Planning a Crazy Cool Wedding without going Crazy: Step 1
Wedding Plan Step 1: Eeeeeeee!
Allow yourself to bask in the reality that, through your wedding, you are a queen.
A queen with shit to DO.
But don't be overwhelmed by your giant party-planning endeavor just yet; enjoy the fact that you're engaged first. Spend time with the one you are choosing to spend your life with before you immerse yourself in details.
Start your planning with the biggest step: make a budget. This will help you figure out every step after. Because frankly, if you don't have the money for an extravagant detail, it ain't happenin, honey.
(See below for our rather extensive budget list. What can I say? I love the details.)
Pick a date, and what you want your big day to circle around. (Do you want a sunset wedding? Afternoon tea reception? Time to make sure you and your bridesmaids have space for mimosas? Full dinner vs. cocktail hour only? Short vs long reception?)
Then start writing names down: who has helped build who you are and who could you not imagine your wedding day without? Go through your phone and social media contacts; you'd be surprised at how many times I thought “oh yeah, I can't forget about them!” while scrolling through my Facebook Friends list.
So yes! To condense:
Step 1's:
1. Make a budget
2. Pick a date
3. Make a general guest list and add 10 to have a guest number estimate
Once these are solidified and in play, everything else will feel MUCH smoother. Now go put on your crown and come back to me when you're ready for Step 2!
Bridesmaid Goodies
Shirts: 40
Bags: 40
Trinkets Inside: 40
Wine Glasses: 10
Total: 130
Groomsman Goodies
Flasks: 100
Total: 100
Stationery
Stamp Wax: 5
Return Address Stamp: 15
Engagement Party Postcards: 50
Invitation Printing: 300
Signs: 40
Thank you Notes: 50
Guestbook: 25
Stamps (postcard, invite): 150
Total: 635
Bride
Robe: 5
Veil: 6
Shoes: 45
Lingerie: 15
Hair: 100
Nails: 50
Total: 221
Groom
Suit: 50
Pants: 50
Accessories: 20
Shoes: 100
Total: 220
Engagement Party
Total: 80
Venue
Venue: 1500
Deposit: 500
Tip: 200
Total: 2200
Photography
Total: 1900
Sound
DJ: 600
Ceremony: 100
Sound System/Lights: 50
Total: 750
Hotel
Total: 300
Food
Catering (food, labor, cocktail hour): 2500
Catering Tip: 100
Cake Topper: 15
Cake Slicer and Server: 5
Total: 2620
Drinks
Beer: 500
Wine and Champagne:325
Bartender Services: 150
Non-Alcoholic Drinks:100
Ice: 30
Garnishes: 20
Total: 1125
Decorations
Tablecloths, Underliners: 100
Runner: 20
Plates, Silverware, Napkins: 100
Glassware: 120
Backdrop (Lights, Fabric): 30
Bathroom Baskets: 20
Champagne Flutes: 30
Total: 420
Flowers
Bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages: 100
Petals: 10
Ribbon: 20
Pins: 10
Total: 140
Ceremony
License: 60
Rings: 100
Total: 160
Transportation
Ubers for Wedding Party to Venue: 100
