How Soon Should You Start Planning Your Wedding?
- Home
- Blog
- Luxury Wedding
- How Soon Should You Start Planning Your Wedding?
So, you just got engaged, huh? That’s like, super exciting, but hey, let’s be real—it also kinda opens up a floodgate of, like, questions and expectations and stuff, right? One biggie is probably, “How soon should we start planning this whole wedding thing?” Do you dive right into it or just chill and bask in the engagement bliss for a while? The answer, I guess, really depends on a bunch of things like your timeline, budget, and personal vibes. I’ve got some tips to help ya figure out when to kick off planning based on when you wanna tie the knot, and all that.
What Is the First Conversation You Should Have?
Alright, before making anything official or concrete or whatever, it’s so important to just sit down and have a heart-to-heart with your partner. You gotta talk about whether y’all want a long engagement, or, like, a short one. Each has its own perks, honestly. A long engagement lets you take your sweet time planning, you know? While a short one means you’ll be walking down that aisle like, ASAP. You don’t need to lock in a date right away or anything, but having a kinda general idea of your planning timeline will definitely help with the next steps.
What if Your Wedding Is More Than 18 Months Away?
Now, if you’re thinking about getting hitched in more than 18 months, you’re basically living the dream with all this time on your hands.
No need to rush into planning, seriously. Take at least a month (or two, honestly) just to bask in that newly engaged glow.
Celebrate with your peeps, maybe throw a big ol’ engagement bash, and just soak up all the excitement that comes with it before you start making decisions left and right.
With that long timeline, you pretty much have your pick when it comes to wedding venues and vendors, ‘cause most folks book about a year in advance. This is, like, your chance to choose the peeps who are really gonna make the day perfect for you, all without the pressure.
It’s the time to start scoping out some wedding inspo, researching styles you love, and just laying the foundation for your dream wedding, y’know?
What if Your Wedding Is About a Year Away?
A lotta folks, I think, are engaged for around 13 months before they get hitched. If that’s kinda where you and your boo are heading, maybe wait about three weeks before you start diving into serious planning.
That gives you a bit of time to swoon over the engagement, without completely losing that forward momentum.
When ya feel ready to get things rolling, just take it step by step. First off, discuss your wedding budget (super important, trust me) and whip up a rough guest list.
Once you have an idea on both the budget and headcount, you can start snooping around for wedding venues.
Since you’ve got a year to do this, you’ll still have a decent selection of vendors available, so no need to like rush or make snap decisions.
What if Your Wedding Is Less Than a Year Away?
Now for those of you planning to get married in less than a year, you gotta have more urgency, but I mean, still take like two weeks to enjoy being engaged.
Don’t dive in headfirst just yet. You can totally brush off those incessant questions from family and friends for a bit, trust me on that.
But after those first few weeks, it’s time to get crackin’. Set your budget, make that guest list, and start reaching out to venues. By this point, your dream venue might already be snatched up, so you gotta be open-minded and flexible.
Stuff like weekday weddings or off-season dates could be your besties here, especially if you have a venue you’re dead set on.
What if Your Wedding Is Six Months Away?
Alrighty, if you’re in the “we wanna get married in six months or less” boat, it’s like very doable. Trust me, a lotta couples go this route, about 19% of them actually. It can require some quick decision-making, but you can still take a few days to just savor the engagement thing.
A week in, it’s critical to start researching venues and vendors pronto. Some popular ones might be booked up already, so you gotta explore different options. Hiring a wedding planner can be an ace move here, especially for a tight timeline, helping ya stay on top of deadlines and bookings.
What if Your Wedding Is Three Months Away?
For those planning with a timeframe of like, three months or less, it’s seriously go-time. You need to jump into action almost immediately. I mean, it’s tempting to chill for a few days, but you really can’t afford to procrastinate.
First thing, lock down that venue and wedding date, pronto. Once that’s set, book your wedding vendors as soon as you can. Maybe consider working with a wedding coordinator if you can, to help streamline the process.
Focus on the key stuff: venue, photographer, catering, attire, and invitations. The more efficiently you work, the smoother the experience, like, guaranteed.
What Are the First Steps in Wedding Planning?
Once you’ve spent some time lovin’ the engagement life, it’s time to tackle the planning process. Now, no matter how long or short your engagement is, these first steps are pretty standard across the board:
-Decide on a Location: Before establishing a budget, figure out if your wedding’s gonna be local or a destination thing. Location can massively impact costs and logistics.
– Set a Budget: Get a clear wedding budget nailed down by discussing contributions from both your family and your own savings.
-Choose a Wedding Style: Hone in on your wedding’s aesthetic, be it rustic, modern, bohemian, or classic. This helps streamline decisions for decor and vendors.
-Create a Guest List Estimate: Before picking a venue, have an approximate guest count ready so the space fits your needs.
-Hire a Wedding Planner (if desired): A planner can be a lifesaver for managing logistics and just reducing stress, especially if your timeline’s short.
-Pick a Wedding Party: Choose who you want by your side on the big day, like bridesmaids, groomsmen, or others.
-Select a Venue and Set the Date: Check out potential venues, compare packages, and finalize that date.
-Book Key Vendors: Secure those top vendors, including:
– Photographer/Videographer
– Caterer
– Florist
– Band/DJ
– Officiant
– Hair and Makeup Artists
– Cake Designer
-Create a Wedding Website: This is handy for providing guests with crucial deets, like venue info, schedules, and RSVP options.
-Plan Attire and Accessories: Start shopping for your wedding dress, suit, or any other attire, as fittings can take months.
How Can You Research Wedding Vendors Effectively?
Picking the right wedding vendors is a big deal, and here are some ways to snoop around for the best options effectively:
-Social Media: Be a digital detective and check vendors’ Instagram and Pinterest for recent work.
-Online Reviews: Dive into testimonials from past clients, they’re super helpful.
-Real Weddings: Browse real wedding features to see vendors in action.
-Industry Recognition: Awards and features in mags can be a good sign of a vendor’s credibility.
-Networking: Ask vendors you’ve already booked for recommendations, they usually know good folks.
What Should You Focus on as the Big Day Approaches?
As the wedding date looms closer, you gotta finalize all those details and confirm bookings. Send out invites, complete vendor payments, schedule dress fittings, and plan your wedding timeline so everything runs smooth on the day. Having a wedding checklist helps keep everything on track, seriously.
How Can You Communicate Your Priorities with Your Family?
Honestly, there’s no single perfect time to start planning a wedding—it’s like, totally based on your personal faves and the timeframe you’re working with. Whether you’re planning two years out or are in a mad rush with just months to go, the key is to stay organized, set priorities, and enjoy the ride. Wedding planning is a super unique experience, so, like, embrace every moment, and look forward to your unforgettable day!
In case you need assistance regarding Wedding Planning Services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our proficient team at VNV Events.
