Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments in a girl’s life. The surprise, the love, and the moment of pure bliss knowing you are going to spend forever with the special person in your life. Not much goes through your mind except staring at your ring, your soul mate, and all the people celebrating with you.

It’s the days and weeks after getting engaged that the reality of planning a wedding hit, some relish in the thought of vendor selection, color schemes, and decorative napkins, others don’t know where to begin. For me, I was prepared for planning; I admit I am one of those girls that imagined their wedding since they were little, but I was very adamant in not letting planning overtake me and the special moments that would come with it.

1. DISCUSS PRIORITIES

This is vital to planning a wedding. Having an upfront conversation with your significant other is key to ensuring you both have a day to remember. The most obvious topic would be budget; you need to know where you stand. Knowing and sticking to a budget will help in all aspects of wedding planning. Aside from budget, having a conversation with your fiancé about wants and wishes is important. When I had this conversation, my biggest request was to have our ceremony be held in the backyard of my childhood home and have the officiant be my cousin. It was something that was special to me and that moment of our day will replay in my head forever. Being honest about your wishes will help ensure they come true and remain a priority to both you and your fiancé. Just remember that with wedding planning, comes compromise as well, so be sure to stay open minded.

2. RESEARCH YOUR VENDORS

Vendor selection is HUGE. Some vendors can make or break an event depending on their diligence, dedication, and level of work. After researching vendors, taking a look at their portfolio, I was sure which to go with.

Venue: Venetian Catering – unbelievable main ballroom, with beautiful decor, high ceilings, incredible dance floor, and unbelievable cocktail hour.  My main concern with venue was the ability for the room to hold my high guest count.  When it comes to vendors, my recommendation would be to find venues that first have the ability to hold your party size, then narrow down location, and then visit a few to compare and envision your event in.

Dress Shop: Mark Ingram – I have never experienced such amazing customer service, truly felt like a family every visit. I found my Inbal Dror dress on my first dress visit due to my consultant understanding and knowing exactly what I was envisioning. Showing pictures of my favorite looks really helped my consultant in getting to know my style. When making appointments look for shops that carry your favorite designers.  Also, for me, I was selective in who I brought with me while shopping.  It was helpful in keeping my head clear and focusing on my personal style.  I only tried on four dresses before knowing I had found THE one.

Décor & Flowers: Design House Decor – the team that truly brought the wedding to life. Seeing my backyard transformed into a ceremony worthy arena and our venue look magical went beyond my expectations. Decor really sets the stage for your event, so be sure to select a vendor that listens to your vision and don’t be afraid to show images and be specific with how you want your space decorated. The DHD team was so in tune with my vision and wanted to make it come true for me.

Photography/Videography: Albapro – true experts in their craft. The owners of Albapro are a dynamic duo with a professional team delivering such quality work. They are open to suggestions, think of unique ideas to document your day, and really have fun doing what they love. It was probably the most creative and fun time working with Albapro. They took all of our photos, filmed our entire day, edited our trailer, and were the masterminds in making our entrance video a hit.  Be sure to scout out areas for your pictures so that the day of you know where and how you’d like to be photographed.  That will save a lot of time and stress!

Invitations: LM Invitations – Invitation selection was probably my least favorite part of wedding planning, just because of the never-ending options. Fortunately, LM Invitations made it so easy for me. Really worked to the budget and helped me reach that quality without breaking the bank. Little items like personalized stamps and monogrammed seals can add a unique touch to differentiate your invites from others out there.

Hair/Makeup: Roots Salon (@roots.ny on Instagram) – For those of you brides in the tri-state area, Roots Salon is an excellent option for bridal and bridal party hair and make up. The team is willing to travel, is very talented, and really listens to your idea of the look you are going for and can deliver. Trials are a must to ensure your day of look is exactly what you wanted! I was the bride that didn’t commit to a hairstyle until the day of. If you are like me, communicate with your hair and make up artist to ensure they are prepared for any look you ultimately go with on the big day.

3. CHECKLIST – YOU NEED ONE

Keep a notebook handy and do not be afraid to ask for help. There are so many moving parts when planning, so keeping a checklist is vital to get all of the parts to work together by the day of the wedding. Enlist in help, wedding planners are so helpful and can really make the experience that much better. I had day of event coordinators, which was so critical in the organization and timeliness of the day.  They moved things along and kept to the schedule that was created.  This also lessens the burden on your family the day of, which allows them to also enjoy the day with you.

4. KEEP IT REAL

In life, staying true to you is usually the best way to go, but when wedding planning it is so important. A wedding is meant to be a celebration of love between two people, but can sometimes be lost in the world of Pinterest and social media. When planning my wedding, I focused on details that I felt were true to my style and added a little flair to our day. I wanted my wedding to showcase our love and use details to enhance that love, but not overshadow it. Authenticity is really what makes a wedding and when people can feel the emotions the rest of the details don’t seem as crucial. Do what makes you and your soul mate happy; at the end of the day it will be your memories to look back on.

HELPFUL TIPS

• Utilize Etsy. I purchased many items from Etsy that really added to my wedding. My wedding robe being one!

• As most women want that beautiful wedding shoe, sometimes comfort gets sacrificed. Be prepared to switch into a comfortable shoe for the reception.

• Trust your gut. Remember, you know what’s best for you. Second-guessing will do you no good.
• Keep hydrated. On your wedding day, you will forget to eat and drink, its natural, but definitely try to keep hydrated. It is a long day/night and being refreshed and hydrated helps a ton!
• Have an emergency bag. Make sure to prepare a small bag with concealer, lipstick, powder, band-aids, etc.
• ENJOY EVERY MINUTE. It flies by.

On a personal note, April 30, 2017 is a day that will remain in my heart forever.  I will always be grateful for the amount of love my husband and I felt that day.  Thank you to all of the special people in our lives for their help throughout the entire process. Also, thank you to all of those that wished us well. I was blown away by the outreach after our wedding and really humbled by all the kind words. My husband and I feel blessed to have so many amazing people around us and to have our love inspire others. Thank you for following us on our wedding journey!