Newly Engaged? Now What? New Orleans Event Planners are here to help!
You are newly engaged?! YAY!! You are probably being bombarded with questions.
What’s the date? Where is it going to be? What colors are you choosing?! Am I going to be a bridesmaid???
This blog will walk you through a few variables you need to be thinking of and working on in order to really start the planning process.
Be on the look out for BTEPD Tips from New orleans Event Planners throughout also!
Wedding Style/Formality/Guest Count:
Wedding style and wedding formality go hand in hand. Once you figure out one, the other pretty much falls into place. Guest count falls in line right behind.
Your wedding style is a reflection of you. Do you dream of a sleek, modern, long-stem white rose wedding? Or will you fall in love with a colorful palate? Are you going outdoor garden wedding or black tie affair in a ballroom?
Formality plays a big part into your day as well. As mentioned before, if you are going with an outdoor garden wedding, you guests will dress in attire that match that environment. If you are going with the black tie ballroom wedding, your guests may be adorned in evening gowns and suits. But attire isn’t the only that that formality plays a part in.
Now that we have those 2 things figured out, how many guests did you picture all around you. Was it 20 of your closest friends and family? Or was it every person you have encountered in your lifetime creating a big 200 person party?
Getting a better grasp of these 3 topics will naturally bring up the next topic of conversation below.
Identifying your budget:
With your style and formality in mind, it will be easier to sit down with these contributing people and have a conversation regarding what a realistic budget needs to be.
Who are the contributors?
Whether you are paying for this yourself, parents are contributing, even if grandma is putting in some money, you need to know who the contributors are. Have a talk with them about the amount that is being brought to the table.
BTEPD Tip: There is no one set way on how budgets are created. Each situation is different. I have had it in the past where the couple paid the depsits and that didn’t go towards the full budget. I have where some couples are getting all the money from their contributors and deciding where it goes instead of Mother-In-Law insisting that she pays for any certain thing.
Budget Sheet
Start your budget sheet (If you have a Planner/Coordinator, use theirs. If you don’t have a Planner/Coordinator, book one but also start your own while you are searching for your perfect fit).
BTEPD Tip: I suggest creating a sheet that hasan estimated cost, actual cost, and the difference on if you overspent or came in under budget. Play around with it. Put in every number you think you may have an idea on what it costs. Keep an eye out on the overall number and adjust accordingly.
Doing this when talking with those contributors will help everyone get a grasp on what to estimate.
High Ticket Items
When having these discussions and building out the budget sheet, keep your big-ticket items in mind. What is the top priority for you?
Is it photography and videography?
Is it florals?
Is a full open bar a must?
If you start by putting what you want to spend on your higher ticketed items, the rest will fall in place.
BTEPD Tip: . Also! Keep in mind that things like Caterer, Bar, and Florals are all things that the numbers can be changed on. Planner/Coordinator, Photo, Video, and Entertainment are all vendors where the price is set.
Wedding Date
Choosing a wedding date is one of the first and most important decisions that engaged couples make, as it sets the tone for their entire wedding planning journey. From which wedding pros are available, to which florals are in season, even what food will be served.
You may think it’s a no-brainer, you want to get married in the fall with the cooler weather. But have you thought about hurricane season?
You are a spring-loving gal? I am here for it!! Keep in mind that April is just about guaranteed showers, March could possibly be cold.
How does your or your fiance’s schedule work or what about hunting season? Football season? Is that a big factor in the time of year?
I don’t say all of these things to say there is no good time to get married, every part of the year will bring some kind of concern but your day will ultimately be so beautiful and you will be married by the end of it!!
BTEPD Tip: Having a Wedding Planner from the beginning to ensure that you have a solid Plan B/Rain Plan set even while touring venues. We will make sure that no matter what, at the end of the day you will have a beautiful wedding even if we have to go an alternate route.
Location
By now, you have thought about your style, formality, budget, and date. At this point you most likely have narrowed down the area in which you are willing to travel to have your wedding.
If not, really think about this. Are you going downtown big city? Or the countryside? Somewhere in between. Are you packing up and having a destination wedding?
This is the last big factor that needs to be in place before you start to reach out to Venues and Wedding Planners.
If you are planning a black tie affair with 200 guests but you want to elope, are all 200 guests going to travel to meet you? By this point, it is very likely you have already answered this and you know where you are willing to travel.
BTEPD Tip: The location of your wedding matters. This is the central hub of your wedding weekend. Be sure that it means something to the both of y’all and while keeping your guests in mind is a courtesy, it is not what needs to be in the forefront when making decisions.
If you have followed along and made it to the end, it is time to start the rest of the planning journey!
You have made the first few big decisions and have a good foundation to build on.
I highly recommend getting a Wedding Planner, of course. Even if you do not have all of these things figured out, we can assist each step of the way!
Hope you enjoyed and happy planning!!
xo,
Lindsey Kramer
