The Ultimate Timeline of To Dos in Order to Plan Your Wedding

Are you planning your own wedding? Are you confused and stressed about everything you have to get done before the big day? Are you worried that you'll forget something huge?! No worries! I've created a timeline of everything that needs to get done and when it should get done by over the course of a year. You can use it as guidance for a sense of security. If you are hiring a planner, (pick me! pick me!) you can reference this checklist so you know which tasks you should be doing on your own and which tasks you can expect your planner to take control of. It will really ease your mind to see how much your planner will take care of for you. If you're planning on your own, you can take comfort in knowing that everything you need to do to have a great wedding day is written on this list!

It is important to know that although this is a thorough summary of how to plan a wedding in one year, there is still a lot of knowledge that a wedding planner brings to the table. We know what size linens go on which tables, what size dance floor to rent, how much alcohol to buy and how many bars to have, we know important questions to ask venues during a site visit so you don't end up with a contract that doesn't fit your needs. The point I'm trying to make is that although there are endless charts, lists, and tips I can give on this blog, nothing comes close to the value of a wedding planner. I'll be the first to admit that I fully didn't believe in the business until my first day at my internship back when I was in Nashville. It really became clear how many random, little things are actually involved with wedding planning; a big portion of which is dealing with all of the different vendors that help create the day you dream of. We can also spend a couple's money more efficiently and more effectively than a couple would without a planner. A lot of the time, couples look for all inclusive venues when they are planning a wedding themselves because they are on a budget and aren't picky about design. These can reach up to $20k-$30k on their own, which doesn't leave much money for a DJ, photographer, florals, makeup/hair, invitations, and much more. All inclusive venues take away the design aspect of a wedding and provide their own catering, sometimes alcohol and cake, and other vendor choices that are usually the most fun to choose. However, if you put trust in your planner and allow them to find you some venues that aren't all inclusive ($3k-10k), I can guarantee you, they will be able to create a wedding 10x more beautiful and elegant than you ever thought you could accomplish with your 30k budget. You'll be able to pick any linens, china, flatware, glassware, tables, chairs, and ceremony setting that you like and create a more unique and luxurious day.

I stand firm that no matter what your budget it, spending the couple thousand dollars on a planner will save you time, stress, and money and give you a more unforgettable wedding than you ever could've imagined. We have connections throughout the industry and we know the where to be stingy with money and where to splurge. We know what price is a great value, what price is too low that it will affect the quality of the product, and we know when a vendor is quoting way too high. I promise you, hiring a wedding planner will be worth every penny no matter how high or low your production budget is!

If you're newly engaged and looking for a planner, please email me to set up a consultation or if you just have any questions about the process as you plan your own wedding, contact me on any of my social media accounts!

I hope I made your day,

Gabriella