How To Plan A Wedding in 30 Steps

Steps 6-10

So you've set your budget, you've insured your ring, you decided on when to get married, you created your guest list, and decided on which location to get married. Here are the next 5 steps!

6.Find your venue.

Now that you have a few dates available, a guest list, the type and style, and a location for the wedding, it's time to research wedding venues that will fit your budget and meet your needs. There are many resources out there, from Brides Magazine and Grace Ormonde to The Knot, WeddingWire and Style Me Pretty. You can even use Instagram and Pinterest to find the style of the venue you're looking for. So if you're looking for a beach wedding like The Sands Atlantic Beach or The Crescent Beach Club, and your guest list consists of 50 people, you will need to find out if the venue can accommodate the intimate affair or if they have a higher minimum number of guests to book. Same if you really had your eye out for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel or The Regis. If your guest list has 500 people, you'll need to see if that number exceeds the guest occupancy allowed for the venue.

When reviewing venues, one thing to also decide, do they have an outdoor and indoor option for the ceremony and/or reception. You both may envision an outdoor ceremony like what you can get at The Paramount Country Club, Monteverde at Oldstone, or Tappan Hill Mansion. Make sure there's an indoor backup in case of weather change. Also, start reserving blocks of rooms for hotels for guests to stay. Your bridal party may also opt not to drive home, so consider them in addition to your out-of-state guests. 

7.Book your ceremony location, minister, or officiant.

If you plan to have your ceremony at the same venue as your reception, you will need to find an officiant for your wedding. If you're having a religious ceremony in a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or any religious building, check their available dates that coincide with the availability of the venues you've been researching. Certain faiths have requirements you have to meet to get married at their house of worship, so plan ample time to meet their deadlines.

8.Propose to your bridal party!

It's time to ask your siblings and closest friends to be by your side when you say, "I do." Be courteous as they donate their time and spending money, and make sure you provide them detailed information regarding the cost of dresses, suits, shoes, and any attire. Before approaching them, do research on the range of costs of the attire options you were thinking of that fit your wedding's style and theme. It's good to have an idea of what your bridal party would look like, so this way, you can discuss with them and reach a final consensus. Speak with them regarding expectations surrounding an engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties. 

9.Decide if you want a wedding planner.

Many couples decide to book a wedding planner if they are busy with each of their careers and can barely spend time on the weekend to research vendors, or they just want the expert guidance of a professional to help them maneuver through it all. They are worth the investment since they can help find vendors that fit your style. They work tirelessly from the time you book them to the day of your wedding, researching and communicating with various people to find the right one that fits your wedding personality. If you have been through your sibling's or friend's wedding before and seen the minutia of the wedding day, week, month, you may want a wedding planner for the month or week leading to the wedding. There are even day-of wedding planners. I've watched many couples having to stop what they're doing to be asked questions that take them away from their wedding day. Some are fine with it, while most wish they had a wedding planner to deal with the minutia.

10.Book your photographer, cinematographer, or both.

This is a very special moment, and it may not be the time to have your family or friend with their new camera, who has no experience, take photos of your wedding. Professional photographers and videographers are experienced documentary story-tellers. They capture hundreds of moments, often happening simultaneously, that they are aware of the room, the people and can anticipate what's happening. They also are trained to light the photographs, using natural light and off-camera strobe lighting. I once was with a friend who got a DSLR camera, but she didn't really understand how to use it other than turning it on and only used the AUTO setting. We were at a gathering, and I used her camera to take a few photos of people and some artwork, and she didn't know why my photos looked better than hers when we were both using her camera. The lighting, angle, and knowledge of using any camera and lens, and taking pictures of all different subjects, which can only come from education and experience, is why professionals can do a more thorough job at documenting your wedding.

The best wedding photographers and cinematographers can be booked up to a year, or more, in advance. It's best to book them while they are available. They will only hold the date with a signed contract and paid deposit/retainer, and they book whoever comes first. They may have an associate available, trained to photograph in their style. If you're open to this option, ask them if they have an associate if they are not available. The main photographer may still edit the photos, as is the style of their brand. Photographers and cinematographers are not finished when they leave at the end of the wedding. Even if an associate was photographing your wedding, hours of backing up photos and editing them could take as much time as photographing the wedding or more. That's why the best and top New York or New Jersey wedding photographers and videographers take a limited amount of clients each season so they can be attentive to each client. Expect a range from $5,000-$1200+ for either, depending on your wedding collection add-ons (photo booth, engagement session, wedding albums, parent albums, wall art, prints, thank you cards, USB, matted prints, multiple copies of the wedding video, and more).

TIP: If you need help creating a wedding day timeline, even if you have a wedding planner, read through this advice so your photo timeline isn’t rushed on the day of the wedding. Photographers help create photo timelines, and will definitely work with wedding planners to create a realistic timeline for your wedding.

Hope this helps with the next part of your wedding planning. Click HERE for steps 11-15 out of 30 steps of How To Plan Your Wedding!

Additional resources for couples: Click Here