Congratulations on your Engagement! Time to start planning your wedding!
Tips for planning your wedding in Arizona, from a seasoned professional.
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning a wedding is an exciting but sometimes challenging process. Here are some key questions and considerations to help you get started:
1. **Budget:**
- What is our budget for the wedding? Be realistic here, don’t overextend yourselves!
- How will we allocate the budget among different expenses (venue, catering, attire, etc.)? What is important to you - food, music?
2. **Guest List:**
- How many guests would we like to invite? Start to make a list each of you alone - before parents get involved.
- Are there any specific people we must invite?
- Will we have different guest lists for the ceremony and reception?
3. **Venue:**
- What type of wedding venue are we interested in (indoor, outdoor, destination)?
- How many guests can the venue accommodate?
- What are the venue's policies and restrictions?
4. **Date and Time:**
- Have we decided on a specific wedding date?
- What time of year and day do we prefer for the wedding?
- Consider the heat in Arizona at different times of day and the year…..
5. **Style and Theme:**
- What style or theme do we want for the wedding (formal, casual, traditional, modern)?
- Are there specific colors or motifs we want to incorporate?
6. **Vendors:**
- Which vendors do we need to hire (photographer, videographer, florist, caterer, etc.)?
- Have we researched and selected reliable vendors within our budget?
- Check reviews of vendors and independently researched them?
7. **Attire:**
- Have we started looking for wedding attire (dresses, suits, accessories)?
- What is the dress code for the wedding?
8. **Ceremony and Officiant:**
- Who will officiate the ceremony? Do yourself a favor and HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. I can’t tell you how many times I have had last minute calls because the friend or family member bailed out at the last minute.
- What type of ceremony do we want (religious, secular, traditional, personalized)?
9. **Photography and Videography:**
- What specific moments do we want captured?
- Do we want engagement photos or a pre-wedding shoot?
- Do you want short clips of videos to share on social media or have to look at again on your phone and look back on?
- Do you want natural shots from the day, where the photographer just gets on, mostly formal shots or a mixture?
10. **Music and Entertainment:**
- Have we chosen the music for the ceremony and reception?
- Do we want to hire a band or a DJ, and will they play your style of music?
- Do we hire a string quartet for the ceremony and cocktail hour?
11. **Logistics:**
- How will guests travel to and from the venue?
- Do we need to arrange accommodation for out-of-town guests?
12. **Registry:**
- Have we created a wedding registry?
- What items do we need or want?
13. **Legal Requirements:**
- What are the legal requirements for getting married in our location?
- Have we obtained the necessary permits and licenses?
14. **Timeline:**
- Have we created a wedding planning timeline? For this if you can HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PLANNER to help you out with all the main details, even if just for the month of. Let them track the budget, the guests and all the fine details you might not have the mental bandwidth to do - working a full time job or whatever else life is serving you.
- What tasks need to be completed by specific deadlines?
15. **Contingency Plans:**
- What is our backup plan in case of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances? A good supplier will have their own contingencies for you.
Remember, communication is key throughout the planning process. Be open with each other about your preferences, priorities, and any concerns that may arise. Happy planning!
Take a look at all the reviews from past couples I have worked with on their ceremonies. It is always my goal to create a ceremony of loving words and support for each other.
