the matter is that these are photos that you are going to cherish forever and as such, you want to make sure you are getting the right person in for the job. Ask to take a look at their previous work and decide if they are capturing the kind of shots that you would like to be taken on your wedding day.
Conclusion
There are a lot of different things that you will need to consider when it comes to planning your wedding, and one of the best ways to prepare for everything is by putting together a list of what is most important. The above is a helpful start to doing just that.
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