How to Take the Hassle Out of Wedding Planning
The big moment has finally arrived: your special someone is down on one knee, asking you to spend forever together. The excitement of a new proposal is a wonderful feeling, with friends and family sending their words of congratulations and best wishes. However, the next step cannot be avoided, and that’s the task of actually planning the wedding. While planning and hosting such an event may seem overwhelming, there are many ways to make the process smooth, easy, and even fun!
Before diving too deeply into the details of planning a wedding, there are some important preliminary decisions to make. Deciding on a budget and a rough draft guest list are both key before doing anything else. This is because a budget will dictate what venues, vendors, and other wedding choices are feasible within the budget, and the guest list will also likely heavily dictate exactly what a realistic budget is.
Determining the guest list will significantly impact how all subsequent decisions about the wedding are made. Some couples choose for an intimate wedding with only immediate family and close friends. Other couples have large weddings, hosting several hundred guests. Regardless of size, a wedding guest list template makes wedding planning a lot easier.
Having an organized way to keep track of potential guests allows you to easily sort out important information. Consider which guests will potentially be bringing dates, as that will also impact the overall guest count. The template provides an easy way to save addresses for save the dates, invitations, and thank you cards. Some couples may choose to have “A-Lists” and “B-Lists” if their venue has a limited capacity, meaning they will send out additional invitations to those on the “B-List” as declines come in from the “A-List.” the guest list template allows to easily keep track of which guests will be attending and which will not. The template can also be modified depending on what sort of information the couple needs to collect.
Once a guest list has been finalized, the couple can begin looking at locations and venues. While it’s unlikely that every guest invited will make it, it’s also important not to invite more guests than the venue can reasonably hold. Keep in mind that the maximum capacity may not be the ideal capacity, and don’t be afraid to ask the venue about how many guests can comfortably attend as opposed to the maximum numbers. The venue may squeeze a certain number of guests in, but it may be very tight and may require sacrificing dance floor space or making compromises in the layout that are less than ideal.
Many venues and vendors will charge by the person, so this is another reason why having a guest list and an easy-to-use guest list template is critical to make wedding planning a breeze. Having a clear idea of the number of guests attending will make catering, alcohol, and dessert package decisions easier. This will also help know how many chairs, tables, and linens will need to be provided.
With the rising cost of weddings, it’s important to get the most value for your dollar when selecting lobster roll catering services. The food and drinks you serve can be just as memorable as the venue itself and leave a lasting impression for your wedding guests. Do your research and consider more than just price when making this important choice; there are many things to consider, such as whether they use local ingredients, what type of cuisine they specialize in, and if they offer choices that cater to dietary restrictions like vegan or gluten-free options. Taking the time to make sure your caterer is a perfect fit will save you stress down the line and give you peace of mind that your budget is being used effectively.
After deciding on a venue and having an idea of the budget for catering and alcohol, the other major vendors to book include a wedding photographer and videographer, a DJ or band, and a hair and makeup artist. It’s a good idea to start looking for these early, as they often are booked over a year in advance for many weddings. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until just a few months before the wedding date, or the photographer of your dreams may already be shooting another wedding on your date!
Wedding planning may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t need to be. By determining the budget and guest list early on, all other decisions will more easily fall into place. Congratulations, and best of luck on your big day!
You have some great tips. These would make it so much easier.