Be Prepared for Holiday Wedding Planning
Holiday wedding planning is a risky business. Most people who are planning for that beautiful big day during the holidays are doing it for the first time, and there are some tips every bride needs to know before plunging into the planning process.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Certain decisions belong to the bride: the color scheme of the wedding, the cut of the bridesmaid's dresses, the main course of the meal. Some choices, however, are not as easy, and tips from an experienced New Jersey wedding planner can only help. Wedding Planning Strategy 1. Take It Easy
The first step in planning a wedding is to take it one step at a time. Brides should sit down and make a schedule of everything that needs to be done to prepare for the wedding. The program should go in a logical order; the date comes before the vendors, the flowers come before the cake, and the place comes before the band. This schedule may have some adjustments along the way, but having a starting schedule can make all the difference when it comes to stress levels. 2. Think About Guests
Right after the schedule is written out, brides need to decide on the number of guests to invite to the wedding. The number of people invited should include any vendors that will be staying on the grounds, such as servers and the disk jockey. And remember, the guests are the most expensive part of the wedding. If a meal is $50 a person, a table of ten seats $500 worth of guests. When expenses are a problem, the guest list may need to be cut. 3. The Wedding Date The date, especially during the holidays, is the most essential part of wedding planning, of course. It's the day when everything comes together, and the bride and groom have their moment. The day needs to be picked right off, and when choosing a day, brides need to look to the weather. A wedding in the heat of July with ten million mosquitoes around does not make for the perfect day. Knowing the weather and conditions beforehand can make all the difference.
4. A Strong Budget Weddings can become very costly very fast, and without a substantial budget, brides can get a little carried away. Brides may also want to use a credit card with a good rewards program behind it for big purchases. The reward points can build up and be used for flight miles or shopping sprees on the honeymoon. 5. Vendor Hop When looking for photographers, florists, bands, and caterers, people in the business know other people in the industry. This is also where a professional wedding planner like Michelle Perez can be especially helpful. A photographer might now an excellent catering business with good deals, and the receptionist may know a good band for weddings. Letting one vendor lead you to another can end up in a well put together entourage. 6. Be Organized Brides can grab a binder and pen and keep up with vendors, notes, and photos without any hassle. Having everything all in one place makes magazine pictures for the florist and that other photographer's number equally easy to find.
7. Budget Check After consulting with Michelle and her team, who will be talking to vendors and looking at ceremony locations, brides should recheck the budget to make sure it's working. Half of the budget should go straight to the reception, and the remaining money should be split between flowers, attire, and photos with a little left over for the random expenses that come up.
