The newly engaged guide to the wedding planning process
Getting Started
Congratulations! Your engaged, now what? Your engagement is an exciting time, but can also be overwhelming as you try and navigate the planning process. Whether you have been engaged for an hour, a day, or even a year, here are three tips that will help you make the most of your time before you say “I do.”
Lay the Foundation
Just like building your dream home, your first step in planning your dream wedding should be laying the foundation of your wedding. So before you jump directly into planning all the fun details such as trying on dresses and stuffing your face with cake samples you need to lay down your wedding foundation – your budget and your guest list. Your budget and guest list not only lay the foundation for every other step in the planning process they also directly affect each other. Setting this expectation on the front end will help you to enjoy all the finer details later on.
Budget – Planning Tips
Setting the wedding budget with your fiancé and family should be the VERY first thing you do. Make sure you have an open conversation about what everyone is able to contribute financially.
Prioritize
When creating your budget keep in mind the items that are most important to you so you can allocate your money accordingly. Another helpful tip is to assign a dollar amount to different categories.
Cushion Your Budget
Plan on spending about 10 percent more than what you had estimated on the front end. As any good South Carolina wedding professional will tell you, things will cost more than you think they will.
Look for Ways To Save
There are many ways to save money on your wedding. Inviting fewer guests is the number one way you will save money on your wedding day. Other ways to consider saving is by scheduling your wedding for an off peak month or day. You may also want to consider a wedding brunch or a reception style menu instead of a formal sit-down dinner.
Determine the Date and Select the Venue – a 2020, Columbia, South Carolina Wedding
In order for all the little details, such as booking South Carolina wedding vendors and creating a timeline, to fall into place you need to set a date. Easier said than done! The process of setting a date can be a little more complicated than it may seem. We’re listing some questions below that you should ask before choosing a date and selecting the perfect place to day “I do”.
- What are you looking for in a venue?
- Will the space accommodate all of your guests?
- What’s included with the space you are hoping to secure?
- How does your “ideal date” fit with your budget?
- What is the reservation and deposit process?
- Will you be the only wedding there that day?
Define Your Style and Make it Yours
Whether you have been imagining this day from the time you could walk or the only detail you know is that you can’t wait to see your partner at the end of the aisle, designing your day can be a formidable task. It is important to define what your vision is so that each vendor, component, and detail fits your wants and needs.
As you begin the planning process of incorporating the details you envision with your budget, keep in mind that your wedding should always reflect you as a couple and there is always room for give and take.
Four S’s To Begin Designing Your Columbia, South Carolina Wedding
Style – Is it a formal event? Is it more casual? Is it a daytime or evening affair?
Setting – Are you inside a church, a hotel ballroom, in a garden, at the Zoo?
Size – Is your day more intimate with only close family and friends? Or are you envisioning 400+ guests? Maybe it’s somewhere in between.
Spending – What do we want vs. what can we afford to host? How does your budget come into play with your vision? What is your budget?
When your wedding day is said and done, the food will have been eaten, the DJ will play the last song, and your guests will go home with memories of an amazing Columbia, South Carolina Wedding. As important as all the planning and details seem, it helps to remember that the celebration goes beyond the wedding day and is truly about you two and your commitment to each other.
If you’d like more information about hosting your big day at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, you may give us a call at (803) 602-0900 or contact us via email.
