Wedding Planners
One of the most daunting tasks about getting married is being your own wedding planner. Tons of details must be covered and lining up locations, vendors, and guests all must be done with precise precision. We will help lessen the task of being your own wedding planner.
The first thing is to get organized. You need to have some means of keeping up with business notes, estimates, numerous to-do lists, phone numbers and many other details. A day planner may suffice but I always recommend a briefcase. One big enough to hold an accordian file, a notebook, a calculator, a calendar, and a business card notebook. I would not spend much on the briefcase unless you have other uses for it.
First you need to determine your budget. What is the max amount you can spend? You will find out quickly the lavishness of the wedding you can truly afford. This will be a big help in being your own wedding planner.
Keep in mind that some costs will be fixed such as the photographer and the flowers. Other costs are going to be dependant on the number of guests you have. You need to settle on the number of guests early on as this will affect the cost of the cake, the venue, catering, favors and many other items I have not listed but that need to be factored into your planning. By doing this as your own planner you will not have any expensive last minute costs.
Get your large costs nailed down first. Your dress, venue, catering, photographer, and flowers costs need to be determined early on. Once you get some of these estimates you can begin to prioritze those items that are important to you. Find out incremental additional costs like how much extra for each additional guests for catering or how much more for an additional table at your venue. As the planner, this knowledge will help in planning in case your guest’s list grows unexpectedly.
Get all your details planned and contracts signed long before your wedding. Your are putting on an event and you need to have it go smooth as silk. Delegate follow up to someone you can trust. Be sure they have access to your briefcase and stay in constant communication with them. Planning this way is a team sport so be sure you are a great teammate.
