Tips for Couples Planning Their Wedding
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First things first: Planning a wedding can feel pretty overwhelming at times. While couples often hire a professional to help manage their wedding plans, there are plenty of reasons why they might also opt to take on the majority of the responsibilities on their own, too. Maybe you’re working with a tight wedding planning budget or maybe you simply love all of the DIY possibilities—in any case, it's a lot of extra details, but it is possible to plan the wedding of your dreams on your own.
Organization is key to keeping everything on track when you’re faced with decisions, lists, deadlines, and everyday life to deal with. The first step is making sure to give yourselves plenty of time for wedding planning. A longer timeline is your friend here—aim for around a year, if possible. So, where to begin?
Once you’ve spent some time spreading the news of your engagement and enjoying that special moment, realistically, the wedding budget is the first thing the two of you need to finalize to get the wedding planning train going—and that can involve some real talk conversations with parents and family members who may be able to help cover costs, so don’t delay! Have those conversations as soon as possible to determine a ballpark for your budget, and be prepared for a reality check when it comes to actually budgeting for your wedding day as many couples don’t realize the full scope of costs involved. (Pro tip: Don't forget to build in a 10 percent “splurge cushion” for those unexpected costs or urges that inevitably arise). Trust me though, you can have an amazing wedding on almost any budget once the two of you iron out exactly what's important.
With the budget in place, it’s time to start getting inspired and delving into the nitty-gritty details. Have some fun with this part; now’s the time to indulge in all of that Pinterest-worthy bridal inspiration to get a sense of your wedding style. Also, think about any weddings you've recently attended. What did you like? What would you do differently? Don’t forget to involve your significant other in this step, as well. Your wedding should represent both of you, together as a couple.
The most important thing to keep in mind: Try to have some fun! This is your weddingafter all. Don’t get too hung up on the tiny details and focus on what’s truly important: celebrating the love the two of you share and getting married, all while surrounded by your friends and family.