What’s important, what’s not, and how do you decide? Here’s how to determine your priorities when planning your wedding.
Image courtesy of Lumos Wedding Photography
“Do what makes you happy.” It’s a great piece of advice for nearly everything in your life, but especially for your wedding. Your day should be focused on you and filled with personal meaning. There are no wrong ways to celebrate this new chapter, and no shortage of moments, people, or events you can include.
It’s no secret that there are A LOT of choices you’ll have to make in the planning stages. So does every choice carry the same weight? Are your venue and centerpieces just as important as your guest list and gown?
Jumping into wedding planning without first deciding what’s important is a big mistake. It can be easy to lose yourself in all the decisions you have to make, so before you start comparing swatches and tasting cakes, be sure to determine your priorities. Here’s how to do just that.
Image courtesy of Michael John Photography
Envision your ideal day
Some brides have pictured their perfect wedding days since recess was a thing. But if you haven’t, now’s the time to start daydreaming! It may feel a bit silly, but turn off the lights, put the phone on Do Not Disturb, close your eyes, and just envision what the absolute best wedding day would look like.
Make note of the things that stand out to you: are there a lot of people there? Is the vibe subdued or lively? Does it take place inside or outside? Immerse yourself fully into this picture perfect day.
After your daydream sesh is done, take a moment to think about the things that didn’t pop out to you. Do you remember the flowers you saw, the music you heard, the dresses your bridesmaids were in, or what your future spouse was wearing? If you did, great! Those are details that you know mean something to you. If you didn’t, those may be aspects that can go further down the list (more on that below).
Image courtesy of JoVon Photography
Get a realistic budget
Now that you’ve got your perfect day in mind, sit down with your fiancé (and families, if they’re contributing) and decide on your budget. Start with a broad number that you’re willing to spend on your day as a whole — don’t break it down per vendor just yet!
List everything, then put it in order
Once you have your overall budget, list all of the vendors you’ll hire and all of the expenses you’ll encounter: venue, photographer, DJ, florist, officiant…you get the picture.
Now it’s time to go back to your perfect wedding daydream and all the things you noticed. If the surroundings were the most memorable part, your venue goes to the top of your list. Your venue should also nab the top spot if you thought mostly of your guest list — you’ll want to choose a venue that can accommodate the number in your head! If it was the party atmosphere and the packed dance floor, the DJ’s got the top spot. If it was flower walls and centerpieces, your florist should be a priority. If it was the way you felt when you looked in the mirror, your dress, hair, and makeup should be number one.
Keep in mind that there are a few important vendors that you may not have “envisioned” much during your wedding daydream, like a photographer, videographer, or content creator. Remember that they’ll document your picture-perfect day so that it’s more than just a memory. Account for them in your list, too.
You’ve got the budget, and now boom — you’ve got the priorities!
Image courtesy of Maria Love Photography
When in doubt, pull out your list
Now that you have your overall budget and your list of priorities, making decisions about your wedding should be a bit easier.
Should you go with the super expensive DJ that did your friend’s wedding, or the one with modest prices (but great reviews)? Check your list and see where “DJ” fell. Should you spring for the exotic flowers in your bouquet? It might be worth considering, if it’s something you remembered from your ideal wedding daydreaming! Once you get specific with your priorities, choices become clearer and you’ll be more likely to stick within your budget.
Remember — at the end of the day, your wedding is just that. A day. The main focus should be on celebrating the love between you and your new spouse, and that can happen anywhere with any budget.