You’ve gotten engaged, and now it’s time to figure out everything that comes next – from the venue to your guest list to your vendors. But where do you start? What are the first steps to planning a wedding?
As a wedding and engagement photographer in Sydney, I know how overwhelming it can be when you first start looking at to-do lists for your wedding. That’s why I wanted to make an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide you can use as you begin planning the day of your dreams.
Let’s dive into the first steps to take to start planning your celebration!
What Are the First Steps to Planning a Wedding?
Let’s take a closer look at what you need to do to start preparing for the big day:
Step 1 – Create a vision for your wedding day
Your wedding day gets to look however you want! You can start by writing down what your perfect wedding day looks like. For example, does it look like a beachside ceremony with the ocean breeze blowing through your hair and the waves lapping at your feet?
Does it take place in a grand estate with manicured gardens, chandeliers, and a large ballroom? Is your wedding more formal or casual? Is it elegant and classic or more laid-back and whimsical?
This truly is one of the most important first steps to planning a wedding because this is going to dictate almost every other choice you make throughout the planning process!
To solidify your wedding vision, I recommend using a site like Pinterest. Start saving anything that aligns with your vision for your day. After pinning over and over again, I can almost guarantee that you’ll start to notice a specific idea emerge.
Also, another can’t-miss step – make sure that create a list of must-haves for your wedding. This could look like entertainment, decor, food, etc.
Step 2 – Set your wedding date
As you start planning your wedding, one of the most important things you’ll need to choose is the time of year/season you want to get married. This might have to shift slightly depending on which venue you ultimately end up picking and the dates the venue is available.
Word to the wise – come up with a few different potential dates. This will ensure that you aren’t stranded without any options because you only picked one.
Step 3 – Determine a budget
You’ve got a wedding vision and some potential dates you’re considering – now it’s time to tackle the budget. I know that probably doesn’t sound all that thrilling, but trust me, getting this sorted out early on will make the rest of your wedding planning so much easier!
As you create your budget, think about your non-negotiables, what you want to splurge extra on, and what you can go without. Your wedding budget is crucial as it will help you figure out how many guests you want to invite, where you are going to get married, what type of food you’ll serve, etc., so don’t push this step aside!
Step 4 – Take engagement photos
Remember to plan a time to take engagement photos! Your engagement session is about more than just taking professional pictures of you and your partner; it is the perfect way to celebrate this moment in your life.
Taking engagement photos will help you and your partner both feel more comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding. Plus, an engagement session is a perfect trial run to determine what type of editing style you like and if you want to work with your engagement photographer at your wedding.
You might not need or want to do any more research looking for a photographer after your engagement session.
For tips on taking sunset engagement pictures, check out the blog post I wrote here.
Step 5 – Start researching locations/venues
Now, you can start researching your dream venue! My advice is to plan to book your wedding venue up to a year in advance – venues can fill up quite quickly.
Make sure that the venues you’re looking at align with your budget and expectations. Your venue will be the entire backdrop for your celebration so you’ll want to thoroughly research each venue you’re considering before finalizing your decision.
Want a curated list of the best wedding venues in Sydney and New South Wales? Go here!
Step 6 – Form your wedding party
Time for some fun! It’s time to decide who will be a part of your celebration. You’ll also need to think about how you want to ask them to be a part of your celebration.
You could ask the people you want to be a part of your day with a handwritten letter, a gift, customized goodies, or plan a special gathering to ask everyone at the same time.
Step 7 – Hire a wedding planner
Working with a wedding planner is like having a fairy godmother – they are here to help you with wedding logistics and make your dream wedding a reality. Trying to figure out all the details of your wedding entirely on your own is a lot of work.
Trust me when I say it will be much easier if you have help. Also, working with a wedding planner will allow you to relax on your wedding day. They can help you set a budget, and they are problem-solving pros – there is really no good reason not to hire a wedding planner.
Step 8 – Book your vendors
Dream wedding venue – check. Guest list – check. Budget – check. Wedding planner – check. Next on the list is to book the rest of your wedding vendors! Your wedding vendors are vital to your day – this isn’t a step to rush through.
The good news is that your wedding planner can help you choose your vendors, and some venues also have their own preferred vendor lists. As you decide which vendors to hire, here are the essential vendors I would start with:
- Florist
- Photographer
- Caterer
- Rental companies
- Videographer
- Hair/makeup stylist
Remember, vendors book up quickly, so you don’t want to wait until the last minute to book all of these vendors!
Ready to Start Planning Your Wedding?
Hopefully, this blog post gave you a better idea of the first steps to planning a wedding that you love. Be sure to bookmark this page to come back to as needed as you advance in the wedding planning process!
And…if you’re looking for a wedding and engagement photographer in Sydney who can capture the elegance and individuality of your love story let’s connect. You can learn more about what I offer here or get in contact with me here.
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