Be your Own Wedding Planner

Planning a wedding? As exciting as it is to do, planning a wedding can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you are the first of friends and family to do so! When planning a wedding, many people decide to hire an event planner to take on the stressful preparations and decisions. However, this could be an expense in and of itself and an expense I personally could not afford. Along the preparation process I learned to be my own wedding planner. While an event planner's professional experience is at times invaluable, if you find that you just cannot afford one here are some tips to help you with your preparations.

Time

Allow yourself time to plan! Planning a wedding takes time and you do not want to feel under pressure. Give yourself at least a year to plan!

Reception Venue

What do guests remember most about your event besides you and your significant other? The food! In a budget that seems to keep soaring, be sure to invest in a place that serves good food and has great service. Most catering facilities need to be reserved at least a year in advance or more. Especially if you want to reserve a particular date that means a lot to you. Make sure that you get along with the person in charge of overseeing your event. This is important since he or she is invaluable when adding special details to your event. Also, ensure that you are comfortable with the setting of your venue. Is it in a garden? Near a beach? Does it look like a fairy tale? Are you the only party that will be hosted at that time, or do many parties take place at the same time? You want to be comfortable with your choice on all levels. Furthermore, ask if they offer package deals that include certain decor, a cake, ice sculpture and table cards. Little expenses like these can add up, and if you can find a place that offers these extras as part of a package, it will be a huge help!

Photography

After you reserve your venue, reserve your photographer! Keep in mind that this person will take the photos that you will be looking at years from now! You want them to look great, so invest in a photographer that creates the style of photo that appeals to you. Perhaps you like the natural style of photojournalism. Or maybe you are very traditional and want the basic portraits to look like they came from a magazine! Are you more of an artist at heart? There are so many styles to choose from, so make sure you check out a photographers work and talk to them about their style or work. Also, videography is wonderful and you might want to ask if your photographer offers video services. Sometimes they offer a package price if you are using both services. Make sure you are comfortable with your photographer since he or she will be with you the entire day!

Flowers

We all picture a room that appears as if it is an indoor garden. However, flowers can be very expensive. Pricing can go from $3,000 to $10,000! The biggest expense seemed to be the cost of centerpieces. When you order tall candelabras with flowers you are not only paying for the flowers, but also for the rental and usage of these candelabras. Search magazines and Internet images to find a style and/or color that suits your taste and suits the environment of the venue. For example, tall centerpieces can make a room with low ceilings look small. Bring these photos to 3-4 different florists and ask them what they could create given your budget. Many times they have different options and versions of pieces that you will love and it will fit your budget. Some individuals choose to invest in lighting and effects to cut the cost of flowers. Basic up lighting can be inexpensive depending on the size of the venue. Reserve the florist at least 6-9 months in advance.

Invitations

They say that you invitation gives the first impression of a wedding and the style. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars on invitations. Ordering invitations online can save you hundreds of dollars! Invitations should be sent out around 6 weeks before the event. If you have overseas relatives to send to, be sure to send them out at least 4-5 months in advance. Also, include hotel listings that they can refer to while planning their trip. Overseas relatives will need time to book flights as well as accommodations. Never ask for a specific gift in writing with your invitations! have your relatives spread word of what you would like to receive through word of mouth. Also, consider whether or not you want children to be invited to the event. Sometimes relatives will bring children even though you did not list the name of their child on the invitations. You may want to consider writing "Adults only please" on your invitations.

Entertainment

Entertainment should be reserved directly after you reserve your venue and photographer. Live bands especially become unavailable quickly. First you need to decide what sound you are going for. Live bands have an energy that is irreplaceable, but they can also be expensive. Six piece bands tend to be affordable, but the full sound of an eight piece can get expensive. Deejays are great because all of the music is authentic. You hear the song as the artist intended it to sound and you are listening to the original artist. On average, Deejays can cost around $1500-$2400. That is in the Long Island area. Check your local venues for recommended entertainment companies and be sure of the price. Some deejays offer packages with lighting. Many people are opting for the combined effect of hiring both or reserving companies that have live musicians playing along with a deejay to bring the original song to life.

I am no expert, and event planners are invaluable! I wish I could afford one. But...if you cannot afford a planner with your budget, planning your own event can be just as easy with enough time and preparation.