Over the years of shooting weddings and planning my own, I’ve learned so much about weddings that the normal bride-to-be may not be aware of! When it comes to wedding planning, there are some things you want to knock out first and foremost to get you started on the right foot!

1. Dream Big

The nitty-gritty is coming, but before you get into the details, give yourself some time to dream. Write down what you’d love to have at your wedding, whether it’s a barefoot ceremony in the sand or a bourbon bar at the reception, and start putting together a Pinterest board with your vision. Keep an eye out for common themes, which will help you narrow things down later and start to define your biggest priorities for the event.

2. Talk Numbers

Don’t book a single thing before you know how much you’ll have to spend on your wedding. Discuss with your fiance (or parents, in-laws or whoever may be splitting part of the bill) about what they might be comfortable contributing, and start setting aside savings if you’ll be paying for the event yourselves. Another number to consider? Your guest list! Create a draft guest list to get an idea of how many guests you’ll have, which will play a major role in how far your budget can go and which venues you can look at.

3. Pick Your Season

Before you tour venues or interview any major vendors (like your planner or photographer *cough, hiiiii, we should chat after this step!), you’ll want to have a range of dates in mind. Think about what you’re envisioning for your celebration. Is it a flower-filled wedding in the spring or a beach elopement? Whenever your dream wedding seems to fall in the year, look to your calendars to see when you’re both free. Don’t forget to check in with your VIPs to make sure they’re available, too!

4. Book the Major Players

• Venue
• Photographer let’s chat!!
• Planner

These are the vendors who get booked 12-18 months out so they will most likely determine your DATE. If you intend on hiring a planner, he or she should be by your side from the start. They will help with many things 

4 (b) DECIDE YOUR STYLE The venue and photographer will determine the ‘vibe’ and overall look and feel of the day. Do you want a modern or industrial venue? Are you looking for more of the ballroom wedding look? Do you want light & dreamy photos? Dark a moody? All of these factors will determine how your wedding feels to you and your guests the day of and how it is portrayed for years to come in your photos!

5. Get Organized

Now, when I say get organized. I mean GET ORGANIZED. It doesn’t even have to be pretty. Whether you want to get an actual Wedding Planning book or you just grab a cheap three-ring binder from Target (Like I did)— you need to get ONE PLACE for all your things! The contracts, budget tracking, phone numbers, addresses everything! 

Another little tip, print off a little calendar to stay on top of payment due dates! Keeping on top of the details is key. And missing a payment could result in penalties or a vendor not showing up!

Fun Fact about me: I love to be more than just your photography vendor. If there are questions that you have I love to be able to help my couples with any questions you or your handsome groom would have!

Email me for a copy of my Wedding Prep Timeline Guide- alyssa@alyssagracephotography.org