Wedding Season is Upon Us

Now that I have spent some time and a few blog posts focused on a super fun and super girly clamping party, I want to devote some time to the basics of wedding planning. Over the course of the next few weeks and over multiple posts, I hope to help those of you who are newly engaged and about to begin the exciting journey from Miss to Mrs.

My first post will focus on 10 things that are important to know (and to not forget) before starting and to hang on to while planning your wedding.

1. You don’t have to hire vendors that are all in the same immediate location that your wedding is occurring in. Most cities have other cities/towns that surround them, right? In Fairhope, most of us have the mindset to use only vendors in Fairhope and there are some great vendors here. BUT depending on your needs, you may need to look to Mobile, Pensacola, Mississippi, or even New Orleans for vendors. Often times, vendors will travel up to a 45-mile radius without an extra charge and depending on how much farther it is, there may be little to no extra charge incurred.  

2. You want to hire vendors who you feel close to- who feel like they’re your friends. You’re going to be spending a long time with them- you want to be comfortable and have fun with your vendors! Well, I didn’t even consider this when hiring my vendors… BIG mistake. Fun shouldn't be a deciding factor when hiring vendors. It is true that you want to feel comfortable with your vendors, but there are more important factors to consider, such as professionalism, experience, style that matches your vision, and ability to properly communicate your needs and wants. 

3. When researching vendors, you can’t compare “apples to apples”. Why not? Because everyone is different. Everyone has different levels of experience, different services, different packages. Yes, it makes it tough to make a decision, but if you end up comparing “apples to apples”, you’re doing yourself a disservice, because you’re most likely going to end up with the short end of the stick. For example, you may hire a photographer because they were the cheaper option out of everyone you meet with. Yet you will still ended up paying what the others were priced at by the time everything was said and done. 

4. Know your options! It’s totally fine to meet with a few different vendors- you need to know your options so you can make an informed decision! Don’t feel bad about it. But at the same time, don’t get too carried away with the options. A good rule of thumb: do your research first, and then schedule consultations with your top 3 options.

5. Having a huge bridal party isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Yep, I said it. And this new trend of "honorary" bridesmaids is just an excuse to add more bridesmaids to an already high number. Having more members of your bridal party does not guarantee that you will have more helpers. In fact, it can almost always ensure a bigger headache trying to coordinate them all.

6. Read your contracts! Yeah, I know- it’s kinda boring. But when you don't, you may not have a photographer to capture your exit or your wedding planner may not be on site at your ceremony. Make sure what you’re expecting is what you’re actually getting. Which leads me to…

7. Communicate with your vendors. The thing is, you want to communicate with your vendors- about everything. Share with them what your vision is for your wedding. What you are expecting out of them, and how you want your wedding to be. And you know what? If anything, it helps everyone involved in your wedding! 

8. Prioritize….and DON'T Procrastinate! When you first pick a date or are trying to decide on a date or are beginning with your budget in mind, always start with the thing that is most important to you and your fiancé. It may be the location, the food, the photography. Whatever you feel is the most important and you can't live without, book that first and work around that. Also, as your wedding gets closer, whatever you can do ahead of time- do it! Don't wait to do anything that can be done earlier. The closer you get, the faster time will go!

9. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. Do what you want- what reflects YOU. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box, even for little things like menus and favors! They will end up being your  favorite things about your wedding because they were your ideas that you was able to create and reflected you!

10. First looks are GOOD things. Seriously. You will cherish these moments and photos for a lifetime. While the wedding and celebration with family and friends are amazing, the real point of the day is the marriage of the two of you. Don't miss out on capturing this.