Have you searched online for a wedding planning checklist? Most likely, you’ve come across the same basic tasks—hire a caterer, buy your dress, sign the venue contract.
With thousands of these lists online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But as your wedding day partner, we’re here to boil it down—what do you really need to do when planning your wedding?
Check out our 5-item “must-have” checklist for creating a well-run wedding:
- Establish a realistic budget…and leave room for error.
In a world of Instagram-worthy weddings and never-ending Pinterest boards, your “wedding must-have” list may be growing exponentially. Unfortunately, those “must-haves” can get pricey.
Step one to planning a well-run wedding is to establish a budget and work backwards from it. If your budget is $15,000, can you really commit to your $10,000 dream venue? Before signing that venue contract (or any contract!), make sure you and your fiancé have sat down and determined the amount you are both willing and able to spend on your big day.
One extra tip? Be sure to add a 10% contingency into your budget. Unexpected costs are inevitable, and it’s better to have funds set aside to cover those costs, rather than creating extra stress before your wedding.
Added bonus: When you create a budget and stick to it, there’s a good chance you will have a bit of extra cash left over. Use that cash to treat you and your new spouse to splurge on a special experience during your honeymoon!
- Create a wedding website—and keep it updated.
Harness the power of technology to communicate effectively with your guests! A sleek, accurate wedding website will eliminate the need for pre-wedding questions from guests regarding dress code, colors, timeline, parking, and more.
Added bonus: Your wedding website is a fun way to share your love story (and couples photos) with your friends and family!
- Hire a professional photographer.
Your photographer has one chance to capture the most meaningful moments of your big day, so it’s important that you trust the person you’re hiring. While a family friend or amateur photographer will be considerably cheaper, a professional has the equipment and experience necessary to ensure every moment is picture-perfect.
Added bonus: A professional photographer moves the day’s timeline along. Rather than waiting for direction, your photographer will have the skill to keep the ball rolling, meaning they can get you from ceremony, to photos, to cocktail hour with minimal stress or wasted time.
- Designate a wedding day point of contact.
On your big day, you should be focused on you and your love. And while Bluebonnet Events will be alongside you every step of the way, we won’t have all the answers. Assign a close friend or relative to be your designated point of contact for the little questions Bluebonnet isn’t able to answer. Moms, aunts, and bridesmaids are a great choice!
This person will be responsible for tasks like keeping track of your phone, making minor decisions regarding timeline changes, and taking your personal items at the end of the night.
Added bonus: Your point of contact will be “in the know” on everything happening in the background of your wedding. After the dust settles, the two of you can rehash your big day and relive the fun memories—both “on-stage” and behind the scenes.
- Trust your coordinator.
As your coordinator, we are your right-hand person, and we are passionate about making your vision a reality. Our team members lean on years of first-hand experience—both positive and negative.
Perhaps most importantly, we have your best interests in mind. If your coordinator suggests a timeline change or simplifying a certain aspect of your wedding day, you can be confident that it’s to make your day seamless and enjoyable.
Remember—your wedding coordinator is your collaborative partner. Turn to us for advice, and we will do our best to help create your perfect day.
Added bonus: It goes without saying, when you trust your coordinator, you will stress less on your wedding day!