6 Important Decisions During Wedding Planning Process

So, you’re engaged! Congratulations!!! Now what?

The wedding planning process is full of highs and lows – there are so many details to plan and things to consider. It will most likely take up a lot of your time, but on the day of your wedding, you will look back at every single decision you made and know that it was all worth it in the end because you ended up with the perfect day…if you made the right decisions, that is. If you are stressed, don’t worry – I am going to give you all of the details about how you can make the right decisions for you. Let’s chat about the 6 important decisions to make during the wedding planning process.

But, before we fully jump in, let me just say that the only way you will make a wrong decision is if you listen to others and not yourself and if you do not do your due diligence. If you follow these two guidelines, you will make the best decisions!

Wedding Counselor

You’re about to embark on one of life’s greatest adventures. But hold up, before you start picking out flower arrangements and cake flavors, there’s an important step you shouldn’t overlook: finding a wedding counselor.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “But we’re so in love! Why would we need counseling?” Well, let me tell you something – even the strongest couples can benefit from some professional guidance when it comes to preparing for marriage. Trust me, your future self will thank you for putting in the effort now.

You may wonder how to prepare for marriage counseling. First things first – find a counselor who specializes in premarital counseling (this is not the time to see if your regular therapist also moonlights as a wedding counselor). Once you find the right one, they will gladly walk you through the process of and let you know what you need to bring to your first appointment.

Your Wedding Date

Your wedding date will depend on a few things. First of all, if you have a specific venue in mind, you will need to check with them to see what their openings are. If you do not have a specific venue in mind, you can be a bit more flexible when it comes to narrowing down the date. My first step is to choose a season. Have you always dreamed of getting married in the winter? Great! You’ve narrowed it down. Now, decide on the actual date. If you get married on off-seasons, or on off-days, you will save a pretty penny. Although your preferences are most important, you also need to consider your guests. Will it be a very expensive time to travel? Will it be easy for them to take off work? Consider what your close family and friends will have to do in order to make it to your wedding on your date of choice.

Find a Photographer

It is important to invest in a photographer that you trust and feel comfortable with. A wedding photographer will capture every moment of your day, so it’s important to make sure you find the right one for you. When researching photographers, make sure to look at their portfolios and check out reviews from previous couples. They don’t necessarily need to be a wedding photographer, but you should feel comfortable with them and their style. If you’re looking for great wedding photography Charlottesville, Virginia, then make sure to look into reputable photographers who have experience capturing the beauty of this area.

Your Guest List

This is a very important step because your entire budget will be based on this number and it will narrow down venues for you. If you are inviting 500 people, you will need to search for a wedding venue that can accommodate this many people. Start with the people closest to you and then add others along the way. Keep in mind that every single person not only adds another meal to your price, but you also need to factor in tables, chairs, flowers, etc.

Your Bridal Party

In my opinion, this is one of the most important decisions you can make (other than your venue + your vendors) because the people in your bridal party can make or break your entire experience. People, unfortunately, do not like to make the process as easy as possible – they bicker about where to go for the bachelorette party, talk about how much they hate the dress, and possibly even show up late, which puts stress on you. Make sure you do not choose these people because you honestly do not need any additional stress. My recommendation is to only choose people who you know for a fact will be in your life for a long time to come. Then, consider their attitude. If they are a great friend who will add joy and love to your day, add them to the mix. If they will bring a negative attitude, or make you stressed out, consider keeping them out of the bridal party. Don’t worry, though – if you have a close friend that doesn’t make the cut due to their attitude, consider giving them another role in the wedding (maybe doing a reading?) to make them feel special!

Your Vendors

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Your vendors and your venue are the most important decisions you will make during the entire process because they are really the people who are putting on the show on the day of. You want to make sure they know what they are doing because if they don’t, your wedding will pay the price. I highly recommend looking up reviews, listening to personal experiences from close friends or family members, and meeting with your potential vendors before you give them a deposit. If there is anything to be picky with when it comes to your wedding choices, it is your vendors.

Your Venue

Your venue is the first impression that everyone will receive on the day of your wedding and your venue will also be in every single one of your wedding pictures, so make sure you choose somewhere that you love! One that I have found in North Carolina that I absolutely love is Jeter Mountain Farm. Jeter Mountain Farm is a wedding venue located in Hendersonville, NC. Imagine typing the knot surrounded by dramatic rolling hills and backdrops of hayfields and magical wooded forests because that’s what you get when you book a wedding at Jeter Mountain Farm – it is gorgeous! It is situated on 411 acres and has over 35,000 square feet of barn and kitchen area. They also have great reviews, which is very important to look at! On Google, they have a 4.7-star rating, on Wedding Wire they have a 4.8-star rating, and on Facebook, they have a 4.9-star rating. Amazing!

Jeter Mountain Farm was established in 2005 by the Hunsader family but dates back to 1813. The farm has a long history and lots of love to share with every bride and groom. “Our prayer is that each and every couple would go on the have long blessed marriages, and remember every moment they spent here with a smile,” says Zach and Kayla Hunsader. If you are looking for a special place to tie the knot, Jeter Mountain Farm could be that place for you.

Your Timeline

Last but not least, your timeline is extremely important because this is what will keep your wedding flowing all night long. Your day of coordinator, your venue, and your DJ should be able to help you with this if you have no idea where to start, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it! 

Image Source: Freepik