Essential Wedding Planning Steps

Planning a wedding can be a truly daunting task. However, with a bit of research and plenty of determination, you can definitely create a plan that will eventually lead to the most amazing day of your life. 

What are some of the essential wedding planning steps you should take?  

• Start with the big decisions: a wedding date, a budget, and a venue. Once you have these nailed down, you will be able to easily navigate the other steps.  At first, you will only have an approximate wedding date in mind. You won’t be able to confirm your date until you have booked the venue. However, having this approximation in mind will also help you find the right venue for you. 

• Choose your style. You will most likely get lost in Pinterest boards before you finally settle down on an actual style. However, once your venue is booked, you will have a clearer picture of what you can and want to do with it. 

• Send out the invitations. If you would like more lead time, consider sending Save the Dates, we suggest three to four months in advance. If you are hosting a destination wedding, you should make sure to send the Save the Dates at least twelve to eight months before the wedding.  Invitations will be mailed later. 

• Pick your vendors. You can always ask your venue if they have a preferred vendor list – people they have worked with before. Likewise, if you hire a wedding planner, the whole vendor selection process will be much easier, since you will be given with a list of options that are confirmed and recommended. We suggest booking a planner or day of coordinator first, along with your beauty vendor.  The good ones tend to book up fast.  

• Be sure to choose your wedding party! Usually, this step happens soon after the engagement – but there is no actual set date. You will want to give your party some time to make all the necessary arrangements, so, the sooner, the better! 

Don’t forget to smile throughout the entire wedding planning process. Things might get stressful at times, but it is important to find enjoyment in all of this! 

Venue: Westlake Village Inn | Photographer: Nicoletta Photography | Wedding Planner/Designer and Florist: Burlap and Bordeaux | Rentals: Elegant Event Rental | Tabletop Rentals: Otis and Pearl | Linen Rentals: Dreams America | Cake: Frost it Cakery | Desserts: MJB Cakes | DJ: DJ Pasha Entertainment

How To Plan A Wedding (Fast)!

Every couple decides how long their engagement will be. Some couples take the standard one-year engagement. Others take longer. And others prefer to seal the deal and tie the knot as soon as possible. 

If you are in that latter category and you want to plan the dream wedding in a matter of months, it is very important to be focused and to know exactly what needs to be done (and when). 

What are some of the basic steps to follow if you want to reach the wedding of your dreams? 

• Take the big (and probably hard) decisions first. The budget, the venue, the date – these are the holy trio of wedding planning. They are your foundation. Once you have decided on these, you can start thinking of colors and flowers and wedding details – but tackle these first and foremost before you move on. 

• Time to think of the details! You want your wedding to be personal, so now that you have a venue and a date, you can decide on the actual details that will help you create a unique wedding day. For instance, this is the time to decide on an actual theme and the motifs you will include, as well as the precise colors and the decorative details that will add personality to your wedding day. 

• Send out the invites! Since you want to make sure that as many people as possible can make it to your wedding, sending out the invitations in due time is incredibly important. So make sure you do this. And since you’re here, don’t forget to order your day-of stationery and your Thank You notes too. 

• Pick the vendors. This is when you choose your smaller vendors, such as the catering company, the florist, and the DJ, for example. Don’t rush, but go with those that feel more suitable for you and for your wedding style. Compatibility and making sure you speak the same “language” is very important, so keep this in mind when selecting the best wedding specialists in your area! 

Yes, you might be running on a time bomb right now – but don’t forget that your engagement is a special time in your life. Take a break from wedding planning every now and again and simply enjoy being engaged. Believe it or not, it’s not about being stressed out – on the contrary! It’s a time to smile, and dance and rejoice!

Decorate Your Chairs Using These Lovely Ideas

The best weddings are born out of beautiful details.

You can have the most amazing venue and the most designer-esque wedding dress in the world – but if your wedding day details aren’t aligned with your vision and theme, you will fall short of that “special vibe” all weddings should have.

That isn’t to say you should obsess over everything – but a couple of well-placed details can go a long way when it comes to creating the right atmosphere.

Take chairs, for example. Have you considered decorating them?

If yes, you should definitely steal some inspiration from the following 2019 wedding chair ideas – they are lovely!

• Wooden “Mr. and Mrs.” signs. This one’s already a classic among rustic chic wedding planners and decorators – but it’s so pretty we can’t let it go! For a touch of uniqueness, add a long drape of tulle to the “Mrs.” chair (to resemble a wedding veil). It will look fun, playful, and romantic at the same time – exactly what you are looking for!

• Flower garlands. This is such a superb idea, especially with spring and summer weddings right around the corner! Coordinate your chair garlands with the wedding flowers included in the centerpieces and bouquets to create a cohesive and elegant atmosphere.

• Macramé. Some say macramé is the new chalkboard-and-cute-message in terms of garden wedding décor. Truth be told, macramé can look absolutely dreamy when used in the right places – and your sweetheart chairs are definitely among the best spots for this kind of décor. Even the simplest wooden chairs will be upgraded with a delicate and personal touch by the simplest macramé hanging on their backs!

• Say it your own way. Cute wedding signs are always adorable – but when they reveal part of the love story behind the wedding, they are even better! Hang small framed messages in your native language to celebrate your ancestry, to make your moms cry, and to make for excellent wedding photos that will complement the visual story of your Big Day. It’s an easy way to create something really special for your bride and groom chairs.

Remember: no matter what trends might say, your wedding is yours. So if you want balloons, twinkly little stars, or paper flowers to decorate your wedding chairs because they feel closer to who you are, then go for it. This is how original weddings happen!