Are you currently trying to plan a simple wedding? These steps outline how to go about this process and ways you can get creative. This should work for a simple wedding, or even elopement (which would be even more simple)!
Create a budget
When thinking about your finances, KEEP IT SIMPLE! The best way to really do this is to first allocate money to the things most important to you. These could be venue, dress, cake, food, etc. I like to think of it as putting in the big rocks first, then fill the gaps with other items as desired.
Once you hit your max, forget the rest!
Select your date
A perk of having a simple wedding is that you will likely need way less time for planning. You may be able to have your wedding a lot sooner than you would otherwise! Find a date that will work for you, your fiance, and your families. Don’t stress about everyone else, we are going for simplicity.
Determine guests
Think of who your A-team is. Those are the people you are going to want to invite. If you really want a simple wedding, less is more. Don’t worry about inviting your kindergarten teacher and her brother’s babysitter.
You will likely find that the whole event is much more intimate by having the people who truly mean the most to you there. What’s more, you will also save money by not paying for all those additional guests! This is probably the #1 way to really simplify your wedding, and will help alleviate the most stress as you move forward.
One way to allow others to still be informed and celebrate you without having to invite them to the ceremony would be to send out a wedding announcement. This would inform them of your wedding, but not include details of your ceremony and reception.
Ditch the wedding party or give them total freedom
Yes, wedding parties are totally part of tradition. You want your best girlfriends to be up there with you. I know! But guess what, if they are that close to you, they know you care about them anyways! You may consider ditching the whole idea.
If you do want to have a wedding party, another way to keep it simple is to let them find their own dresses. A unique way that could help make this work would be to give them a color scheme (can find lots on Pinterest) and have them find a dress in those colors! It may even end up being something they already own.
Select vendors
This can often clutter up your wedding planning. Think about what you really need for your wedding and go from there. Do you need a DJ, or would you prefer to have a really yummy catered meal?
You’d be surprised how much you negotiate with vendors and make things work. Maybe have a friend take some of your pictures (like engagements), and a photographer take day-of. Being very clear with what you need and what your budget is will help you in making these decisions.
Cut out extra (fluff)
A danger exists in going on Pinterest when you are planning a simple wedding, and that is comparing your wedding to others. If you really want everything to look just like these perfect and filtered, and maybe even staged photos, you are going to end up with a not so simple wedding.
Cut out the fluff! Think of ways that you can simplify. Not every bridesmaid needs a bouquet. You can use a pair of shoes you already own, or even borrow from a friend who got married last year!
I rented my wedding dress, and that was one of the best decisions I made. The cost was amazing, and now I don’t have to stress about storing it!
You choose what “fluff” is to you, and get rid of it!
Use a wedding coordinator/planner
This may seem like an unnecessary cost, especially when you are trying to keep things small, but hiring a professional will be a game changer. They will know how to keep the ball rolling and get everything planned. They will also make sure the day-of is smooth.
Another perk of hiring a wedding planner is that they have experience with weddings. They know what a simple wedding looks like, and what an extravagant one includes. She can help you to figure out how to achieve the simplicity you are hoping for.
Have a venue that is all inclusive and do all events in this space
One regret that I have from my own wedding was that it was a DIY space. I thought that this would be so fun to decorate and figure it all out. Yes, this was fun, but also very stressful. If I could do it again, it would be SO MUCH EASIER to select a venue that is all-inclusive.
Another way to make it simple with your venue is to find a space that looks great with very little extra decor. You can personalize it by bringing in some of your photos and a few other things, but the goal would be to have it look great with low investment.
One more thing about the venue: use it for everything! If you think about it, having your luncheon, ceremony, happy hour, and reception (if you even choose to do all of those not-so-necessary events) in different locations is pretty dang complicated! Find a venue that is versatile and have it for the entire day. Your wedding coordinator can help everything to rearrange and flow throughout the day very nicely without having to move around as much.
Own it all!
After all is said and done, your simple wedding will be your very own. It likely won’t be like the princess wedding that movies portray, but it will be special. You will love it for what it is. After all, this is the celebration of you and your spouse committing to one another, so let that be the focal point!
Try not to compare your wedding to other’s. Your taste and your priorities are your own. Even a wedding planner can’t make those decisions for you. Enjoy the journey, and feel confident in the simplicity.
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