Confused

Congratulations on your engagement, and welcome to WeddingWire!!


I would start with your budget and guest count. Once you have both of those figured out, start looking at venues that are in your budget and can hold at least the number of guests you plan to invite, and setup some venue tours. Once you book your venue, move on to looking for any vendors you may want (photographer, DJ, florist, etc). Something you may want to consider using is a checklist. WeddingWire and The Knot both have excellent checklists, budget trackers, and planning tools that will help keep your planning on track. Always feel free to post questions on these forums, everyone here is happy to help. Happy wedding planning!

If you haven't booked a venue yet, that is probably not your date. 2022 dates are basically all gone and 2023 dates are going fast now too. Talk to your fiancé ASAP (plus your parents if you think they want to contribute) so you can figure out your budget. Then go looking at venues. Be ready to compromise on the date.

Wedding and events manager here 😫 I’d definitely think about budget, head count and season, as a first step. I’d also say if you are not planning on hiring an event planner aka a person like me lol download some of the timeline templates on Wedding wire! Free resources that have great check lists.

1) budget
2) guest list
3) venue (and possibly theme if you want one because it’ll help you choose a venue that fits)

Congratulations!


Take a few days to relax and enjoy being engaged first. Then sit down with your fiancé and decide who are your absolute must have guests. Then decide what your vision is and what 3-5 areas to focus your attention and budget on, and cut everything else that isn’t important to you. Most couples go for the guest experience: good food, free drinks, and a great dj, as well as a great photographer for your own memories. Figure out what you are willing and able to spend without help from other sources. You need all of that information set in stone before looking for venues.
Take a look at the local parks department website for venue rentals. Also eventective.com and peerspace.com for venues. Be aware that all inclusive venues do not always save money and often break the budget. They will quote you a small fee upfront but what they don’t tell you is that you have a 5-6 figure food and beverage minimum that you must meet, also sometimes you have a guest minimum to meet. Also they fail to mention that you are not allowed to sample catering until you sign the contract at which point you cannot back out. A blank slate venue offers more flexibility if you are on a tight budget and they allow outside catering which is cheaper because you have more options, including restaurant drop off catering. Many blank slate venues include tables and chairs along with a kitchen so you don’t have to rent those extra. All you need is a caterer, dj and photographer.
Make sure you at the very least hire a month of coordinator. They make the day smoothly and tie up all loose ends so you and your guests can relax.

Renting as much as you can is actually cheaper than purchasing. It also has a smaller environmental footprint. What many people fail to realize is that when you purchase items, you take on extra work and stress at minimum wage per hour that is ignored as being “free”. You are the one responsible for steaming/cleaning, transportation, setup/tear down, more cleaning, try to sell them afterwards. Paying a rental business eliminates all that time/stress/labor.
Wait until 6 months before the wedding to ask bridesmaids. Call them up or ask in a regular conversation instead of trinkets that they may not keep. There is nothing they need to do before then. Also make sure they are your closest innermost social circle. Do not ask in-laws or old school friends you are not close to out of obligation.
Call up everyone you intend to invite at 6 months. That is your save the date that costs nothing. Same as your parents and grandparents did successfully. Invites don’t go out until 6-8 weeks before the wedding standard. Any earlier and people lose and forget the info. Any later and they think they are second and fifth choices.
Only do what you and fiancé want, while keeping guests’ comfort in mind. Don’t do anything out of obligation to please others because parents already got married and siblings will have their turn later. Parents can start a tradition of a family reunion picnic at another time where extended relatives are invited that is not on your dime.

Being newly engaged as well we started with guests, venue, and then the budget. We wanted to have more logistics sorted out before talking to our parents who wanted to help. Once those details are sorted out, you can breathe and have some fun finding your vendors 😊

If you haven’t booked a venue yet and looking to change the date to august 6, 2022, me and my fiancé are looking for someone to take over our wedding contract as we want to downsize. It’s in Anaheim ca wedding and reception at the hotel there. Let me know.