How long does it take to plan for a wedding?
/IMAGE BY DOTTIE MORRIS
Newly engaged and asking yourself
“How long does it take to plan for a wedding?”
Engagements can be 4 years, 18 months, 2 months or any other length of time, but on average most couples spend at least a year in the planning stages before they celebrate their wedding. However, that doesn’t mean you have to follow the crowd because that’s actually more time than you really need to plan a wedding. It’s not unheard of to get engaged in the winter and plan a summer or fall wedding just 4-6 months later, as long as you have a clear direction and are flexible with your vendor selection. You will also want some flexibility in your schedule to research vendors, tour venues, email and chat with vendors, go shopping, and keep track of your plans.
If this sounds like you, here are some helpful tips to get started in your wedding planning today!
Now that you’re engaged, take some time to enjoy your engagement, share the news with friends and family and start to think through your priorities when it comes to celebrating your wedding. In these first couple weeks you will want to think through your wedding budget, talk to any family or friends that might be contributing to your budget, and get a general idea of what your guest count might be. This will all help you when starting to research venues.
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First things first, you will need to schedule tours at venues that interest you, fit your budget and can accommodate your guest count. We always suggest checking out a few different venues to see what setting feels right for you, matches your style, the vibe and vision for your wedding - but don’t go overboard, after a while it’s hard to keep track of the details at every venue you see, and unfortunately, you cannot lock in a date, select vendors, or announce your wedding until you have booked your venue. So once you have found your dream venue (fingers crossed it’s The Maples Estate!) and a date that works with your schedule, go ahead and lock it in, set your date and sign your contract!!
Now that your venue is booked, congratulations!!
You can start to lock in your vendors, set your guest list and send those save the dates.
Before reaching out to vendors, it’s a good idea to first think through the vision you have for your wedding. What are those must haves, priorities and the overall vibe you are looking to create for your wedding. Once you have an idea of this, start researching.
Here at The Maples Estate our weekend wedding packages include a large list of vendors by category as soon as you book so you can find unique vendors that match your vision - you can always stray from the list if you like, but it’s a great starting point!
I always suggest reaching out to catering first, since it’s likely going to be your largest vendor fee. It’s a good idea to get a few quotes before locking in any other vendors to keep that budget on track. From here you can research and book your photographer, florist, DJ /music and hair & makeup.
It’s very possible that you will receive some “sorry, we’re already booked” emails, but don’t worry, keep reaching out, with a little work you will find vendors that you love, in your price point, that ARE available! If you are overwhelmed by this step, let us take over your planning and we will contact all these vendors for you. That means you can just select the vendors you love, sign the contracts and enjoy the party!
Once your caterer is confirmed, you can lock in a hotel room block and start to design your invitations. If you have already sent your save the date, it’s a good rule of thumb to send out invitations 6-12 weeks before your wedding so guests can plan ahead for travel, and book their accommodations. Check with your caterer ahead of time if they will need guest meal choices provided with their RSVP card, and think through any other events such as a welcome event, rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch that you might need to include.
Quick Note:
If you are on a short timeline and would like to wear a wedding dress on your big day, it’s a great idea to schedule a few bridal appointments as early as you can. Confirm ahead of time what their lead time is like on orders, so you don’t find your dream dress only to learn it’s not available before your wedding. If you are having trouble finding a dress that matches your timeline, consider shopping at a bridal consignment, resale store or even online. You may need to arrange some alterations, but you can likely have the dress in hand much earlier and find a local seamstress to fit your gown to your body.
Now that your main vendors are locked in, go ahead and take a look at your budget. Do you have some wiggle room for additional activities, events, personalized touches, fun decor items, etc? This is the fun part when you can get personal - add in a videographer, photo booth, yummy desserts, performers, entertainment, guest transportation, specialty lighting, draping, vintage furniture, signage, programs, linens, table decor, guest favors, etc. No need to go overboard, but it can be fun to add some special touches if your budget allows.
Don’t forget those personal touches like wedding day attire, shoes, jewelry and accessories! What about your officiant, wedding party, their attire as well as any speeches, traditional elements or rituals you would like to include in your wedding events? Also your rings and marriage certificate!
At The Maples Estate we provide all our couples with a digital wedding planning checklist by date, so you can follow along at the appropriate times and check tasks off as they are completed! We also now include coaching - a partial planning package - in your package so we can help you get started and support you along the way. It may feel like a lot of details but our planning checklist breaks it all down into easily digestible items so you can check everything off your list one by one. If it all feels like too much, let us take the worry off your hands with full planning and design!
So, are you ready to get planning!
Helpful Planning Tips Continued…
