First and foremost, Congratulations! Don't forget to celebrate your engagement!
This is a VERY exciting time for you and your significant other! It's new, it's fresh and you probably feel like you can't wait to start planning your wedding.
Once all those newly-engaged butterfly feels whirl away, you're ready to get down to wedding planning business. Everything that goes into planning a wedding may seem overwhelming and intimidating for a lot of couples who don't know where to start.
I have talked to SO many couples who are in the beginning stages of planning their wedding and they feel like there is just so much to do. Truth is, there is a lot that goes into a wedding, but we don't need to think about all those things all at once, it's overwhelming. Keep it simple, take one step at a time, and make a plan.
Here are a few key points to think about when you begin to plan your wedding:
- Wedding or Elopement? What does your wedding look like? Will you have a traditional wedding, micro wedding, elopement, or an adventure elopement? There are so many types of wedding styles these days and you'll find that your traditional wedding isn't so common anymore. Yes, huge weddings still happen all the time, but couples who aren't big on huge parties, seem to be taking an alternative route to getting hitched and that is with a micro wedding, elopement, or adventure elopement.
A Micro Wedding involves up to a maximum of about 30 guests, usually including close family members and a select few friends. An elopement has more than one meaning now, its not just about the couple running away and getting married without anyone knowing, those days are gone. An elopement is considered a non-traditional, intimate and intentional way of getting married. Today, elopements come in many styles. While some will just involve a small wedding with two people, necessary witnesses and the officiant, others will include a lot more.
An adventure elopement is exactly what it sounds like.. an adventure! Naturally, we feel connected with nature one way or another and I have worked with so many couples who say that their "happy place" is outdoors. Now I'm not saying everyone is into the wilderness vibes, but a lot of couples are and choose to explore nature and get married all in one experience. The types of couples who want an adventure elopement or wedding, are the couples who love to explore and love to travel. If this sounds like you, you may want to consider an adventure for your wedding day. The best thing about an adventure elopement or wedding is, you can do whatever you want and your photographer (hopefully me!) will capture the entire adventure along the way.
- Budget Here is the subject that all couples love talking about (not really!), the wedding budget. What is your budget for your wedding? What are you willing to spend? $25k? $50k? $75k+? Do you have any money saved to put towards your wedding? How much do you want to be paying for your wedding after its over? There are so many things to think about when it comes to wedding spending because it can add up very quickly! Once you start looking at different venues and weddings vendors, you'll get an idea of how much everything is going to cost. There are many DIY (I'm a crafting nerd and can help!) options and ways to cut corners on costs, but its important to decide what is most important to you on your wedding day. Keep in mind, cheap is not always the best route as you do get what you pay for, and I speak from experience from working with other couples.
- I have an idea of what my wedding budget is, now what? You have your budget set, now ask yourself, what is most important? Is it the venue, the weddings photos, or the dessert? For example, if having a gorgeous venue is important to you, then of course, you'll want to have a higher budget for the venue and be sure to get quotes from 3 different venues and compare what each one has to offer. Once you book your venue, the wedding photographer will be the next vendor you'll want to book, so be sure to think about what you are willing to spend on wedding photography and the style of wedding photography you'll want. I would highly recommend having a larger budget for a photographer (yes, it's an investment!), especially if you are getting married at a dreamy venue or doing an adventure elopement in a gorgeous location.
- Remember to relax!
Planning a wedding can be stressful, I get it, but remember it doesn't have to be. Like I mentioned before, take one step at a time, and don't try to think about everything all at once. If it all just seems like too much still, hire a wedding planner if there is room in your budget for one! A wedding planner will take a majority of the load off your shoulders and you won't have to worry about all the tiny details.
- Connect with a Wedding Photographer
Your wedding location will have so much beauty to offer for stunning backdrops on your wedding day, and of course, you will want these moments captured. As photojournalist wedding photographers in Northern California, we capture all the smiles and all the raw feels as each moment happens. My goal is to relax, have fun and most importantly, make your wedding day vision come to life.
Call us at (530) 401-0509 or get in touch through our website's contact form. I will be touch with you within 24 hours. You can check out my blog to see more of my wedding photography style and my Instagram has all of my work too, don't forget to follow me! I can't wait to meet you and hear all about your wedding vision!
