Planning your own wedding
You’re in love, you’re engaged and now you’ve got wedding planning on the brain. Deciding to hire a wedding planner or going the route of planning your wedding yourself is a big decision.
DIY vs. Wedding Planner
Planning your own wedding is not for the faint of heart. It requires organization, attention to detail and a lot of your time. A wedding planner’s job is to give you advice, keep you within budget and make sure your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Although it would be nice to have someone to take care of all of the details, sometimes brides just can’t afford it. Planning a wedding yourself lets you save thousands of dollars and put it towards other aspects of your wedding.
Getting Started in Your Wedding Planning
Before you can start looking at venues and dress shopping the most important thing you must do is create a budget. Outline how much you can afford and what you think you should spend on each item. Having a list of everything you need in to budget for gives you an idea of what has to be organized. Keeping lists and staying organized right from the beginning makes the entire planning process easier and it also makes everything a little less stressful.
Planning your Wedding on a Timeline
This outlines the timeline of your wedding planning and everything you must remember to include before the big day.
After the engagement
Decide on a date
Set your budget
Choose your theme and colors
Decide who will be in your wedding party
Decide the size of the wedding and start a guest list
Choose your wedding dress and you bridesmaids’ dresses
Research and choose ceremony and wedding venues
6 months before the wedding
Make plans for catering, favors and reception décor
Finalize guest list
Hire florist, music, photographer and/or videographer
3 months before the wedding
Order and address invitations
Reserve groom and groomsmen’s tuxedos
2 months before the wedding
Consult with photographer about the photo details for your wedding day
Decide on the music you want at the wedding
Purchase guestbook, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow etc.
Mail invitations
1 month before the wedding
Organize the rehearsal dinner
Finalize agreements with vendors and suppliers
Attend wedding dress fitting
Apply for your marriage license
3 weeks before the wedding
Arrange transportation for you, your fiancé and the rest of the bridal party
2 weeks before the wedding
Confirm number of guests with the caterer
Develop a seating plan and create place cards for the reception dinner
Arrange how your wedding gifts will be transported to you after the reception
1 week before the wedding
Inform your wedding party of the schedule of events
Have your final wedding dress fitting
Final confirmation of plans with all of your vendors
Confirm your plans with the officiant of your wedding ceremony
Starting out with a budget and staying organized the entire time is the best way to ensure that planning your wedding will be less stressful and still go smoothly.
