“Where to start?” “How do I start planning my wedding?”
Usually right after one of you goes on one knee, and the other one says yes, the first thought is “When and where are we getting married?”
You choose the months/dates based on your vision of how your dream wedding would look like.
And then the search for the right location begins. Where to start?
Let me share some useful tips, if you’re planning your wedding on your own.
12 steps to a perfect wedding:
1. Visualize your concept & style.
Once you decide on your concept of the wedding and the style, all of the venue and all the details, including the decoration and your wedding dress/suit will be adapted to it.
Tip: have a back up in your mind as well, in case you cannot find a location for the specific concept that fits in your budget. Create a vision board on Pinterest.
2. Create a first draft of guests you want to invite.
Before anything else it’s important that you have an idea of how many guests you will invite. A lot of further planning also depends on it. Consider family members and where they are from (will they need to travel?) Categorize the guests as local and traveling. You will have a better idea if shuttles or hotels will be necessary.
3. Be flexible with your wedding date if possible.
Have you decided on the year? Great! Start there. Then a season and maybe a region? Don’t define the date until you have chosen the location.
4. Define the budget.
Who will be paying for the wedding? Define a budget in a way that you always have some “reserve” for final costs, especially if you haven’t planned a wedding before.
5. Choose the venue based on your concept.
Will it be a modern city wedding? At the villa, or at a lake house? At the sea, on the beach or maybe in a barn? In the castle or in the gardens? It’s almost like “the sky’s the limit” right? Elimination method: do the venues fit into your budget? Is the venue available in the months you would like to get married? Is there space for the numbers of guests you would like to invite? Ask what else you should consider at the certain venue: until when they are operating, are there any additional costs for electricity, stationary, furniture,etc.?
If you get married in a church, you might also have to find a church that fits nearby.
6. Check with the officiant (and the church) if the date and location fits.
-Will you officially get married before at the registry office?
-Or will you have an officiant at the venue? In some countries officiant from registry offices can come to venue locations and officiate the weddings. In Germany, some venues are registered as an official wedding registry so officially getting married only at the venues is also possible.
-If you also get married in a church, check with the responsible in the church for the date and time.
-Will you get married unofficially as a free ceremony? A very common practice in Germany, where you can hire a ceremonial speaker to officiate the wedding-unofficially. Before or after you still need to go to the registry office to sign the papers or officially get married.
7. Decoration and Florist.
The most important thing is that decoration fits your concept. It will be seen in photos and videos and makes the whole wedding look, apart from you of course. TWhen creating your vision board, think about the decoration and flowers as well. Also, not every flower blooms every month, so you might want to check if the chosen flower fits your wedding month.
Tip: Many couples create decorations themselves, with their family and friends and can also enjoy this time before the wedding. There are many sustainable options to do decoration and save you some money.
8. Food and drinks
Do you need a caterer or does your venue provide the food and drinks?
Save on travel costs-find local vendors.
Caterer: Try the menu you choose. Ask how many service staff they will have and until when they will be available. What will be their additional costs, for example for cleaning, extra time or corkage?
Do the caterer or venue provide chairs and tables, table cloths, special cutlery and plates if needed?
9. Photo & Video
The most important: find the photographers/videographers that are professionals and you feel good and comfortable with them. Photos and videos will be forever memories even if you have a glass or two too many.
10. DJ or Band
Create your top 20 Playlist for the DJ. Will you have speeches? Think of how many microphones you will need. If you choose live music, check the playlist of the band you choose if it fits you and your guests. Is there audio equipment already at the venue chosen? If not, will the DJ / Band bring their own otherwise you will need to rent one.
11. Stationery: Unique, handmade, or DIY?
Would you like to have unique, special and handmade invitations, the ones that guests save for ever?
Tip: My recommendation in Munich: Papier Romantik.
What to order:
Save the date
Invitations with return RSVP
Seating Plan
Table Cards
Menu Cards
Thank You Cards
Tip: Alternatively you can order pre-made designs online:
www.paperlounge.de
www.kartenmacherei.de
www.carinokarten.de
Tip: Do you like digital better? Especially if you have guests from different countries and traveling in for your wedding, you can easily create your wedding website and share all the important information for your guests there, including invitations, RSVP, hotels and more. Try Knot or Eventective.
12. Create a timeline and brief your vendors
Create a timeline of the day; who is where at what time. If you share the information with your vendors involved in the wedding day timeline, you will be able to relax and let the day flow the way you have organized it.
Enjoy your day!
On your wedding day, enjoy every moment! Remember, not everything always goes smoothly, but it is your big day, so go with the flow and try to take in every precious moment.
Tip: To avoid hiccups and if you are not a person that can easily relax, even if you plan your wedding yourself, it’s always helpful to hire a coordinator for the day. In that way, you, your family and maid of honor can really relax and trust the coordinator to run things smoothly, with no hiccups.
If you need help planning your wedding, you can always contact me for support:
Apart from Full-Service Planning, we offer also:
We can take over from here
Consultation & support
Coordination on your wedding day
For love, with love.
Katarina