Looking to figure out how to plan a wedding? If you’re anything like me, you likely just got engaged and are googling like crazy trying to figure it all out. This 15-step guide will give you everything you need to know about how to plan the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.
Planning and figuring out how to make a wedding happen can be very daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. A great way to tackle any challenge is by reverse engineering, and then taking small steps to get to the end goal.
To help you save time, I’m giving you the list of steps you need to start planning today. You don’t have to stress over forgetting something, or overthinking the entire process. Having gotten married last year, I’ve been there, I get it.
You’ll find answers about wedding planning from how to plan a wedding on a budget, to how long does it take to plan a wedding, planning a wedding, and more!
After going through this list, you are going to feel so much more confident in answering for yourself how to plan a wedding. You’ll be ready to jump in and recruit the help you need. I am completely confident your wedding will be everything you’ve dreamed of.
This post is all about how to plan a wedding.
How to Plan a Wedding: 15-Steps
1. Set a Budget and Get Organized
This is the most important step to begin with. Without a budget and a system to organize yourself you’ll be completely stressed out and will likely overspend. Weddings aren’t cheap!
Be realistic with your budget. Look up how much vendors cost, and prioritize accordingly. Don’t forget to account for tips!
To get yourself organized, I highly recommend creating a checklist of all things you need to accomplish. Then schedule out a timeline (giving yourself plenty of wiggle room).
Google sheets and google docs is PERFECT for tracking all of this. Another perk: they are shareable, and are updated live!
You’ll find lots of apps that you can use for free that will also help you to stay on top of everything. Check out this post: TOP 5 FREE WEDDING PLANNING APP OPTIONS EVERY BRIDE NEEDS TO TRY
2. Determine Your Style and Vision
This is such a fun part of the planning process. I call it Pinterest binging, but you know, it’s a necessary step!
You may already know the exact aesthetic you are going for, but if not here are a few tips:
Start with a color scheme. You can use an online service or take a trip to the paint store to pick out chips you like. Build from there.
Consider the season. Do you want light and breezy, or cozy?
Use Pinterest and dedicate a board to your inspiration photos.
Make it your own! Don’t compare your style and taste to others. Enjoy it!
3. Pick Your Dates
Figuring out when you want to have your wedding can be a challenge. That memory is still fresh for me. Just expect that people will let you know their opinion of when you should or shouldn’t have your wedding.
Be sure that whatever you decide is what you and your fiancé want. Whenever you feel is best wins! Just be sure to give yourself enough time to enjoy your engagement and to plan your wedding.
{RELATED POST: HOW LONG SHOULD YOU BE ENGAGED BEFORE MARRIAGE? 5 WAYS TO STOP COMPARING YOUR ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE TO OTHERS’}
4. Begin Finding Vendors
Here is a list of people vendors to start getting quotes from: wedding planners, wedding coordinators, venues, photographers, videographers, caterers, florists, decor/furniture/linen rentals, DJ’s, and officiants.
There are so many ways to find good vendors, you have lots of resources at your disposal. You can search on Google and find ratings. You can use instagram to find vendors in your area and see their work. Nothing speaks louder than recommendations of people you know in your area.
{RELATED POST: 53 KEY ITEMS FOR YOUR DREAM WEDDING VENUE CHECKLIST}
5. Select Wedding Stationery
You’ll find that picking your wedding stationery is important to do at the beginning of your wedding planning for a few reasons.
First, if you want to send out save the dates, you’ll want to keep the stationery uniform. These announcements will go out early on, so make that choice!
Second, stationery is an important part of your wedding design. This decision will impact other stylistic designs you’ll use throughout the process (for example, if you have a modern styled stationery set, you’ll likely want a modern style at your reception).
Looking for some ideas? Check out this blog post on the 5 BEST PLACES TO FIND INEXPENSIVE WEDDING STATIONERY SETS.
6. Begin Building Your Wedding Registry
Keep in mind, you’ll likely be adding to your wedding registry throughout your wedding planning process, hence “begin”. I know I kept thinking of things I needed to add to my registry up until my wedding day!
You’ll find great checklists of what to include on your registry. I love this list by Wedding Wire. Some of the places I recommend register are included in this blog post: WHERE TO REGISTER FOR WEDDING GIFTS – 5 PLACES WITH THE BEST VARIETY.
7. Choose Bridal Party Members and Delegate
If you want to have a bridal party, here is where you get to send out those fun bridesmaid proposals (so cute)! You get to call the shots on how many bridal party members you want.
One thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that these people will need to be dependable as you will need to delegate certain tasks to them. For example, my maid of honor (hi big sis!) planned my entire bachelorette, and most of my bridal shower.
{Related Post: 10 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GROOMSMEN RESPONSIBILITIES}
8. Determine Your Wedding Day Timeline (including rehearsal dinner)
How does your wedding day schedule look? Are you going to have a rehearsal dinner the night before? In this step, you’re going to want to figure out your timing and schedule of events.
Why is this so important? This will help you to know what vendors you need and when. You’ll know what logistics you need to plan and coordinate. It’s super important for future planning decisions.
Plus, this will help your wedding day really become exactly what you want.
9. Plan Details for Your Reception and Ceremony
Now that you know what your timeline is for the full wedding day, it’s time to get into the details. Your reception and ceremony are where your guests get to celebrate with you. Take time to make it perfect (ok I know that’s impossible, but we can dream)!
Here are some of the items you’re going to want to focus in on: who will officiate your ceremony, what guests will be invited to either event, where will you be holding each event, what decor and furniture is needed, what are the sequence of events, do you need to arrange transportation, how to feed your bridal party.
Wasn’t sure where else to stick this, but be sure to pick out wedding bands so that you have something to exchange at the ceremony!
{RELATED POST: 57 BEST WEDDING SONGS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CELEBRATION}
{ANOTHER RELATED POST: THE PERFECT WEDDING RECEPTION TIMELINE IN 7 STEPS}
{FINAL RELATED POST: 7 WAYS TO LOWER THE COST OF WEDDING DECOR – WEDDING DECORATIONS ON A BUDGET}
10. Pick a Dress
Are you ready for your own “say yes to the dress” episode?! Heck yes! This is your time to feel like a princess!
Picking a wedding dress is such a fun and exciting process. Don’t forget the budget you set at the beginning of this whole process though.
One recommendation I have, take time to go try on expensive, gorgeous dresses, even if you don’t plan to get them. I mean this is your time to shine and make special memories!! Have fun, and get inspired. But again, stick with your budget, you’ll be glad you did.
{RELATED POST: 7 GENIUS WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON A WEDDING DRESS}
11. Decide on a Cake and Florals
Take time to price shop and find a wedding cake you’ll love. This is a very photographed and fun part of your wedding. My perhaps unpopular opinion: the taste of the cake doesn’t really matter that much… you probably won’t eat a full piece, and your guests won’t really care!
For florals, get together with your florist and determine exactly what you need and when. For example, you may need different florals for your reception versus your ceremony. Give them some solid inspo pictures, and share your exact sequence of events so they know when they can go set up.
12. Organize Transportation and Hotels
Another name for this step is “guest management” because you need to help figure out where people may stay or how they need to get around IF this is a service you are providing.
If you are not planning to cover your guests on housing, a good idea would be to send out recommendations to your guests on hotels or other accommodations they can consider using.
If you have events that are back to back in different locations, you will need to keep guests informed on whether or not they will need to find their own transportation.
Don’t forget this step, it’ll keep your wedding day much more calm.
13. Get Wedding License
Yay the legal things! You can’t forget the wedding license or you’re going to have a very disappointing wedding day.
Every state and county is a little different, but many have made it possible to get your wedding license online. Even if you can’t do it online, check for instructions online.
Your county office is where you’ll need to go if the online option isn’t available.
14. List Out Schedule of Events
Ok, this is different from step 8. Here’s why:
This step occurs about a week or so before your wedding day. Now you’ve ironed out all the details. You’ve coordinated logistics. You need to list this out for yourself, your bridal party, vendors, anyone who is helping make things happen.
By listing this all out, you’ll have peace of mind with when everything will need to take place. You’re getting everyone on the same page! Hopefully this will also help your stress levels decrease too.
One absolute must: delegate EVERYTHING for the wedding day. You better not plan to coordinate anything. You don’t need to! Let someone else take care of it. But make sure they know they are in charge!
15. ENJOY YOUR DAY
The day has arrived! Take time to really enjoy. Celebrate with your loved ones. Focus on the big picture and on how you feel, and let any imperfections go. Savor the moments!
Bonus: Send Thank-you’s
The reason this isn’t a numbered step is because technically it isn’t part of planning a wedding. But don’t forget to do this after you’ve had time to settle back down.
Thank guests for attending, your bridal party for their help, your vendors for making it all happen. Send thank-you’s for gifts. Taking time to do this will help close everything out for you!
This post has been all about how to plan a wedding.
Other posts you may like:
- 13 WEDDING PLANNING ETIQUETTE RULES EVERY FUTURE BRIDE SHOULD KNOW
- 9 STEPS TO PLAN A SIMPLE WEDDING
- 9 CRITICAL WEDDING PLANNING ESSENTIALS THAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH ANYTHING
- 11 BEAUTIFUL COLORS FOR ENGAGEMENT NAILS THAT LOOK GREAT IN PICTURES
- 9 TRENDY GOLD NECKLACES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS TO THE NEXT LEVEL | ENGAGEMENT NECKLACE GOLD
[…] HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING: THE COMPLETE 15-STEP GUIDE […]