The Basics of Wedding Planning

Congratulations on your engagement!

At first, planning your wedding may seem like an overwhelming task. There are dozens of decisions to be made and you will need to choose and hire several different vendors.

For now, don't worry about any actual plans. Just imagine how you want your wedding to be. Dream big and don't be guided by what you think is realistic. You may be pleasantly surprised about how much of your dream wedding is actually possible.

This article is just a primer to let you know what types of decisions you will need to make throughout the planning process. Specific details and ideas can be found in the planning section of Dreamplanner.net.

Who, What, When, Where and How

How many guests do you want at your wedding? Do you envision a small gathering of only closest family and friends, or do you want a huge gala?

Start thinking about whom you would like to ask to be your attendants. Take your time in deciding. The wedding requires a great commitment on their part and you cannot un-invite someone after they have been asked.

What sort of theme would you like? The traditional modern American wedding is the easiest to plan because that is what most vendors are familiar with. But don't feel as though your wedding must be a cookie cutter of everyone else's. Choose a theme that suits your tastes and interests and then create your wedding around it.

You can be completely unique and skip the traditional altogether. If you want to be married on a beach in Hawaii, go for it.

It is probably too soon to choose the actual date. You won't be able to set the date until you find one that is available at both the reception and ceremony sites that you will be choosing. Right now, just decide which season or month you prefer.

A major decision is whether to have the reception immediately following the ceremony. If yes, then you will need to be creative in scheduling your photo sessions. If no, what will your guests do in the interim?

Where would you like to be married? At home? In a church? At your family's or your fiancé's? In a garden or public park? In a mansion or museum? Would you like to marry on a beach in some tropical locale? On a mountaintop at sunset? The possibilities are endless.

Prioritize

Unless you have an unlimited budget, you will need to determine your personal priorities.

In wedding planning, everything affects everything else. You can have a huge, casual party that does not break the bank, or you can have a small luxurious event for the same amount of money.

You don't need to plan your exact budget quite yet, but you do need to start thinking about which aspects of the event you care most about. Are you willing to forgo the rare tropical flowers in order to afford the designer silk ballgown, or vice versa?

Finding and Coordinating Vendors

Once you know your style and general preferences, you can start to look for vendors that suit your needs.

Find reception and ceremony sites that you like and that are within reasonable driving distance of each other. Find out which dates in your preferred season are available. Once you've decided the date, reserve both sites.

The next major task is to find your gown and order it. Some designers require that orders be placed nine months in advance.

Vendors you will very likely need:
♦ a photographer and/or videographer
♦ reception entertainment
♦ a florist
♦ a baker

You may also possibly need:
♦ a caterer and bar service if your reception facility does not have in-house services
♦ a rental service if your party is at home or in any non-traditional venue
♦ secondary reception entertainment for cocktail hour or band breaks
♦ hair and makeup stylists
♦ an officiant if you do not marry in a house of worship
♦ a wedding planner/coordinator
♦ valet service for the guests at the reception
♦ dance instructors
♦ wedding-day transportation