Top 10 Wedding Planning Essentials You Need to Know

VENUE FIRST ... after you book your wedding planner, of course!

If you are getting married in a church, chapel, temple, sikh, or any other house of worship, be sure to book your reception venue first. Most religious institutions can hold multiple ceremonies a day, however, venues can only do one reception per night.

And as said above, it’s a good idea to engage a wedding planner as your very first step. It’s critical to have an expert review, negotiate and explain your venue/vendor contracts before you get locked in. There can ben hidden fees and cyptic clauses that can affect your entire plan later on.

LOGISTICS ARE EVERYTHING

How will you get around? What about your bridal party? And vendors? A smart plan allows a wedding day to flow naturally without feeling stressful, rushed, chaotic or worse yet, drags on with a lull in the middle of the day. Plan food and beverage throughout the day to keep your people going.

Also, think about how the wedding day will flow for your guests? They will have a much better experience with a well-planned day that takes into account timing and transportation so they don't have to drive or rely on Uber. Big City Bride is known for our tight and right 10-page+ timelines that orchestrate your masterplan with precision.

LOVE YOUR PLAN B

Summertime weather in the midwest is the best! But it's also unpredictable. If you are envisioning an outdoor ceremony, photos, cocktail hour, etc. make sure you have a “PLAN B” that you LOVE so you aren't disappointed on your big day.

DECOR AND MORE

Don't make the mistake of only focusing just on flowers. Event decor encompasses much more than fresh blooms. Lighting, hanging decor, tablescapes, draping, furniture, and other hard goods are essential to completing event design. Big City Bride works with each client to develop a unique design plan orchestrating vendors, rentals and details that you will love.

PLAN YOUR PICS

You get one shot at this! Your best day with your best people all in one place. Outline each photo you want captured. Group photos are often difficult to coordinate as friends and family can be hard to wrangle. At Big City Bride, we strategize with photographers to ensure every planned photo is executed with minimal interruption to the day.

STRAY AWAY FROM “FRIENDORS”

... unless they are true event professionals. Enanging family or friends to execute your wedding needs can strain relationships and end up in disappointment.

SCHEDULE HAIR & MAKEUP

Don’t make your bridal party sit around and wait. Assign times based on specific individual needs. Some of your squad may have kids, may be pregnant, or nursing. Talk to your bridal party and make a hair and makeup schedule that is thoughtfully laid out. And...make sure to provide snacks and drinks to keep your squad energized!

PLAN A MAGIC MOMENT

While “movie moments” may feel unscripted...they typically aren’t. Confetti drops, cold fireworks, champagne towers and other showstoppers are carefully crafted to energize the event and set the stage for photo magic.

ALIGN YOUR EXPECTATIONS... AND BUDGET

Don’t let weddings on pinterest or in magazines mislead you. Featured events can be decivingly costly. Make sure your expectations are in line with your budget in order to avoid any disappointment. Creating a budget is a critical part of planning at Big City Bride. We collaborate with each couple to establish a personalized financial forecast that allocates funds based on their wedding priorities while working to “value engineer” those wish list items.

HIRE A PLANNER.

Final shameless plug, but it’s true that: You don't know what you don't know. Before you get locked into contracts and lost in the plans, hire a professional. At Big City Bride we help you navigate each step. We work to elevate your wedding, saving you time and stress so you can enjoy the entire planning journey ... and your special once-in-a-lifetime celebration.