 Tiffany Holmes Photography So many people dream of planning their wedding day and making it exactly how they’ve always dreamed, but not many people realize all the details that go into wedding planning. With so many details both big and small, it can be easy to get overwhelmed quickly. Luckily, good and careful planning can help reduce stress and make the planning process more enjoyable. Here are some tips and tools to help you stay organized while planning your wedding. Create a checklist One of the best ways to stay organized when wedding planning is knowing what needs to be done when. Whether you’re planning your wedding over a span of 2 years or just a handful of months, wedding checklists can help you prioritize tasks leading up to your wedding. Instead of trying to craft your own planning timeline, find a wedding checklist template, and then tweak it to fit your needs. Stick to a Budget In all the excitement of getting engaged and planning your wedding, the budget can easily be forgotten. To avoid stressful overspending, make a budget early and stick to it. Know how much you can spend overall and if there is any wiggle room. It’s a good idea to break your budget up into categories such as venue, catering, vendors, attire, and more. Keep track of receipts and expenses so you know how much of your budget has already been used. Necessities vs. Wishes It’s also a good idea to decide on which items are necessities and which items are extras you want but don’t need. Is finding the perfect dress the most important thing? Or do you care more about getting an excellent photographer and videographer? Knowing which items are essential not only helps you make budgeting decisions but also helps you know which tasks are okay being pushed to the side (or not completed at all). I recommend sorting everything in 3 categories: Must-haves, negotiables, and just-for-fun. Once you have your must-haves and negotiables taken care of, if there’s still time and room in the budget, feel free to get those extra items you want! Categorizing will help make your wedding day fit both your dreams and your budget. Create a Wedding Website Wedding websites are great ways to keep all the important information for your wedding in one spot, especially when it comes to getting information to your family and friends. Send your guests to your website to RSVP, purchase gifts from your registry, or find reception details and directions. Minted, The Knot, and Zola all have free wedding website templates you can use and customize to fit your needs and style. Tracking System With so many details and vendors, it can be hard to keep track of everything. We recommend coming up with a tracking system early into the planning process. Know where to keep all the receipts, contracts, vendor contact information, and any other details. Whether this means creating folders in your email account or having a physical binder with categorized tabs, make sure you understand how everything is organized. That way when you're frantically searching for the receipt for your earrings, you’ll know exactly where to look. Start Early While it’s important to cherish your time as a newly engaged couple, don’t push off planning your wedding too much. Get as much done early on as possible. While it may feel like a lot at the start, you’ll be thanking yourself later. You’ll want to enjoy the days leading up to your wedding rather than spend them running around trying to get everything done last minute. Designate Planning Time Wedding planning takes a lot of time, so we recommend allotting time each week to spend on wedding details. Whether this means spending 30 minutes each night or allotting a few hours every weekend, make sure you carve out time to plan your big day. This will help you keep track of all the tasks you need to complete and can help reduce stress. Assign tasks to others Don’t do everything yourself! Not only does having help from others reduce stress for you, but it can also make the entire process more enjoyable. Have your fiancé, family, and bridal party help out in ways you feel comfortable with, whether it’s as big as choosing a venue or as simple as stuffing invitations. Designate tasks early on and make sure you communicate deadlines and important information with whomever is helping. Helpful Tools: There are plenty of great tools out there to keep you organized, but here are just a few we recommend! Hopefully, these tips and tools can help you stay organized and enjoy the planning process a bit more! If you’re looking for more wedding planning tips, check out What NOT to Do When Planning a Wedding. Just started wedding planning? Tour Four Oaks and see if we can help you check off 'Find a Venue' off of your to-do list!
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