tips & advice
Getting Started
The bubbly has bubbled and 2011 is but a memory. But if that memory is wrapped around your finger and shiny, 2012 holds a lot of excitement, planning and promise! The dress, flowers, photography, music…and so much more…will keep you busy right up to the bell. With all that lies ahead, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. However, with some simple organization, tackling the biggest day of your life can be fun and relatively stress-free.
Your wedding planning process should begin with what I refer to as the Four Cornerstones — they are the ceremony site, reception venue, photography and music. Once these are secure, you can build anything upon it.
First up, the ceremony. Often reduced to the smallest part of the wedding day, the ceremony really is the heart of the whole celebration. Without it, it would resemble prom night, right? Albeit, without the spiked punch and lame decorations but you get what I’m saying.
So, ask yourself this…do you want to get married in a church? Gazebo? In the gardens of a Country Club? The backyard of your family home? Where and how you want to exchange vows will set the course toward your reception venue. Meaning, if you want your vows under a trellis of roses overlooking the 18th hole, then it would make sense to search for a golf club that will accommodate both the ceremony and reception.
If your declaration is to be made within the walls of a church, starting there is important. Many schedule ceremonies around regular worship so your ideal time slot may not be available. Knowing this before you head to the reception venues will make things much easier to plan.
Choosing the right reception venue is an area where time and consideration should be spent. It can be a bit trickier since there are more moving parts to consider…how many guests can comfortably fit, budget and catering needs are only a few. Another one high on the list is the style that you’re envisioning for your wedding day. You don’t want to pick a formal spot if you want a casual wedding. Virtual tours and photo galleries are a great way to do initial legwork but once you’ve narrowed it down, scheduling a physical tour and meeting the coordinator is paramount. A beautiful facility and a less than attentive coordinator can make for a stressful planning process…and vice versa…an extraordinary coordinator can pave the way to your special day with ease and comfort.
Often times, a venue will have a list of preferred vendors which will help begin the search for your photography and music. Nowadays though, social media and wedding review sites can aid in the vetting process for both. Reputable, established photographers and musicians typically begin booking dates 6–9 months in advance so starting earlier in the planning process is recommended.
Both of theses choices can make or break your wedding memories. The photography is the single item that will live on after the wedding day is done. Making a hasty choice here is like rolling the dice…sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. And since the old adage “you get what you pay for” is usually true, selecting a photographer based on price alone is a gamble as well.
Beyond style and price, your photographer is the vendor that is with you the longest on your wedding day. A good and relaxed repoire with him/her is essential. Trust me…if you don’t like your photographer the photos will show it.
By the time you’re ready to boogie, the entertainment will be a much-anticipated treat. After hours of obligation, your emancipation to the dance floor will release all the stress of the day, not to mention the entire planning process. Selecting a DJ that suits your style of entertainment should be your first consideration. Meaning, you don’t want a fire-breather showing up if all you want is someone to spin the tunes. Ask to stop by an actual wedding so you can see for yourself. Watch him/her in action is the best way to decide. Their music selection and how well they read the crowd can also make all the difference.
If it’s a band you choose, the same advice applies. It would be even more important to stop by an actual event to see the band in their groove. Hearing their volume and pitch, and watching the crowd respond to it, would be a strong indicator of how your reception will go.
Once your four cornerstones are in place, breathe easy. Enjoy thumbing through magazines, cutting out dress styles, color palettes, and styles ideas to pull together the details of your day. Most of all, have fun…it’s only just begun!
Jodi Sammons Feil is a contributing writer for NH Wedding Magazine and Editor of it’s sister publication, North Shore Wedding Magazine.