So, you went on Pinterest and know exactly what you want for your big day. You have so many thoughts, fresh ideas, and can't wait to get started. Here is what you need to know before you begin planning your wedding:
1. Set a Budget
One of the most important things when planning your wedding is establishing a budget. You and your fiance' need to discuss in detail who will be paying for the wedding. Will this be the parents of the bride, will you both be paying for the wedding, etc?
The average cost of a wedding in the United States as of the year 2020 is approximately $25,000. However, it is okay to have a wedding that is more affordable for you and your fiance'. A wedding planner can help you with planning your wedding that is less cost intensive.
2. Hire a Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding can be stressful. Hiring a wedding planner can provide for a stress-free wedding planning process, as well as, a stress-free wedding day. A wedding planner can provide assistance with planning a wedding that is less cost-intensive. One of the biggest misconceptions that couples have with planning a wedding is that a wedding planner will be more expensive. This is NOT TRUE! Quite the contrary, wedding planners have established relationships with different vendors in the wedding industry which gives them a clear advantage to negotiate and get deals on your behalf.
Hiring a wedding planner gives you permission to relax (at least a little) because they will be with you throughout the entire planning process and there to coordinate everything on your wedding day.
3. Vendor Search
Don't rush to make a decision when deciding on the vendors for your wedding. Be sure that you, your fiancé, and your wedding planner consult and visit at least three vendors in each particular field. For instance, meet with three (3) florist, three (3) caterers, three (3) bands, etc.
By doing this, it gives you and your fiance' time to decide which vendor is a "good fit" for your wedding. You'd want to choose a vendor that is not compatible with both of you.
4. Plan
The wedding process takes several months to plan. Take the time to do so. Meet with your wedding planner, meet with your prospective vendors, and take the time to research what you would like to incorporate into your wedding. For instance, what kind of flowers would you like to have at your wedding? What kind of food would you like to have served? Bring photos from magazines and download the Pinterest app to your mobile phone. This will help the vendors to understand exactly what your expectations are.
5. Go With Your Intuition
You know when something "just doesn't feel right". If you get the feeling that something is not right with one of your vendors, do NOT ignore that feeling. It is imperative that you are comfortable with the vendors that you choose for your big day. If you don't like it, you have the right to make changes! This is YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY!
If you would like to learn more about how to plan your wedding in Chicago, please contact us to speak to one of our planners.