It’s that time of year again – wedding season! If you’re a bride-to-be, you’ve come to the right place. Planning a wedding is exhilarating, but it can bring an overwhelming feeling too. Picking the date, choosing a venue, establishing a budget, and balancing all the other details, require lots of checklists and organization. Although there’s a lot of planning that needs to take place, below are a few tips to help you along the way.

Date and Venue

The first step in planning your spring wedding is to choose a date and venue. Spring is a popular time to tie the knot, so you must give yourself plenty of time to plan. Be mindful when picking the date because you don’t want it to fall on or close to a holiday. This will avoid an increase in declined RSVPs.

Now that you have a date in mind, it’s time to find a venue with availability. Don’t be discouraged if you have to change the date due to no open reservations. Decipher your top priority between the date and venue. If you have a dream venue in mind, then alter the date to the ones available. This may take some time, but that’s why it’s key to plan well in advance. After you have a date and venue set, send out your save the dates and wedding invitations. Depending on how big or small you want the ceremony and reception to be, your guest list should match the space provided. The smaller the guest list, the less expensive the wedding will cost you.

Budget and Allocating

Before you dive into the details, you should establish a reasonable wedding budget. We all know how pricey a wedding can be, but a budget will allow you to track the expenses and avoid overspending. The venue, attire, hair, makeup, catering, decorations, music, and so much more all need to be factored into your budget.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the overall price tag of your wedding, no need to worry. Consider looking into options that are available for you to help cover the expenses. If you have family members offering to contribute, you can allocate the rehearsal dinner, the dress, or the open bar fee for them to help with. If you don’t want to depend on family for help, evaluate the benefits of a home equity line of credit. This allows you to borrow money against the equity built up in your home and receive the money as a line of credit. What’s noteworthy about a HELOC is the flexibility to borrow as much money as you need along the way. This is helpful because if you don’t have an exact number of how much everything will cost, you can borrow as you go.

Attire and Beauty

Every little girl dreams of her future wedding dress someday. Making an appointment at a bridal shop and trying on all the beautiful styles can be one of the most exciting and memorable parts of planning a wedding. Although it may be tricky to not stray outside your budget, there are still many elegant dresses to choose from that won’t tank your spending plan.

Don’t forget to book a makeup artist and hairstylist to help assist with the wedding day preparations. It’s recommended that you book a trial practice run before the big day, so you know exactly what wedding hairstyle and makeup look you want for the day of.

Catering and Bar

Some might argue that the food and drink are the best part of a wedding. The first step when choosing a caterer is to decide whether you want a plated sit-down dinner or a buffet-style option. A plated sit-down dinner will require a few options to choose from on the invitation, along with a space for guests to include any food allergies they might have. This style is more fancy and intimate if that’s the vibe you’re going for. A buffet-style dinner is more laid back and less time-restricted. Letting tables go one at a time will help keep things organized and less crowded. You can also choose a dinner theme such as barbecue, wood fire pizzas, seafood, comfort food, or an assortment of meat and salads.

Open bar, food trucks, dessert tables, and appetizers are all options you might want to offer to your guests that you’ll have to factor into your budget. If you are dead set on ordering an extravagant wedding cake, consider having a smaller one for the bride and groom only and offer a dessert table for guests. An open bar can rack up a bill fast, so limit the time frame allowed for guests to enjoy throughout the night.

Decorations and Music

Wedding decorations such as flowers, centerpieces, seating, and lights can be costly. To save, try finding DIY wedding decoration ideas to avoid overspending. For an effortless but elegant look, consider a chic cluster of lanterns for centerpieces. This is a minimalistic look that will be stunning. If you’re on a time-sensitive schedule, look into a bridal convention where you can rent any necessary items. Many brides make the mistake of buying all new decorations for their big day and end up throwing them away or donating them after.

Not sure whether to hire a band or DJ to entertain your guests? Regardless of the option, you choose to play at your wedding, the variety of music played is what’s important. With a guest list that has a wide range of age groups, the music you pick can set the tone of the wedding. A fun touch to add is a playlist created by you and the groom with all of your favorite songs. You’ll want to host a fun and unforgettable celebration, so don’t brush the music under the table.

Although the wedding planning process can seem hectic, it’s important to focus on the big picture and enjoy every step of the way. Don’t forget to give yourself enough time to plan all the details above to lower the amount of stress on your plate. By the time your special day rolls around, you can share memorable moments with friends and loved ones.

Photos by L/D Photography.