Planning a wedding requires an incredible amount of time, energy and money. With everything that has to be taken into consideration – the dress, makeup, hair, flowers, the venue, food... the list goes on and on – saying that the process is overwhelming is an understatement.
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Hiring a wedding consultant is one way to ease the pressure, but many decisions still have to be made and not everyone can afford the added expense. So where to begin? Bride and Groom Planner offers many great resources for brides and grooms to consult during the various stages of planning. We pulled some of the information together into an 11-step outline of what to do in the early stages of planning. (Bride and Groom Planner suggests that these steps be taken 12-6 months before the wedding.)
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Step 1 – Take time to go over the expenses and make a budget. It may be challenging to sit down and think about everything all at once, but if you take the time to plan at the start, you will know what you can and cannot invest in moving forward. For a helpful guide to planning your budget and an outline explaining which items typically make up the highest percentages of the total cost: click here! This will also help you determine the size of your wedding.
Step 2 - Decide on your wedding party. This includes the Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, The Best Man, Ushers and the Ring Bearer.
Step 3 – Set the date.
Step 4 – If hiring a consultant fits into the budget, interview and hire someone fairly early into the planning.
Step 5 – Make the guest list and start getting addresses together for the invitations.
Step 6 – Reserve the site for the ceremony.
Step 7 – Begin planning the reception. Secure the venue for your date. Research and select your vendors. Take into consideration the food, décor, and entertainment.
Step 8 – Engagement photos and announcement if desired and consider the photographer for the wedding.
Step 9 – Select wedding attire – wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, accessories, and the groom and groom’s men attire. (Bride and Groom Planner's Advice on Gown Shopping.)
Step 10 – Print invitations and stationery. (You do not need to mail them until 4-6 weeks before the wedding, but you may want to send out a save the date notice.)
Step 11 – Begin planning the honeymoon and scheduling appointments for before the wedding date to ensure no conflicts (for stylists, travel plans, etc.)
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11 Steps and you are halfway there! From here on out, it’s all about gifts, guests, and finalizing the plans you’ve already made!
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