Congratulations on your engagement! This is such an exciting time for you. We are going to help you start planning for the big day.

1) Create a budget

This is an important first step. You need to know how much money you have to work with before you can really get started. If your family has already offered to help financially then define exactly what that looks like. If you are planning on your own it’s a great time for you and your partner to take time to figure out how much you are willing to spend. We will have budget tools posted soon to help you get started.

2) Guest list and general location of the wedding

How many people do you want at your wedding? You’ll need the guest count in order to select an ideal venue. You can be as precise as you want about who is attending or set a max number of guests and scale back from there over time. How far are you willing to have your friends and family travel? Will you have a destination wedding or stay close to home? Get on the same page with your fiancé about these topics and it will streamline your planning.

3) Wedding planner or day of coordinator?

If you are a busy couple and want help planning out your special day we recommend hiring a wedding planner. A planner will help identify venues and bring your vision to life. They typically have relationships with vendors that can save you money in the long run and guarantee quality. If you prefer to plan on your own, then a day of coordinator it’s not a priority to find one right now. Here is a planner we love from Amazon to help you keep track of all your wedding details.

4) Pick a Venue (ceremony and reception)

Picking a venue is important to check off the list very quickly as the look and feel of your venue will drive most of your planning. With Covid-19 this year postponing so many 2020 weddings, be prepared to act quickly on available dates as most venues rescheduled 2020 weddings for 2021. That’s on top of all the couples who were already planning on 2021. We recommend calling for availability to get the most up to date information. Ask if you can place a hold so you don’t have to commit but can keep the search going. We will have a list posted soon on what to ask each venue so you can be as efficient as possible.

5) Photographers

Since you have decided on a venue it’s a great idea to ask them who they recommend for photographers. You’ll get a list of photographers that have photographed at the venue. This is extremely valuable as they can really guide you to the best spots the venue has to offer. Another option is to search through local wedding resource guides. Here’s a PNW Resource Guide that is incredibly useful. From there go to their websites to compare. If you have friends that recently gotten married ask them if they would refer their photographer. You can look at their photos and also ask how they were treated. Be sure to select a photographer that understands you and can portray who you are as a couple in your photos. We will have a list posted soon on what to ask each photographer you are interviewing.

6) Catering

Check with your venue on this first. They will recommend caterers for you or only have a certain list of caterers that are allowed. From there take that list and meet with each of them. Talk pricing and menu with them. Get an estimate at a certain price per head and then ask them to add in all fees so you have a good idea of out the door costs. Service fees and mandatory gratuities can sneak up on you. Factor it all in from the beginning. Also great time to talk about alcohol at the wedding. Can they provide full service or can you purchase your own to have served by their bartenders? If you can bring in your own watch out for surprising corkage fees. Estimate for 2-3 drinks per person. This will account for people who drink less and those that drink more.

7) Officiant

Because an officiant can’t be in two places at once you’ll want to start thinking about who will marry you and your fiancé. Is it a friend, family member, or religious figure? Check availability and meet with each person. You want to make sure you get along well with the person and that they understand what you want out of your ceremony. Ask for examples of their work. Do they have a video you can watch?

8) DJ or Band

Another important vendor that typically can’t be at two places at once is your DJ or band. Will you want live music during the reception? Get examples from each band and ask for referrals. Think about what type of music you want and ask them for suggestions on genres that work best. For a DJ, ask if they MC as well. Nothing over the top, but you may want to be announced into the reception venue or announce the first dance or cake cutting. 

9) Schedule dress appointments

Dresses take a long time to order. Take a month and make appointments to see what is out there. Bring a friend or family member that can be honest with you while you try on dresses. You may already know what style you are looking for, but if not try several styles and see what looks best with your body type and vision for your wedding day. Get your dress choices down to your top three and then bring more family and friends. Make it an event with champagne and tissues. You’ll get great reactions and make a final decision. Once decided make your alterations appointments too.

10) Florist

Flowers set the tone for all your decorations. Again check with your venue on a list of preferred vendors and start there. Look at their portfolio and bring your Pinterest boards to show them ideas you like. It’s great to give away table centerpieces at the end of the night so all the beautiful flowers don’t end up in the garbage. Think about flowers for your bridal party, ceremony flowers that include guest book table, aisle decor, and a focal area during the vows. At the reception you’ll want flowers for centerpieces, the cake and gift tables, on the buffet table, and at the bar. Consider moving your ceremony flowers to the reception to save some money or alternating large and small centerpieces at your tables.

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