Wedding Planning Steps! Let’s get organized! Between the wedding planning process and checklist, it is a lot to take on! But we are here to help you break it down and help set up wedding steps to help you out! This guide will help you establish an efficient and stress-free wedding planning process and approach. These steps will start off your wedding planning easier and feeling less overwhelmed. Learn more about the wedding planning guide and step-by-step checklist.
How To Plan Wedding | Wedding Planning Steps Checklist
- Set a schedule and deadline for each task
- Research each category for 4-5 hours (assign a day for each)
- Reach out/email to the top 5 vendors you picked per category
- Cut down the top 5 to the top 3 and book a consultation for each
- Discuss with your partner and decide who to book
- Review the contract of the vendor of your choice and pay the initial payment
- File away and move on to the next task
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Sure, there are binders there that you can download, and you can list “generic” tasks. It is still up to you, however, to break it down further. But, not to worry, here’s a sample of how to REALLY BREAK IT DOWN, actual steps in planning a wedding!
It is important to decide on a strategy and a system before going in on all the tasks and the items on your wedding to-do list!
When you put a system in place and a decision-making process, the tasks will be a little bit more manageable.
You can start by downloading our free wedding planning kit below so you can go through your wedding checklist and timeline.
From the wedding guest list, wedding reception, the perfect wedding venue, wedding rehearsal, and all other wedding details, you’ll find support and a lot more other helpful wedding things in the below kit!
If you’re a techie and not a big fan of spreadsheets, consider starting a wedding website where you can clearly see the breakdown of costs and what’s pending. Wedsite is one of our faves.
Here are 6 steps on how to plan a “to do” for your wedding: Breaking it down:
What type of steps in planning a wedding are we about to break down, you ask?
IMPORTANT: Always set a schedule and deadline for each task.
Well, we’re giving a specific example. So here’s how you can do it, instead of just saying “BOOK PHOTOGRAPHER,” you can create a sub-checklist under it that will say:
Research top photographers
1 ] * Research top photographers for 4-5 hours with your partner, and rank them accordingly (grab a glass of wine too, and cast it to your TV so that you can really enjoy this time together!). We would suggest coming up with 4-5 choices;
(this applies to all decisions like your wedding date, guest lists, wedding ceremony, wedding menu, your wedding party and wedding budget, as well as all wedding vendors: wedding officiant, wedding venue, wedding planner, marriage license, wedding dress, wedding caterer, wedding flowers, wedding decor, and all others!)
2 ] * Reach out to the top 5 photographers based on your research;
3 ] * Based on the responses you receive from the top 5 photographers you reached out to, schedule a meet/virtual consultation with only the top 3 (oh yeah, we are chopping down the list American Idol-style!) out of the top 5 photographers that were contacted;
4 ] * Discuss with your partner who will be the best choice and make the final decision to book (you can spend another 1-2 hours on this); at this point, you can ask your photographer of choice a few more questions to validate your decision;
5 ] * Put down an initial payment and sign the contract;
6 ] * File away and move on to the next task in your steps in wedding planning;
See how we broke down all the tasks in detail?
The breakdown helps you tackle the big goal instead of just saying “book a photographer,” adding a breakdown of how the tasks associated with it make you feel good that you have a road map on how to do so.
This helps break down the steps in planning a wedding.
SIDE NOTE: Research Mentioned Includes:
(1) pre-meeting, closely review their portfolio, packages, previous client experience, peers in the industry, where they have worked before, etc.
(2) after the meeting, discuss with your partner, and consider how you guys felt in your meeting, were you comfortable, did you guys have a good laugh? Did they “understand the assignment?”
Since you have already established that they are amazing photographers, you have to evaluate the personal aspect; do you feel comfortable around them? Do they get your jokes? Are they positive?
You can create a similar step-by-step process when booking other vendors; again, when your steps in planning a wedding have a breakdown, this helps you have a better flow.
Set clear standards and limits and follow through with them.
PRO TIP:
Create your own wedding email. Create an email account specifically for your wedding – “the.wedding.joe.and.jane@gmail.com” (this is just an example). This will help you put everything together in one place. Also, manage the calendar for bookings and deadlines.
When you book appointments on your wedding email calendar, invite your personal email to see them on your personal calendar! Having a separate personal/work and wedding email will make you more focused and organized!
Later on, as you start putting things together and think you will need more help, you can consider hiring a day-of coordinator.
