Planning a wedding is no easy task. In fact, it can be so stressful and hectic that some brides undergo a transformation into bridezillas in the process of planning the perfect wedding day. The good news, though, is that all the hard work pays off when everything goes right on the big day.
If you’re overwhelmed by the wedding planning process and don’t know where to start, here are ten essential tasks to include on your to-do list. Start with crossing these off and you might find the planning process a little easier.
- Make the official engagement announcement to your family and friends.
If your proposal was fairly intimate, you’ll want to make an announcement of your engagement. A party with the people you plan to invite to your wedding would be a great way to break the news. Wedding planners recommend skipping an official engagement announcement altogether if the proposal was a dramatic or grand event.
- Talk to your future spouse about your preferences for the ceremony.
You might have a lot of important guests, but none are as important as you and your future spouse. The first thing you can decide on is your wedding date. Once you’ve picked the special date, you can move on to the type of ceremony you want for your wedding (religious or not, traditional or modern, etc.) and determine the budget you’ll set for the wedding and the reception. Other fun stuff you can start planning at this point include your guest list, your choice of venue for the ceremony and the reception, your wedding’s theme (if any), and your honeymoon destination.
It’s important that you and your bride or groom reach an agreement on these details because it’s going to be one of the most unforgettable days of your married life.
- Choose your entourage.
Once you’ve worked out and set your budget, you can start choosing your entourage and the other people who’ll play a special role in your wedding ceremony. You should take some time to figure out who to choose as bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, pageboys, and, of course, the maid of honor and the best man. This is also a great time to pick the officiant for your wedding and make sure that he or she is free to officiate your wedding. If you want to hire a professional wedding planner, now is the best time to do so.
- Start looking at venues and continue your search for the right vendors.
If you plan on doing everything on your own, start doing some research on the availability of venues you’ve short-listed for your wedding ceremony and reception. The number of guests you plan on inviting should be taken into consideration, of course. You’ll also have to look around for vendors that can provide their services on your wedding day. Photographers, videographers, caterers, decorators, musicians – these are vendors you should consider getting for your special day.
- Buy the wedding gown and the groom’s suit, along with shoes and accessories.
Once you’ve reserved your venue and the services of the vendors you need, you can start shopping for the wedding gown and the groom’s suit. What matters here is that you go with the style you like most, so you can ensure that you and your spouse not only look your best but are also comfortable on your wedding day. Wedding organizers also emphasize the importance of sticking to your budget when shopping for your clothes, shoes, and accessories.
- Buy your wedding rings, have your wedding invitations made, and decide on your honeymoon destination.
This is the perfect time to go shopping for your wedding rings, as you have plenty of time to choose the exact style you want and have the rings resized, if needed. Make sure you pick rings that suit you and your partner’s style.
And since you’ve chosen the date, venue, time, and dress code for your wedding, you can now have your wedding invitations made. You may even have enough time to make the invitations yourself. If you’re feeling a little stressed out by all the planning, you can start planning the honeymoon by deciding exactly where you want to go and how to get there.
- Look for the best hair stylist and makeup artist.
This is particularly important for the bride and her entourage. The services of hair stylists and makeup artists usually have to be scheduled weeks ahead of time, so you may have to start your search pretty early. Plus, you’ll have to do sample makeup looks with the hair stylist and makeup artist you prefer, so make sure you make time in your schedule for that.
- Send out the wedding invitations.
You must send your wedding invitations early enough so your guests can make time in their schedules and plan accordingly. Make sure everyone on your guest list gets one and that RSVP details are included on each invitation. Keep track of those RSVPs and do follow-ups if necessary, so you can give your caterer the final head count of invited guests.
- Confirm your reservations with your vendors.
Confirming your reservations with your vendors is important in ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch during your wedding day. You might also want to set a cake tasting with your chosen baker so you can get your wedding cake just the way you want it, too. Professional wedding organizers recommend providing your vendors with an event schedule so they’ll have an idea of your expectations on your wedding day.
- Pack your bags for your honeymoon and iron out your travel details and pick up your wedding clothes.
Now is a great time to prepare for your honeymoon; as the wedding approaches, you might be too busy to devote time to planning your honeymoon. Book your flights, if needed, and make the hotel reservations. Make sure you pack enough clothes and that your travel documents are all in order.
Of course, you must also remember to pick up your wedding clothes ahead of time, especially if you had them tailor-made. This way, you’ll have allowances if additional fittings or adjustments are needed.