Questions to ask before you start planning your wedding.
Planning a wedding seems like a daunting task - filled with to do’s, don’ts, and musts that you have to figure out. What if I told you that answering the 4 questions below will make decisions ten times easier?! The answers can serve as an anchor and a constant to you both for each decision that needs to be made throughout the planning process.
What is your budget?
This might feel like an icky topic, but it’s important to be intentional with where your money is going. Start with an outline of what you can financially afford and where you want to spend it. When setting a budget, you might have to tweak it along the way…spend less here, more over there. As you begin to mould your day, and see what matters most.
How do you envision your day?
This might feel like an overly broad question, but it’s an important one. When you look back on your wedding, what do you want remember? This actually helps lead into finding the perfect vendors for you (and leads into our next question).
What environment do you want to create/remember?
If you want to create an environment of intimacy (think slow and romantic), then you are looking at a small wedding with only the people closest to you. Take note of what you both value and build from that.
What are the top 3 things you want to prioritize?
Looking back at what you wrote for the previous questions should help you pin down the answers to this question. Should it be a full course meal with your closest friends? Is it having a photographer who captures the perfect candids? Maybe it’s having a DJ to hype up the crowd to dance ‘til we drop?
Your location choice creates a vibe; the decor sets a mood; your family and friend group moulds the day. What environment do you want to create: romantic, intimate, dreamy? Would you rather have elegant and classy or whimsical and magical? Does that mean a small, intimate wedding or a big wedding? Big weddings may be a big party or a more formal event. Small weddings can be sweet, simple, and more flexible.
How to utilize your answers for planning
All these options can be overwhelming. But when you answer the 4 main questions and have them written down to refer back to, you no longer have to be overwhelmed or stressed by decisions. When planning and booking vendors, your big-picture answers are now the foundation for making decisions. Does “it” fit the budget and help create what you envisioned? If yes, book. What about if it’s over budget? Is it in the top 3 priorities? If yes, you can take from something less important to pay for what is more important. Is it over budget and not in your top 3? Then your answer is no or keep looking for an alternative.
Your answers are your anchor for decision making. Don’t stress. You know what you want; you know your budget; you know your top priorities. You can have anything, but not always everything. Plan and create your perfect wedding and enjoy the process.