You’re Engaged… Now What?

After answering the BIG question and saying YES to forever, you’re going to be presented with many more questions, big and small, about your special day. Emerald Ave Productions is here to provide you with the guidance and expertise you need to plan the wedding of your dreams. Follow these key steps to start planning:

Determine Your First Priority - Date or Location

Is there a sentimental date? Is there a specific city or venue you and your partner are set on? Both of these details need to be discussed and prioritized in order to get started planning for you and your partner's perfect day.

Set Your Budget

It’s easy to get caught up in the engagement bliss and start making plans based on initial big ideas but you must take the time to look at your finances and set a maximum budget for the venue, catering and other vendor costs. You don’t want to eventually realize you’re under contract and in over your head and suddenly opening and maxing credit cards just to pay for your dream wedding.

Venue Hunting

Based on your budget, start researching venues that are available within your price range. Most wedding venues having specific wedding packages with transparent pricing on the cost associated with hosting your ceremony and reception. Other venues will be an empty space and everything, including furniture, AV, and food and beverage must coordinated on your own.

Date

Venues will give you their availability for the specific day of the week you’d like to host your wedding. Factor in the following when selecting your date:

• Is the date around a holiday? Most venues have higher pricing around major holidays.

• Is the date giving you the optimal weather for your event day, especially if it’s outdoors? Farmer’s Almanac is a great place to consult.

• Does the date work for the most important people who are non-negotiables in attendance? Something to consider, especially if this is a destination wedding where most, if not everyone, will have to travel.

Determine Party Size

While you would love to host everyone who’s ever impacted your life it may not be feasible based on hour budget, or your the venue's size doesn’t allow for your kindergarten teacher or your 4th cousin 3 times removed you see every 5 years to attend. Make sure the list includes the most important people.

Hot Tip: Make a maybe list of those people you’d love to be there but don’t fit the guest count.

Lock-in Your Venue

While your wedding date is a really important decision for you, wedding venues depend on contracts to confirm your date. Once you have all the decisions above finalized get the contract signed and deposit paid!

Expert Tip: Your venue works with the best vendors who are reputable and have worked for their previous couples. Ask them for their preferred vendor list to help get the rest of the details solidified.

Don’t forget: Wedding planning should be fun, and sometimes finalizing the details above feels too cumbersome. Emerald Ave Productions is here to assist with your full service wedding planning needs! We’d love to help you get your planning started. Reach out to us today for a free 30-minute consultation at info@emeraldaveproductions.com.