Getting engaged is one of your life’s most monumental and exciting moments; it recognizes how special the bond between you and your partner is. If you have recently gotten engaged, you may be wondering, “Where do I start when planning a wedding?”
If this sounds like you, look no further for help than Elysian Events! We are a NOLA-based catering company, and we love sharing our wedding know-how. For tips on planning your big day, read on!
Where Do I Start When Planning a Wedding: All the Answers You Need
Though wedding planning can seem like a daunting task at first, the key is to break down the process into smaller, more manageable steps. This will reduce your and your partner’s stress and, ultimately, make planning a much simpler process. Here are some steps to keep in mind as you begin!
Creating a Budget
Establishing how much you want to spend on your wedding is an excellent place to start. This will help you identify how long it will take to save up for the wedding, and it will be easier to estimate the prices of individual expenses (such as the cake, wedding photographer, wedding bands, etc). Keep in mind that the following elements tend to be more costly parts of a wedding:
- Catering
- Venue
- Decor and flowers
- Wedding attire
- Live music
In 2023, the average wedding cost approximately $30,000. While there’s nothing wrong with splurging (after all, your wedding should be one of a kind!), there are also plenty of ways to spend less if you have a smaller budget in mind. For expert tips on sticking to your budget and saving money, click here.
Setting Your Guest List
One of the most impactful parts of a wedding is celebrating your love with friends and family by your side! When determining your budget, consider how many guests you want to be present at the ceremony.
Once you know how many people you intend to invite, it’s time to determine who’s coming. Whether you prefer a small wedding or a giant bash, it’s essential to send RSVPs out as early as possible to decide who’s coming to the wedding and reception. This will give you a head count, which is essential for planning your venue and catering.
Selecting a Venue
Now that you know who is planning to come to the wedding, it’s time to choose an appropriate venue! You’ll want to be sure there’s enough space for everyone to gather comfortably, so choose a venue of appropriate size.
As you pick out where you’ll celebrate, here are some other elements to keep in mind:
- Do you want to be married inside or outside?
- If you’re celebrating outside, what time of year do you plan to be married? How might you accommodate the weather?
- Does the venue match your intended wedding theme and color scheme? If not, are you willing to redecorate the venue or change your event’s vision?
- Will there be room for live musicians? If not, is there a way to accommodate alternative sound equipment?
- How close is the venue to your home? To the homes of your guests?
All of these factors are essential as you tour venues near you.
Hiring a Coordinator
You have your venue but there is still so much to plan and organize. Wedding planning can be daunting and stressful for many, which is why hiring a wedding planner or day of coordinator is beneficial. These individuals help plan the wedding leading up to the big day or help facilitate everything the day of to ensure the wedding of your dreams. To learn more about a wedding planner vs coordinator, read our blog on the topic!
Choosing a Caterer
Choosing a caterer is one of the most fun parts of wedding planning (though we at Elysian Events might be a little biased)! Selecting delicious foods to share with your guests is certain to create an impactful reception experience. As you research caterers near you, contact them about scheduling food tastings in advance of your special day. This will allow you to determine if the caterer is right for you.
If you happen to be celebrating in New Orleans and love delicious Southern cuisine, then Elysian Events would love to work with you! We are highly flexible and accommodating of our clients, and we are happy to offer tastings. With the help of Elysian, “Where do I start when planning a wedding?” is a question of the past!
Extra Tips for Managing Stress
While that might seem like a lot to keep in mind at once, breaking down the wedding planning process will help you with limiting your stress. As you start planning, remember the importance of staying organized and celebrating your achievements! Here are some ways to track your progress and reduce anxiety.
Making Checklists
Keeping a list of wedding planning tasks and their due dates in one place will keep you organized. You can quickly see which tasks are coming up soon, as well as monitor how much work you’ve already completed! Click here to get started on your online checklist.
Breaking Down Each Step
Does a task still seem too daunting even after writing it down? Break it down further! If you have “Choose a caterer” on your checklist but feel it’s too large of a task, divide it into shorter tasks (such as looking up caterers near you, browsing three catering websites, and inquiring about one of the company’s tasting options). This will make planning much more manageable, plus you’ll get the satisfaction of crossing more items off your to-do list.
Celebrating Small Victories
The wedding and reception shouldn’t be the only times you celebrate and treat yourself; it’s important to reward yourself throughout the planning process! Taking time to appreciate the hard work and time you’ve put into the wedding will keep you motivated. Even little rewards, like buying a snack from a favorite bakery, going on a one-hour walk outside, or having a game night with friends, will make a big difference in reducing your stress.
Get Your Wedding Plans Started with Elysian Events
Leave your catering worries behind by booking Elysian Events Catering! Never again will you have to wonder, “Where do I start when planning a wedding;” we at Elysian pride ourselves on treating clients like family through every step of the event planning process.
To learn more about who we are and how we can make your wedding day special, get in touch with us at hello@elysianeventscatering.com or at (504)541-0091. We can also be reached through our contact form. We can’t wait to hear from you!
