Planning 101 | The Big 3

The start of the wedding planning process is such an exciting time and I know you’re dying to jump straight into planning mode.

But, let’s stop and wait a minute!

There are a few key pieces of information you need to decide on before you even start emailing any vendors for a quote. These decisions will help when you make your final decisions on which vendors you would like to book for your dream day.

Here at Dear Romance, we call them The Big 3.

These are the 3 things that need to be discussed and decided on together as a couple before you contact or book any vendors :

YOUR BUDGET

You need to have a general idea of your overall budget, including any contributions that will be made from either family. If possible, you also need to break this budget down into individual elements of the day. This can help you decide which vendor you would like to book, and help prioritise the key elements of your day.  

For example, you may be wanting to spend top dollar on your favourite photographer. To pay for this, you may forgo having elaborate centrepieces or favours for guests - and you need your budget needs to reflect this. Costs for every vendor vary greatly so you do need to decide what matters most to you as a couple and allocate the budget accordingly.  

It can be hard to settle on a number figure for your budget without knowing costs of vendors in the area, but it is important to think realistically about how much money you have to spend. If it is easier, break down the costs per element / item for your day first, by deciding on how much you are willing to spend on each. Then, add them up to get an overall figure.

It is also important to add a buffer to your total budget for contingency costs. You never know when you might encounter an unexpected cost, and it is better to be prepared - and have leftover money - than to be caught short in the middle of your planning.

YOUR GUEST LIST

Guest lists are super helpful when deciding on a venue. Imagine falling in love with a venue only to find out their capacity is only 80-100 guests and your guest list is 120+? Narrow down your guest list first and then go venue hunting! That way, you’ll know the venue you choose will be able to accommodate all your guests. This can also help with your budget as you’ll have an idea of how many people to consider for food and beverage, and hire / rental costs.

YOUR DATE OR VENUE OR LOCATION

You may have a specific date in mind for your dream day and this is non-negotiable. That’s totally okay! It just means you will need to find a venue that has availability on that date. This might make it harder to secure a venue, as some dates book up well in advance.

You may have a specific venue you absolutely love, and you can be flexible with your date. This is also totally okay – by being flexible, you’ll be able to secure your dream location.

Time of year is definitely something to think about. The most obvious time of year to get married would be in summer, when the weather is warm and there is less chance of rain or stormy weather. But there are definitely benefits to getting married in other seasons too. A lot of venues offer off season prices, so this can help with your budgeting if you are flexible on time of year.

Think about the general location of where you would like to get married. Will it be in the current city you live in? Or, if you’re not from the area, will you travel back home for your dream day? There are endless choices. You could also pick a completely new location and host a destination wedding!

Choosing your venue is one of the most important first steps in your wedding planning journey. Your venue will help with the other decisions you will need to make for your dream day. It is important that you book and secure your venue before reaching out to other vendors. Some venues do have preferred vendor lists, which can help make your planning a lot easier.

These decisions don’t have to be definite ones, but having a general idea of these choices will help as you continue your wedding planning. Once you have ideas in mind for these 3 elements, you’ll be well on your way to creating and planning the wedding day of your dreams 💕

Photographer: Heather E Photography