The Dazzling Blog
How to Plan a Wedding
Hey Dazzlers! We are one month away from December. Our blog series is coming to a close, but we plan to close it out with a bang. This blog post is about wedding planning. I will give you ten steps to utilize ahead of your big day. Wedding planning is a huge step to take. Let’s get to it!
Step 1: Are you for certain this is your person?
I tell couples all the time to join premarital counseling. Marriage is a big deal and it is a legal process. When you take your vows, you are promising to be loyal and committed to your partner for life. Yes, things happen and divorce is possible, but at this moment make sure your actions are based on reasonable principles. Premarital counseling is a way for you to work through any issues that you two may have before marriage. There’s a resource by the name of Twogether in Texas, and this is a great way to start your search on finding the right premarital counselor.
Step 2: Have a budget and look into who you want to hire
You will encounter plenty of wedding professionals. You can find a list of the wedding professionals you may encounter below:
Wedding Officiant: That would be someone like me! You will need an officiant to legally bind your marriage. These are the people that take over during the ceremony and ask you to state your vows. Wedding officiants also submit your signed marriage license to the county clerk.
Wedding Planner: You may or may not need a wedding planner depending on how much time you have. Wedding planners make your wedding journey much easier, and they are equipped with the knowledge to get things done!
Baker: You’ll need a good baker to make the wedding cakes!
Photographer: Capture important moments on your wedding day.
Videographer: A video of your wedding day is a great way to preserve your special day.
Caterers
Makeup artist
Hair Stylist
DJ
Do your research, look at reviews, and partake in consultations! Give yourself enough time to plan and research. Also, ask as many questions as possible. Please look at my prior blog post about creating a budget and finding wedding professionals!
Step 3: Gather your Wedding Party
There’s a lot of moving parts in a wedding, and everyone has a part in the big day. Be reasonable about the amount of people you want in your wedding party. Make sure people are willing to participate. Also, make sure the people you pick are trustworthy and reliable. You will need the following for a wedding party:
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Maid of Honor
Best Man
Flower Girl
Ring Bearer
And more…depending on your wedding!
Step 4: Figure out your Wedding Vision
A lot of weddings are known to have themes. This can help with picking out the decor and colors. This can also help with picking out the venue. For example, if you have a country themed wedding, then you may want to look into a rustic venue. You may want to look into implementing natural tone colors for a western theme. Good props can be cowboy/cowgirl hats, boots, lasso, hay bale, and more! You can find popular wedding themes below:
Western
Beach
Springtime/Floral
Chic
Glamorous
Whimsical
Vintage
Step 5: Research Venues
It’s important to research venues, and to find something fitting to the occasion. Get out there, and take a look at the venues in person if you can. You can also look at the venue’s website to learn more. Find out the venue's hours, reviews, and pricing as well. When looking at a venue, be cautious of the size and how you want the layout done. Next, you want to see what amenities the venue has to offer. Is there a kitchen? Is there a waiting area? Are the ceremony and reception areas in the same place or different locations? Where can the bridal party get dressed? What does the parking situation look like? Also, ask and see if the venue has other services that they offer (ex. Valet, setting up, etc.).
Step 6: Food Options
Caterers are a big deal! I know of some brides who did the food on their own. If you don’t want that burden, then it is important to research caterers. Bakers are also another big deal for a wedding. Typically bakers and caterers will have ways for you to taste test. If you need help with finding a caterer/baker, figure out the most you want to spend on food and desserts. From there, decide on what type of foods you want served. Have an idea or an official head count as well. You can find some food ideas below:
Taco Bar
Italian Food
Roasted Chicken and Salad Bar
Traditional Food Items from your Culture
Step 7: Have a Plan for the Rehearsal
This is typically where the event planner can be a lot of help! Rehearsals are important, and you need to make sure everyone is attending. Be thankful and let your attendees know that you are grateful for their support. You can even have some finger foods or a light meal for your guests to show your support. The rehearsal needs to be detailed and outlined in a way that makes sense to all guests. Let the wedding party know that this is the time to ask all questions.
Have a plan and outline
Structure the venue properly for you all to rehearse
Be open and ask last item questions
Make sure all parties are there including the wedding professionals: Wedding Officiant, DJ, and more!
Be grateful and show thanks to those who show
Plan out multiple rehearsals if it is needed (check with your venue’s guidelines and times)
Step 8: Invites and Guest List
In this day and age, invites are important! It’s all about timing. You can typically send out a save the date 4-6 months before the wedding day for a local wedding. If the wedding requires your guests to travel, then you’ll need about 8-12 months before the wedding. For actual invites, you’ll need to send those out about 8 weeks out before the wedding. If it is a destination wedding, give invites to guests about 4 months out.
Prior to sending invites out, have a guest list! Be reasonable and understand that you can’t invite everyone under the sun to your wedding. For those that can’t make it, maybe look into having a Zoom option available. Your guest list will depend on your budget and more!
Step 9: Plan Pre-Bridal Events
There are tons of events before the big day! Take a look below to learn more:
Engagement Party: This is typically the first event that you’ll have pertaining to your big day! This is where guests celebrate the couple and plans for their big day!
Bridal Shower: A bridal shower typically focuses on the bride-to-be. This is one of the first events that you’ll have right after the engagement party.
Rehearsal Dinner: This is typically done after the wedding rehearsal. This is a great way to thank your wedding party.
Bachelorette Party: This is the last night of you being “single!” Have fun, but don’t get too wild.
Step 10: Plan your honeymoon!
This is the fun part! There are so many ways for you to celebrate your marriage. Take a look at my other blog post about planning your honeymoon.
Summary
Dazzlers, I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Next month will be our last blog post. Thank you for sticking with me and for reading every blog post so far. Keep Dazzling and until next time!
Love,
MaKayla
The Dazzling Wedding Officiant
