After saying “Yes” to the man of your dreams, it’s time to begin planning for your big day! Every little detail must be perfect and that can become a little overwhelming. I asked some local wedding coordinators to lend some advice to brides and here’s what they had to say.
Karen Berl, RSVP Events, suggests to first choose your theme. Finalizing your colors, themes, and ideas before meeting with any vendors will help bring together the vision of your wedding day. Also, to help brides with these decisions, Karen recommends looking through bridal magazines and to attend several bridal shows to get a variety of ideas.
A main concern when planning your wedding is your budget! Getting a firm grasp of your budget will help guide you throughout the planning process and give you a better idea of where you stand. This in turn will relieve some stress. Libby Woodard, Easton Events, suggests taking advantage of technology. Using Google Docs is a great way to create, revise and edit your budget in excel. This also allows you to share your budget with whoever needs to be informed. She also suggests planning this just like building a new home; you always spend about 10% more than you had planned. Creating a contingency line will help balance this.
There is an ocean full of vendors and narrowing it down to the perfect one for your special occasion can be hard. Dechele, Events by Dechele, suggests asking friends and family who they have used or experienced in the past to gather feedback. Also, another great resource to find vendors is wedding blogs. Interview more than one vendor because the vendor you may have your heart set on may be already booked on your wedding date. When it comes to your final decision, go with your gut instinct. Never feel obligated to select a vendor that a friend or family member had used.
Of course, hiring an event coordinator will help alleviate the stress of planning this huge day and Karen from RSVP Events believes this will be the best investment you will make. They may either have many years of experience or are certified with the proper credentials. They will be able to help brides with their wedding budgets as well as direct the brides to venues and vendors that match the bride’s vision and budget. The most important concern is that the bride and her family enjoy this special day and hiring a professional will ensure that you do.
Planning your wedding includes so many details, ideas, and people wanting to help. It can feel incredibly stressful at times. Michelle Gillespie, Occasions by M&K, advises brides to keep a journal to help keep track of your ideas and visions for your big day. And also, be sure to listen to all suggestions from friends, family and wedding industry professionals.
The important thing to remember is that it’s your special day and that your vision should shine through. Being prepared, educated and opened minded should help planning this large scale event and make it seem effortless. Make sure to take advantage of bridal publications, websites and blogs, online technologies and any other tools that may help to pull everything off. This should be a fun process and involving friends and family will help relieve some of the stress. Keep your vision true to you and your fiancé and your wedding day will be a success!
Written by: Elizabeth Timms
Assistant Events Coordinator
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