Tips from a Photographer & Bride-- Where do I even start with planning my wedding?

Did you just get engaged? Are you wondering where to begin on the journey of wedding planning? 

I wanted to start a blog series for brides from the perspective of a photographer and bride who is planning her own wedding. As a photographer I get to see a lot of ideas at different weddings and see things from a different perspective. As a bride you see so many ideas on the internet and search and search on Pinterest but have so many things running through your head. I am here to help out! I am not saying I will be able to tell you everything, but I at least want to give you some pointers when planning. 

Todays blog I want to talk to you about where to start planning. First off try not to stress. I know I had tons of things running through my mind. A good thing to do first is to get a wedding planning book. I purchased the knot's ultimate wedding planner & organizer-- I love it! Although it is a little overwhelming at first. I highly recommend it because it has tips and a very detailed timeline of when you need to do what. Some of the things on the list may not pertain to you (my wedding isn't as formal, I am more of a DIY bride), but the list makes sure you do not forget anything! Which is what I definitely needed. The things I did not need I just crossed out. You can make it a date night of going out to the bookstore to purchase it too! I purchased mine at Barnes & Nobles. Then my fiancé and I went out to dinner afterwards! I brought the book in while we ate because I was so excited to fill it out and get planning. 

Here are a list of things I recommend you think about when starting out: 

1. Talk about your budget and set one! This is very important because you do not want to choose a vendor that is out of your budget. The knot wedding planner and organizer has a section about budgeting. 
    
2. Do you have a dream venue? photographer? band? videographer? I highly recommend contacting them first to see what dates they have available because you do not want to pick a date they are not available. Be thinking about what month you want your wedding in before you contact them. My fiancé and I chose a year from the day we got engaged because I am not good with dates and it would give us enough time to plan. We did not have any dream vendors so we chose a date then a venue then the rest of the vendors! If you do not have a dream vendor then I would start with choosing a venue then a date. The venue would be the most important! 
    
3. From there I would start choosing other important vendors and finding a dress (sometimes it takes 4-5 months for a dress to come in if they have to make your size). If you have time take a few weeks to do some research on vendors. I would highly recommend emailing or using vendors contact forms to contact the ones you are interested in and meet up with them to see if they are a good fit for you. Don't rush your vendors-- you do not want to regret it later on. 
    
4. While finding vendors you can start on the little details of bridesmaid dresses, groom and groomsmen tux, decorations, gifts, and all the other little things. I highly recommend the planner and organizer to help you remember everything. 
    
5. THIS IS A BIG ONE-- have sticky notes or a notepad on hand at all times or use your notes app on your phone because you will have all the ideas and reminders run through your head that you are going to want to write them down so you do not forget. I know I would forget a few things then a few days later I would remember it. I hated myself when I did not write it down. You will be so thankful when you do write everything down and not just have it in your head. 
    
6. I would definitely say a Pinterest board is a must. It is great for flower and decoration ideas!
    
7. If you need help with finding vendors I highly recommend seeing if there is a local magazine (like Bliss Bridal Magazine which will be coming out next month in the Brazos Valley) or a wedding website to help you find vendors (like the Bridal Association of the Brazos Valley). Social media like Instagram is a great place to look too you can find hashtags like #collegestationweddingphotographer #aggiephotographer #texasweddingphotographer. Google is of course also a great resource!
    
8. My last and final tip for getting a jump start on planning would be to think about your timeline. Sunset is a very important thing to know especially if photographs are very important to you. I highly recommend booking your photographer at the beginning of planning because they can definitely help you with your timeline and send recommendations for other vendors your way. A timeline is very important so you can know how long a DJ, band, or bartender needs to be there. I will be talking more about timelines in a future blog post.

I know it is overwhelming at first, but I promise it is a lot of fun. Just enjoy this time of being engaged! There are so many resources out there to help you. My biggest resource for you would be purchasing a planner if you do not have a person planning your wedding. It is the best place to start. I will be talking about timelines soon-- I know that can be stressful but it definitely shouldn't be! I hope to help any brides to be by writing these blog posts. 

Happy Planning! XOXO, 

Katelyn