There are too many things that come to mind right after an engagement. I must admit, the week after we returned from NY, there were a million thoughts running through my mind and suddenly the excitement and bliss were overcome by overwhelming feelings. I found myself a tad stressed. We’ve been engaged for TWO weeks and being the perfectionist that I am, a hundred ideas took a toll on my mind and planning a “perfect” wedding became the goal. The problem is, I’m not like other girls; I’ve never dreamed of my ideal wedding day nor have I ever planned the perfect wedding mentally like most (if not all) women do! So I finally narrowed it down to three important first steps everyone should consider when planning a wedding.
- Determine the size of wedding – After watching the movie, “The Vow,” I thought Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum’s small wedding with only their closest friends was incredibly romantic. So I originally wanted a small, intimate wedding. However, my fiancé and I have a huge family, making that idea impossible. So for a moment, I closed my eyes and thought about the kind of wedding I would love to have. Who would I love to have present on my big day? Who would my fiancé love to have also? Who knows both of us and have stood by our side through our journey as a couple? If your family’s input is as important to you as it is to me, you should definitely consider their thoughts on the size of your wedding prior to making your final decision.
- Evaluate your budget – I am American and like most couples in America, we will both contribute in our wedding as well as both of our parents. First, we sat down and looked at our income to determine how much we can bring to the table. We also spoke to our parents and they will be helping us as much as they can. Yes, I know, we are very blessed to have parents that are willing to help us not just financially, but with every detail of our wedding. If you have a limited budget, stay within your means. Do not look for venues that cost an arm and a leg if you’re unable to afford it. I highly recommend not to get into debt booking a dream venue. Instead, opt for a less expensive wedding where you are able to DIY. Thank God for Pinterest where we can find hundreds of DIY wedding ideas that will efficiently save us money. Which means, more money for our honeymoon! However, if you have an unlimited budget, more power to you! If you do have a limited budget, be determined not to get into debt.
- Begin your search for a venue – Finding a venue is probably the most difficult part thus far. We’re searching for an all-inclusive place with capacity of at least 125 guests. Why all-inclusive? Primarily because we’re not hiring a wedding planner. Most all-inclusive venues include a coordinator that will be there on your wedding day making sure everything goes according to plan. All-inclusive is our best option, so we will not have to worry about a long list of outside vendors. Since we are in South Florida and are planning a summer wedding, a beach wedding is highly not recommended thanks to high temperatures and humidity. It will definitely be an air-conditioned indoor venue, hopefully with an ocean view!
Our goal is to decide on our wedding venue by the end of this week! And we are sure we will find the perfect place for our magical day.
