If planning a wedding during a pandemic has taught me anything, it is to focus on what is important to you and what you want to remember on your wedding day.
1. “You do you” is a phrase that my students say often. I cannot stress this idea enough when it comes to planning your wedding. Yes, you are entertaining a lot of people. But they will be there because they love you as a couple and whatever you decide about your day will be perfect.
2. Reach out to your major vendors early. This made it so much more relaxing to plan the wedding. We booked our venue before we got engaged. (Something I’m always hesitant to admit) but this helped us research other vendors and helped us set our budget. The venue was the most important thing to us, so naturally, we did it first. They also had only a few dates during the window of time we were exploring because they aren’t just a wedding venue so we were able to get a date that worked for everyone involved. Once you’ve selected and booked your venue, get busy researching caterers, bartenders, photographers, and videographers. Many of these will set your budget. Be diligent about your research. Spending top dollar does not always mean that you are going to have the best experience. Read reviews, ask lots of questions.
These flowers were purchased and assembled on the day of the wedding. At times, disaster can strike and leave you scrambling for a plan B at the last second. When it comes to flowers, mason jars and farmer's market flowers are always an okay solution.
3. DIY when you can. We created our own centerpieces, signs, and decorations for the day. It saved us a fortune.
4. Ask for help. This is hard for many brides (including me) but you will need help on your wedding day. If you have people who are willing to help you throughout the process, they will have a good understanding of your vision of the day and will be able to help you implement it as best as possible. You could also hire a wedding planner or wedding coordinator if that is in your budget. They can be amazingly helpful people to have around on your wedding day.
5. Put it in perspective. I stressed throughout the process about many things that are really small. The biggest stressor was the Groom’s Dinner. When I made a list of who would be there and realized it would only be my parents and our closest friends, I relaxed. We created a plan that was perfect for everyone on that guest list and we were able to add in time for the rest of our guests to stop by for an extra visit.
