cREATING A SHARED VISION
It is important that the goal of your wedding day and expectations in planning is outlined and agreed upon between the couple and those involved in the planning. We suggest that you reflect on what you want the day to feel like, how much you wish to spend overall, and the ideal responsibilities you will take during the planning process.
Feeling for the day - Our suggestion is to first and foremost make sure that the wedding is a reflection of your love as a couple with activities that help the community celebrate that love. In the grand scheme of things, the day is less about wowing the guests, but rather more about making memories as a couple and helping guests join in that celebration. So with that in mind, we hope that you discuss how will you best feel celebrated? Do you envision intimate interactions, extreme hype, spirituality?
Overall cost figure - It is important to determine what you believe to be wise financial boundaries for your wedding. It may also be necessary to collect input of what is most important to those who are contributing. Additional steps in planning a budget can be found here.
Roles and responsibilities in planning - Is this a shared effort or is one person prone to set the plans? Is someone more inclined to take on the role of communicating with vendors? Is making decisions tiresome for you? How easily do you express to others when you need support? It is smart to talk through at the beginning and you will find out more about yourself and your ways of working as you go.
Desired guest count and the implications - The reality is, mom might not get to invite all her coworker friends or you may not want Aunt Patty to receive an invite. It is important to bring that into the conversation sooner than later! Keep in mind the venue can host 120 guests. You can plan on about 80% of guests to accept your invitation, but the number may be different based on how tight knit your community is, how far guests are expected to travel, and the selected time (during covid, on a holiday, ect.). Additional support in tracking guest information can be found here.
Vocalize the goals and responsibilities to those who have an impact on your plans. Consider that the wedding is a very symbolic and emotional day for not just the couple. Others will likely come with some expectations or a desire to participate in the planning. Getting on the same page early can help ground decisions during the planning process and set expectations that make for greater satisfaction by all. Even if the above tasks were not a group activity, make sure you vocalize the result and communicate expectations or where you would like support in the process.
Do you want a sweet last dance surrounded by your guests? Do you envision making it extreme hype with confetti or sparklers? Would you rather ditch the production feeling altogether or maybe you hope for a combination of all of it! Each idea plays into the mood, timeline of the day, costs, and so many other aspects that make up your day. Only after determining your vision, budget, and roles in planning can you confidently nail down what ideas align and the tasks necessary to achieve your dream day.