Wedding Planning Tips Straight From the Pros
When you start planning your wedding, it can feel totally overwhelming. You’re staring at this huge picture of your dream day and trying to break it down into something manageable. Plus, you’re getting a million opinions from friends and family, and those never-ending questions like, “When are you getting married?” or “Where’s the venue?”. Chill out, Aunt Linda, we just got engaged ten minutes ago. You’re going to need some wedding planning tips.
To help you cut through the noise and get moving, here are ThistleBEA’s top 5 wedding planning tips to stop the paralysis and get you excited about your day.
Step One: Talk About Your Wedding Day Dreams
My favourite wedding planning tip is talk about the dreams! Realistic and not. You and your partner should start by sharing your overall vision for the day. Are you picturing a laid-back micro wedding at your favourite brewery, or does one of you imagine a grand affair at an exclusive club? Knowing each other’s wedding dreams is key to keeping planning smooth and avoiding surprises later.
Step Two: Decide on Your Budget Ranges
I’m a big champion of team “don’t go into debt for your wedding.” A party isn’t worth risking your financial future. This might be your first big money talk as a couple, so welcome to the club! Understanding how much each of you can contribute financially is a critical wedding planning tip. Once you’re clear on your budget, you can decide if you want to involve parents or others as donors. Just a heads-up; money from parents can be tricky, so make sure you’re aligned on rules around their contributions. (Psst, we have a whole blog post about this!)
Step Three: Draft Your Guest List
Steps three and four can swap order depending on your priorities. If you care more about space than the guest list, pick your venue first. Otherwise, start with your guests.
Each of you should make a list of everyone you want at your wedding (these become lists 1.a and 1.b). Then combine those into a master list. As you merge, new names might pop up; that becomes list 2. You may also want to consider guest lists from your parents (lists 3.a and 3.b). You don’t have to ask for these, but depending on your funding conversations, your parents might expect some input on invites.
Once you have these lists combined, that should give you your max guest count. Your minimum will be the combined lists from you and your partner alone. Now it’s time to look at venues that fit your guest number.
Step Four: Start Researching Venues
A simple Google search like “Vancouver wedding venues” is a good start, but you can get creative too. Scroll through wedding photographers’ Instagram pages and check the tagged venues in photos you love.
Your venue choice will also determine how much work you’ll have on your plate. A golf course venue? Usually super straightforward because they provide everything you need. Heritage Hall on Main Street? More charm, but expect more planning effort.
If you’re not sure where you want to get married but have a date range, now’s a great time to reach out to wedding planners or coordinators if your budget allows. They can help you find venues that match your vision and budget, and even help with vendor recommendations.
Step Five: Start Finding Your Vendors
Once you’ve booked your venue, coordinator, or photographer, ask them for vendor recommendations. Vendors who work well together can make your day run so much smoother. We work with tons of pros and have seen the best and the worst.
Before signing any contracts, double-check if your venue has preferred vendors or restrictions. For example, some venues like Brockhouse require you to use specific DJs who follow their sound policies. Others like Sea to Sky Gondola ask for vendors with proper insurance and WCB coverage (which we have!).
Hopefully, these wedding planning tips help you break free from the overwhelm and get excited about the amazing celebration you’re creating. Remember, planning a wedding is a big task, but taking it step-by-step will keep you grounded and moving forward.
If you’re feeling stuck or want expert guidance right from the start, consider our “Come Together” coordination add-on package. It’s designed to jump-start your wedding planning by helping you and your partner get crystal clear on your wants, needs, and priorities so you can plan confidently and enjoy the journey.
Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you come together and start planning your dream wedding.