My wedding is 11 months away and Christian and I have dived into wedding planning mode. Even though we have just started, we have family and friends who’ve given us a lot of useful information. Also, because I am someone who loves to research, I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. However, since I’m only starting out and we’ve chosen our date and venue, I’ve come up with 3 wedding planning essentials that helped us get there and are continuing to assist us.
As everyone says, wedding planning can be stressful but if you have the right tools, it should be more fun and exciting. These essentials are just simple and something to kickstart your journey to your big day!
- Timeline
A wedding timeline is a monthly timeline that tells you what needs to be done at a certain point. For example, it may say “10 months from wedding, you hire a photographer, florist, and order bridesmaid dresses.” These lists have everything you could think of related to your wedding and when you should inquire and “purchase” it.
I am not a wedding connoisseur and definitely didn’t think I’d need to inquire about half of the things these lists say. I have seen timelines in the past but I never paid attention to it but I sure do now. I look at mine daily. I love that it tells me when I should start browsing for certain vendors, when to inquire, and when to say “yes.”
You can find these timelines on pinterest, google, or if you follow any wedding accounts on instagram, they probably have a highlight of them. Look around because they range and have different styles and looks (not everyone follows the same format.) After searching, download it, and make your lock screen!
- Planner or Binder
Having a physical planner or binder is also important because it keeps everything in one place. Like I said earlier, it can become stressful. You have so many numbers, vendors, and things to plan for and having a place to keep all of them is essential. You want to stay organized so you’re not pulling your hair out.
My (future) mother in law got me a planner (that says Future Mrs. Nagle! So cute) and it has sections for the ceremony, reception, bridal shower, bachelorette party, honeymoon, and even a place to draw and write out the seating chart. It’s amazing and has been very helpful.
- Website
Lastly, creating a website on The Knot or Zola is key. A wedding website isn’t just a page with information and pictures for your guests to see; it’s literally a wedding network. I created my website with The Knot and it is like having a little wedding planner on hand. The Knot has checklists, (with a little more than a planner does), a budgeter that lists out what the money is going towards, your registry, and you can view and contact vendors from across the country.
We’ve booked our wedding venue and have made a list of prospective vendors because of this tool. So, definitely create an account and you’ll be happy.
Those are my three, quick essentials for you couples who are starting out and don’t know where to begin. I’m also beginning and like I said, it’s just simple and helpful and you’ll appreciate it in the end.
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Xoxo,
Shay