Sweet, so you said yes, and you've decided on forever together. But now what?
In the age of the internet and endless information, the countless options and associated costs will inevitably get overwhelming. It can be challenging to juggle everything, especially without a plan or hiring a wedding planner to keep you on track. You've done everything you know to do; you downloaded a planning guide, you joined Facebook Groups, and you're following the wedding planning websites. But still, you find yourself awake at 2 a.m. in the never-ending doom scroll. Well, you will need a different solution! So, here are some tips to simplify planning your wedding and even enjoy the process!
First and foremost!
Take it all in and enjoy your engagement!. This stage of your relationship is fleeting and should be cherished. Excitement, anticipation, hopes and dreams for the future. The questions about the big day will likely start rolling in as soon as you announce your engagement. It's okay to not have answers right away. Go on date nights and plan intentional moments to remember this time. Have some engagement photos done? Once you've soaked in all the "I said yes" and fiance buzz and are ready to start thinking about the ceremony and celebration ideas, you must get on the same page and present a united front.
Break the news
Sharing the exciting news of your engagement is a big deal, for some couples it's a long awaited announcement and for some it may come as a bit of a surprise to some of their people. How you go about breaking the news it is entirely up to you but should be considered first. Whether you're eager to shout it from the rooftops with an instant Instagram post or prefer to savor the secret with only a select few, the choice is yours. However, it's essential to consider that the moment you announce your engagement, the floodgates of inquiries about the upcoming nuptials will open. From the eagerly asked "When's the big date?" to assumptions about the wedding party, be prepared for curiosity. It's wise to have some preliminary answers ready, even if it's a simple, "We're relishing our engagement, and as we plan the big day, we'll be sure to share all the exciting details." This way, you can bask in the joy of your engagement while gracefully handling the curiosity that comes with the territory.
Getting on the same page with your partner about the big day.
Sit down to discuss all your wedding dreams. Big party with everyone you love vs. an intimate gathering of a select crew? Traditional ceremony, dinner, and dancing reception vs. a nontraditional celebration? Maybe a getaway in an exotic destination seems exciting, or perhaps you're more of a sentimental hometown comfort kind of couple. From the traditions you've thought of since childhood to the values that are meaningful to you and your relationship now. You'll want to know that this celebration represents you as a couple and the life you're building together.
After you've discussed the big ideas… get clear on your specific wedding vision.
Once you've come together on the overall vision for how you want to celebrate, it's time to get into how you want the celebration to look and feel. Discuss your desired aesthetic style and how it pertains to your wedding. Elegant, romantic, chic, whimsical, rustic, boho, etc., are all common terms in wedding design. Still, they can mean different things to everyone, so connecting visual representations to your ideas will help everyone be clear. I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest, but it is the best place to START for inspo.
If you've been looking online for wedding inspiration, you know the choices are endless. Your Pinterest board may be a hodge-podge of different looks, colors, and themes, making it challenging to decide what you really want. Without a solid vision for your wedding day, you could endlessly research and never actually put things in place. Some people are clear on the vibe they are going for, but if you're more eclectic like me, you may have a vision of mixing styles and vibes, so your Pinterest board looks like you're throwing paint at a canvas! I like it all!
Now what? Eventually, you must reign it in and cull down your inspiration to a cohesive vibe. Well, start by looking to see if you at least have a color or hue, like pastels or jewel tones, that are showing up most in your saved inspirations, and get rid of everything that doesn't match that. Then, see if you have a style or look that tends to have more saves, like a whimsical or boho theme, and eliminate pins and images that don't align with similar energy. As you do this, you'll narrow down your vision. This will allow you to be clearer on what you are searching for. So, instead of googling something generic like "wedding décor ideas," you'll search for "whimsical wedding décor ideas" and thus avoid some of the overwhelm by focusing your search results.
Wedding Coaching
If you want more personal guidance on nailing down your vision, check out wedding coaching by my wonderful cousin Caitlin Bosshart! She's in the coaching field, and after we planned her very nontraditional wedding celebration together several years back, she started offering this unique service to couples looking to truly embrace their alternative and nontraditional wedding ideas. I include one session with Caitlin in my wedding planning packages because it makes my job so much easier when there is a clear vision. Find out more at https://tietheknotyourway.com/
Quiet the voices
Let's be real. Everyone's going to have an opinion about something. Deciding is difficult because too many voices throw out random ideas and opinions. Decide who will be a voice in your wedding planning and stick with only those voices. Ultimately, the only two voices that should matter are the couple getting married. Still, I recommend keeping it to one or two "outside" voices of people you trust to weigh in on decision-making.
Decide on your non-negotiables
The challenge in planning a dream wedding day is weighing every option against the "Will this fit in the budget?" question. At this point in life, like me, you've realized that money, in fact, does not grow on trees.
As you scroll on Pinterest and Instagram, getting inundated with images of perfection and falling to your knees when you find out the cost to pull that off, you once again feel like you're running into a brick wall. The easiest way to avoid spiraling into depression is to sit down and write a list of everything you want. Then, take the items from that list that are "non-negotiables" and put them in a separate column, and the items that are "wants, but you could live without" in another column. You and your fiancé should have your own list and then collaborate to create a new list.
Let's say you both decide that photography is where you can splurge more. This is a non-negotiable item to which you allocate a higher % of the budget. Essentially, you are saying you are willing to let go of other things to have the best photographer. This simple strategy will help you clarify what matters most, stay on budget, and avoid disappointment.
Hire a pro
If having a seasoned planner to help you with all the steps along the way is something that you'd be interested in, reach out today for your complimentary consultation so we can chat about how I can support you in making your celebration of love a magical experience for you and your guests.
Comments