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Planning a wedding can feel a little like hopping on a rollercoaster—exciting, overwhelming, and a bit terrifying all at once. As wedding planners, we’ve seen it all: the dips of brides navigating family drama and last-minute vendor changes, and the peaks of celebrating with your bridesmaids & picking out the perfect dress. But, here's the thing—while the stress is real, it doesn’t have to define your wedding planning journey! In this survival guide, we will share our tips & tricks for thriving in your bridal era & making the most of every moment!
Timing is everything when it comes to planning your big day. Venues and popular vendors can book up to 12-18 months in advance, so if you have your heart set on a specific location or company, it's important to start there. Beginning this planning early will give you the freedom to make thoughtful, stress-free decisions without the pressure of last-minute or limited choices. That said, not everything needs to be locked in a year ahead of time and depending on how long you want your engagement to last, your timeline may look very different from other brides. When it comes to the checklist of priorities, certain details such as selecting your favors or fine-tuning your reception playlist, can wait. If you’re planning to hire a wedding planner, think about how much you want to handle on your own versus what you would prefer to hand off. As planners, at Host & Co., our goal is to help you navigate your wedding “to-dos” and set a realistic timeline to avoid the overwhelm!
Nothing can put a damper on a wedding vision quite like unwanted financial surprises. While setting a budget might not be the most exciting part of wedding planning, it is one of the most necessary. Whether you’re funding your wedding on your own or have multiple contributors, having a number in mind from the start will help you prioritize your spending and ensure you allocate funds where it matters most. Tip: be mindful of hidden costs—gratuities for vendors, service charges at venues, and additional guest fees are often overlooked in the initial budget and can often add up quickly. When it comes to prioritizing your spending, focus on the elements that are most important to you. Every couple has different ideas of what is a “must” for their wedding - whether it’s the photos, a beautiful venue, fantastic meal, or epic getaway vehicle - deciding where you want your money to go.
Building your dream team starts with choosing the right vendors—those who are not only talented but also professional, trustworthy, and in tune with your vision. Creating friendships out of your vendor relationships can be such a special part of a couple’s wedding planning experience! But, how do you find them? There are several platforms for finding vendors, but sifting through so many options can feel overwhelming. Instead, we suggest you start by researching reviews, asking for referrals from friends or your planner, and looking at vendors' social media pages for a portfolio of their work. Once you narrow down a few top options, meeting with potential vendors in person can help you gauge their communication style and see if your personalities will jive. It’s essential to work with people who truly understand your style and can help bring your vision to life. If you’re working with a wedding planner, trust their expertise! A good planner will not only help you sift through a sea of options but also manage contracts, negotiate deals, and keep everything on schedule. They’ll ensure that the vendors you choose are reliable and that all the logistics—timelines, payments, and setups—go off without a hitch, allowing you to focus on enjoying the process rather than stressing over the details.
Your venue is the pinnacle of the “vibe” and aesthetic of your wedding day. Are you envisioning a rustic barn setting or a sleek & modern city feel? Your venue will set both the stage and the mood. We always recommend it as the first to-do on your wedding planning checklist!
Your wedding day is all about you - the couple! As you begin to plan, think about a theme or style that best suits your personality. This can often be a great way to incorporate your partner into the process & spark fun conversations as you envision the color schemes, decor & finer details that will make your day uniquely yours.
Building a day-of wedding timeline is one of the most important final elements of the planning process & is often where an experienced wedding planner can be the most help! From vendor arrivals, hair & makeup, to ceremony start times and slating speeches & toasts, a structured timeline ensures your day runs smoothly and everyone is where they need to be and when! Tip: When you find a planner, lean in to their expertise & experience to help build this out! Your planner has most likely seen it all & often knows what works best.
You’ve set the stage for your dream wedding, but now comes one of the trickiest—and most important—parts: deciding who will be there to celebrate with you. For some couples, creating the guest list is a no-brainer; they know exactly who they want to invite and who will be a part of their big day. For others, it can feel like a daunting task, full of tough decisions and potential family drama. The balancing act of inviting everyone you want to celebrate with, while being mindful of your budget, venue capacity, and relationships, can create a lot of stress. You want to ensure that your day is filled with the people who truly matter, but that doesn’t always mean everyone who expects to be there should make the cut. In the end, it’s about creating an atmosphere of love and joy, surrounded by those who truly support your journey as a couple.
Wedding planning burnout is real and it’s often easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of details, decisions, and deadlines. To stay calm, organized, and relaxed during the process, it’s important to pace yourself and not try to do everything at once. Taking breaks is key—whether it’s stepping away for a day to recharge or a week - spending evenings with friends, scheduling spa treatments, or dinners with your partner (no wedding talk allowed!) can help prevent feeling overwhelmed. In the final weeks, trust your vendor team and delegate tasks where you can. Lean on your wedding planner, family, or friends to take care of the smaller details so you can focus on the bigger picture—your marriage!
Wedding planning can easily become a race to the finish line, but let this be your reminder to enjoy the moments along the way. Every decision, every fitting, every conversation with your partner or planner is part of a once in a lifetime journey. Instead of getting lost in the stress of trying to make everything perfect, take a step back and savor the little milestones. Tip: not everything will go exactly as planned, and that’s completely okay. Embrace the bumps in the road, the unplanned moments, and the unexpected surprises—those are often the memories that will mean the most. Planning your wedding is a rollercoaster, full of highs, lows, and plenty of moments to cherish along the way. By starting early, staying organized, and leaning on your team of trusted vendors, you can keep the stress at bay and focus on the joy of the experience. Don’t forget to prioritize self-care and stay flexible, understanding that not everything needs to be perfect for your day to be truly special. So, take a deep breath, enjoy each moment, and let the memories you make long the way be just as special as the day itself! Ready to make your wedding planning effortless, exciting, and stress-free? At Host & Co., we’re here to help bring your dream day to life. Whether you need guidance with timeline management, vendor coordination, or just want someone to handle the details so you can enjoy the journey, we’ve got you covered. Let us take the weight off your shoulders so you can focus on what really matters—celebrating your marriage. Reach out to Host & Co today and let's start creating the wedding you've always dreamed of!
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