It’s officially wedding season! Couples are booking venues, finding the dress, and trying to find the perfect vendors. Wedding planning can be extremely overwhelming; there are so many decisions to make and opinions that get thrown at you, it basically becomes a second job!
When it comes to picking your vendors, depending on the size of your wedding, there are basically two categories: the needs, and the wants. If you’re planning a full-on wedding, you need things like catering and a venue to hold everybody etc. Choosing vendors like your florists, DJ, photographer, and wedding planner are all things that need to be discussed between you and your partner and that need to be aligned with your wedding vision. In this article, we’re going to be outlining 3 steps on how to prioritize your vendors and choose ones that are going to create long-lasting memories for you and your partner!
Create a budget
A big factor that is going to determine which and how many vendors you’ll have is your overal budget. Sit down with your partner early on in the planning stage and create a reasonable budget together. Your budget will determine pretty much everything that happens during the wedding planning process, so it’s important to figure out what things you can afford and things that won’t fit into your budget. This is also a good time to decide on what vendors you are willing to spend a little more on in order to get the quality you are looking for. For example, if photography is high on your priority list, set aside (or save up) the money to splurge in that area. This may mean cutting back on expenses or going DIY with some decorations, but it will be well worth it.
Talk to your family members, especially ones who are investing money
If you are consulting certain family members or friends who are included in the wedding planning or contributing money to it, reach out to them and ask for advice! Get their opinion on which vendors are most important and what is necessary to make your day extra special! A few of them have probably been through a wedding before so they probably know a thing or two that may help you out!
Create a priority list
After you’ve had time to go over your budget and think about your wedding vision, sit down with your partner and create a priority list together. This gives you both time to get away from the stress of planning to communicate with each other about what is most important to you for your wedding day. This also help eliminate confusion and miscommunication later down the road and keeps you both on the same page during the planning process. Write down some of the things you would absolutely love to have at your wedding and what vendors or moments are really going to make your day unique to the both of you.
The key takeaway here is communication. This is your day! You get the final say on what does and doesn’t happen on your wedding day. With these three steps, you’ll be able to effectively make better decisions that are centered on your dreams and vision for your wedding day!