Let’s start at the beginning. Before you’ve set a budget, toured venues, or even looked at Pinterest, figure out which aspects of your day are most important to you and make them a priority! Have a conversation with your soon-to-be about the things you love and value the most about your relationship and then talk about how to incorporate these things into your day. It can be so easy to get caught up in creating the perfect, “traditional,” wedding, but who says all weddings have to be the same? For example, if you love to bake together, feature your favorite homemade dessert on the menu. If you’re known for hosting family game nights at your place, place some board games around the reception space for your guests to play during cocktail hour. Think through some non-traditional ways to sprinkle your unique personalities into your wedding day!

Find YOUR method of staying organized

Let’s be real – the wedding planning process can feel daunting at times. Between creating and editing your guest list, staying up to date on vendor payments, and knowing when each small task should be completed, the list of things to do can seem endless. Instead of trying to keep track of everything in your head, find a physical or digital way to organize tasks that works for you and stick with this method throughout the entire planning process.

One way to do this is to create a detailed checklist of every task and when each one should be completed. There are plenty of online resources and templates to help with create this checklist – use one of these or create one from scratch that makes sense for you. If you’re a spreadsheet person, boot up Excel and create a spreadsheet that includes your budget and payments, your vendors’ contact information, task due dates, and any additional information you need to keep track of. If you prefer to use pen and paper, get a cute notebook or a set of folders that are designated for wedding planning. No matter what your method ends up being, make sure it works for you!

Choose vendors that you trust

The vendors that you choose to work with on (and leading up to) your wedding day can drastically affect what your special day ends up looking like. We understand that it can be tempting to, “vendor shop,” for the lowest prices, but the best deal doesn’t always equate to the best fit for you and your partner. Take time to talk with your vendors before booking them, ask them questions about what they offer, and make sure their personalities will vibe with both you and your loved one. If you book vendors that you trust will provide you with the best possible wedding experience, we’re confident that your wedding day will be less stressful.

Remember that your vendors are experts at weddings and know a thing or two about what a wedding day typically looks like. Once you have your team of vendors locked down, ask them questions and get their opinions about what works well and what doesn’t. One of the greatest things about booking your wedding with us is that our team of experts will schedule planning sessions for you. We’re happy to help guide you in the right direction if you’re ever feeling lost.

Get the small things done early

Looking at your list of to-dos, you might start to prioritize some of the large tasks and push off the smaller details like putting together bathroom baskets, purchasing plates and forks for your desserts, or figuring out how to wear your hair. Yes, you most likely still have quite a bit of time to get these things done, but nobody warns you about how many last-minute tasks will pop up as you get closer to your special day. Even though it may feel a little crazy, it’s always better to have something done too early rather than too late. If you think of a detail that you can cross off your list before you need to, get it done so you don’t have to worry about it later on!

You don’t have to compare your wedding to Instagram

There is so much that goes into a wedding. The décor, the photos, the venue, the suit, the dress. It is so exciting when all these things come together so you can start really envisioning what the day is going to look like. But even so, try not to get too caught up on having an “Instagram-worthy” wedding. When it comes down to it, your wedding is about your closest friends, family, and loved ones all being together in one room celebrating you and your love. When else might that ever happen again? Social media can definitely be helpful in gathering wedding ideas and inspiration, but don’t let it make you second-guess the choices you have already made! No matter what it looks like, your wedding is special because of the love it represents!

Photo by SMW Photography.