Your wedding will be one of the most momentous occasions of your entire life. A day that carries the weight of such importance demands proper planning. Nothing can be more exciting than planning the day you will say ‘I do’ to your true love. It should never feel like a task or become overwhelming. Every step of the planning should create smiles and unforgettable moments. With this simple guide, planning a wedding should be an effortless journey.
Budget for Planning a Wedding
When it comes to planning a wedding, deciding on a wedding budget is the first step. A smaller budget does not necessarily mean less. Wedding venues with all-inclusive packages can save you thousands on the budget. It might be easy to establish the budget, but deciding how to allocate the funds among different aspects of the wedding, such as wedding dress, venue, cake, catering, photography, entertainment, officiant, and all the details of your special day, requires a little more thought. Using a spreadsheet can make creating an itemized budget for your wedding day a simple process. This will enable you to precisely calculate how much you can afford to spend on things like a wedding dress and invitations.
Creating the Budget
Creating a budget for your wedding day does not always begin with a number. Window shop ideas while noting the average cost for each element that will create the dream wedding you envision. Begin by touring a wedding venue with all-inclusive packaging, and take notes as to the items and services that are included. Make sure that the venue, décor, linens and fine china are included. Determine whether a wedding day of event coordinator is an option, and determine the cost for securing the service through the venue. Select a venue that has relationships with trusted and talented vendors, and add the details to your budget.
Planning a Wedding with Inspiration
Touring a wedding venue is one of the most exciting steps to planning a wedding, next to trying on wedding dresses, and can help to gain inspiration for your wedding theme. Upon touring a wedding venue, you usually view examples of themed décor, and can sometimes speak directly with designers than can help you brainstorm ideas. Choosing a wedding venue with packages that include an in-house design team can ensure that you meet the requirements of your budget and the success of your event.
Guest List and Selecting the Wedding Party
Once you decide on a wedding venue and have an idea about guest count, you can begin creating a guest list. Create a realistic guest list that meets with your wedding fund. Once you have determined the exact number that fits into your plan, begin by adding the wedding party, close family, close friends, friends, and close colleagues in that order. Always begin with your inner circle of close relationships and then work outwards. Keep in mind that the guest count must be equally divided between the bride and the groom for all their VIP’s.
Selecting family and friends to be in your wedding party can be difficult, if you have a large circle of close friends and relatives. The average wedding party has five on each side; however, you can choose to have as many or as few people in your wedding party as you desire. You should include family and close friends for this special honor. Before asking, apply careful consideration to who you will ask and the role and responsibility you will assign to them. Do not feel obligated to ask someone to be your bridesmaid just because you were theirs.
Creating a Gift Registry
As soon as you have selected the important date, do not forget to create a registry. We can get so wrapped up in the planning and details that we wait to the last minute to begin this step. A registry is a work in progress. Create the basics and add as you dream on your wedding planning adventure. Give your guests options. You can stick to one registry or have multiple gift registries to enable friends and family to purchase gifts at different stores with different price ranges. Be careful not to add the same item on different registries to avoid guests purchasing the same gift in error, because they were shopping on different registries.
Create a Website for Planning a Wedding
Create a wedding website to announce your wedding to friends and family, and allow them to follow along during the exciting process of planning a wedding. They can remain in the loop about ideas, changes, gift registries, and even seating charts. Friends and relatives that live distantly will be able to feel included in the planning. Having a wedding website is also a good way to gain donations from family, friends and followers to support the planning of your big day.
Wedding Attire
Selecting the attire is one of the most important steps to planning a wedding. Selecting the perfect wedding dress or tuxedo for the occasion cannot be accomplished too early to avoid having to make alterations later or too late to avoid last minute catastrophe. Allocate enough time prior to the event to find the perfect attire for your special day, especially when it comes to choosing your wedding dress. Ask the wedding venue for vendor connections to find the right piece and for any required alterations.
Plan a Honeymoon
Planning a honeymoon is part of planning a wedding. Think about a romantic getaway that fits into your wedding budget and the number of days you can afford for the trip. Your honeymoon can be as big as Paris or Rome or as romantic and nearby as the local beaches. Touring the area surrounding your desired wedding venue is a great start to gaining ideas for a local honeymoon at nearby resorts. If you are planning a cruise or to travel abroad, make sure you check vaccination, passport and visa requirements for your destination. Also check safety advisories from the U.S. Department of State.
Invitations
Wedding invitations should be delivered approximately two months prior to the event with an RSVP deadline of three weeks prior to the event. Timing is essential when it comes to invitations.
Pre-Wedding Events
A bride will likely attend a bridal shower that is hosted by the bridesmaids. There are also other very important events to attend, such as rehearsal dinner and a mock table setting with your design team. As it nears the event, the bride and groom usually celebrate with their bridal party at a baccalaureate party and bachelor party.
Crystal Ballroom North Tampa
Crystal Ballroom North Tampa is an all-inclusive wedding venue with an in-house design team and relationships with local vendors. Customize every detail of your fairy tale at the in-house design studio. Handpick the fine pieces from a treasure trove of décor. Fall in love with the extravagant chandeliers, elegant furnishings and décor. Crystal Ballroom North Tampa is where dream weddings come true.
