How to Become a DIY Bride. Planning a Wedding in a couple of steps.

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and require allot of work and may seem at times impossible. Yes at times couples wish to hire their own Professional Wedding Planner and take the major stress off to enjoy their wedding day. Other times couples will take on the responsibility of taking over their own plans due to a tight wedding budget or maybe they would like to make their wedding more personal. 

  Remember Organization is the key to having your wedding day go as smooth as silk, especially when you are faced with allot of decisions about the guest list, the flowers and even deadlines for contracts. Planning everything out and giving yourself enough time to get everything done in a timely fashion, be sure to have a longer timeline to get everything you want done and on time, so their is less stress on your big day. Don't get too hung up on those tiny little details, remember on your big day just have fun and enjoy your time celebrating with your spouse, and enjoying the time with friends and family on the day of celebrating your love. Here is how you can plan your wedding in a few easy steps.

1. Set a Wedding Budget

When it comes to your big day, you need to sit down with your partner and figure out how much you can spend and even sit down with your parents as well to figure out what can be contributed and divide it up equally to have a total budget for your big day. It isn't the most fun part but it's the first task at the top of the list that needs to get done. You don't want a venue, food, flower or even a dress that's completely out of your price range and trying to find a way today for everything.

2. Get Inspired

One of the most exciting parts of the whole process is becoming inspired. One of the ways to gather ideas, is to look at different wedding pictures on Pinterest, Instagram, etc, and find little things that you and your partner like. Maybe you like the look of centerpiece or even maybe you like the colors of the flowers etc. Start kicking this step into high gear once you pick a date and a venue or even earlier than that so you can build up more ideas.

3. Prepare Your Guest List

Now coming up with an estimated guest list so you can get a good idea of how many people are coming. But a final guest list is even more important because of how many people your venue can host, so if you have a 200-guest list and your venue can host maybe a little less than that, that can be a problem. So make sure you talk to your venue and get a final count for your wedding and so you can be able to host all of your guest.

4. Put Together Your Wedding Party

Now you got your guest list, now comes the time to pick the most important people that will stand next to you on your big day. Go ahead and select your bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honor/maiden of honor, best man, flower girl, ring bearer, etc. and anyone else you want in the wedding party. Once you pick your people, make sure you let them know what they need to do to help you with the whole process to make everything run as smooth as possible. 

5. Select Your Date

Now of course you won't be able to set your official wedding date until you book your venue. Here is a tip start choosing a few potential dates that are great for your timeframe before you start looking at venues. Think about what type of wedding you want, Spring, Fall, Winter or even what day of the week like a Saturday wedding or even maybe you choose to have a Friday wedding. Then look your calendar and narrow down potential dates but also take in account the best dates for family and friends to take off work and travel, holidays, etc. Having certain days in mind do help with the process of selecting a venue.

6. Choose a Venue

Now that you have narrowed down your budget and your estimated guest list, and you have a few dates in the back of your mind, you now all the information you need to book a venue. Booking a venue is the most important part of wedding planning, read allot of online reviews of potential wedding venues near you or where you decide you want to host your big day. Visit the venues in person, and work with your partner to find your dream wedding venue location. Once you narrowed down which venue you and your partner wanted, make sure you read your ceremony and reception venue's contract thoroughly and if everything looks good to the both of you sign on the dotted line. Now that you've set your date and have your venue the real fun begins for this whole process.

7. Start Making your Wedding Registry 

Once you announced your engagement you probably get this question "Where are you registered". So it's a good idea to set up your wedding registry at one of your favorite stores. Some of your family and friends may want to purchase a wedding gift for you. Remember you can always make changes to the registry, but it will give your friends and family a great idea of what you both like.

8. Create a Wedding Website

Creating a wedding website is a great way for your guest to stay informed about the events of your wedding and even if you have events leading up to the big day. Make sure you included, your date, location, timeline, travel information, and even hotel details for your Wedding day so your guest can know everything ahead of time.

9. Book Vendors

For your big day you can usually book an average of 13 vendors, Now that may seem like a lot but it's very important for you to hire the right people that can get the job done to make your wedding day run as smoothly as possible. I recommend talking to your venue to get a list of vendors (photographers or videographers, a florist, DJ, an officiant) or even look online at reviews to help make your decisions about who you want to book.

10. Finalize Your Guest List

Now that everything else is in place, it's time to complete your final guest list. Remember that if your parents are helping you pay for the wedding, they have big say in who will attend the big day. Be sure to also keep your venue in mind on how many guest they can host, don't invite more people they can accommodate all at once. 

11. Send out the Save-the-dates

Time For The Guest To Mark The Calendars! Save-The Dates need to be sent out in advance so your friends and family can make accommodations to travel. You can find create ways to send out save the dates to guest. Remember become inspired.

12. Purchase Your Wedding Dress and Attire

Remember to give yourself plenty of time to purchase your wedding dress and your bridesmaids dress so you can have to time to get alterations as soon as you can. Don't wait till the last minute. 

13. Organize Your Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner, usually takes place the night before the wedding, it does require a few steps of planning as well. Now it is tradition that the groom's family plan and pay for the rehearsal dinner but in my opinion everyone needs to sit down and figure out who wants to plan the night months In advance if the wedding as well as securing a venue.

14. Plan Your Honeymoon

Now with everything going on with your wedding, don't forget about your honeymoon! If your planning on jet setting right after your wedding day, make sure you book everything in advance so you two can enjoy your special time together.

15. Attend the pre-wedding events

Now your plate may be full but make sure you find time to attend your Engagement party, bridal shower, and even the bachelor parties as the guest of honor.

16. Send out the Wedding Invitations

Sending the invitations on time are one the most important steps. The wedding invites are usually sent out 6-8 weeks so your guest can RSVP 2-3 weeks in advance. 

17. Buy the Wedding Bands

Purchasing your wedding is very important to do at least months in advance of your wedding day. Pick wedding bands that suits your personal style and once that matches your engagement ring, that you can be proud wearing for the rest of life.

18. Create a Seating Chart

Talk to your venue and your planner to configure how many tables your venue can accommodate. Then, use a suitable online tool to see who sits where keeping your family and friend dynamics in mind. Once you finalize your final seating chart contact your vendors so your escort cards can be made. Or you can even make them yourself so save a little bit of money in your pocket.

19.  Obtain a Marriage License

Remember one of the most important tasks on how to plan a wedding step by step, obtaining a marriage license so that you and your partner can get legally married! Make sure you read up beforehand about your state marriage laws so you have all the details. Get your license in advance but not too far in advance because in certain cases the license can expire before the wedding so be mindful of that detail.

20. Confirm the Details with the Vendors

Leading up to the wedding you have been in a contract with all your wedding vendors for weeks, days, or even months. Make sure you have tied up all your loose ends, and involve your Wedding planner to assist you in making sure your vendors know when and where to present, so you can just enjoy your day.

21. Get Married!

The Big Day is Here!!!! You, your spouse, your family and friends and your wedding planner and even your vendors have worked just as hard to help your big day get off the ground. One more thing to remember. ENJOY YOUR DAY AND BE HAPPILY MARRIED!!!!!!