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You said YES! Now what? Here are some important steps from the Alexandra Madison Weddings team to help you make your way down the aisle!
Step One: Pick a Date and a Venue
The first step to the wedding planning process as a newly engaged couple is to decide on a wedding date and venue. These two go hand in hand considering sometimes your dream venue is not always available on your dream wedding date. As long as you know a general idea of what season or month you prefer, you can make an easy date decision based on the venue's availability. One of the most fun steps to wedding planning is taking tours of all of the beautiful venue options!
Step Two: Hire a Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding is like having a second job, and we know you don't always have the time to commit to that, but the AMW team does! We love meeting with potential new clients and chatting about the client's dreams and how we can make them come true! A wedding planner is usually the first one in the door on your wedding day and the last one to leave and are there for you every step of the way! We will be the ones to stuff invitations, book and coordinate with vendors, provide a timeline and layout, set up decor, tear down at the end of the night, and so much more in between!
Step Three: Set Your Budget
It is important to have an initial conversation with your significant other and your families when it comes to budgeting for your wedding. The first thing to consider when setting your budget is your guest list size. There is a per-head cost for food and drinks which is typically the biggest expense for your wedding day. Aside from catering, your guest list size will also help determine how much various details will cost such as decor, stationery, favors, rentals, and more. The next thing to consider would be the details that are the most important to you and your significant other. For example, some people would prefer to spend a little extra on catering than they would on florals. Allocating your funds based on your priorities and what is most important to you will help when setting the overall budget.
It is also important to consider the extra and hidden costs when setting your budget. This can include the cost of vendor service fees, trials such as a floral demo and hair/makeup, stamps for RSVP cards, marriage license fee, gratuity for vendors, etc. These costs could seem small at first but will definitely add up quickly so planning room for this in your budget will help avoid an unpleasant surprise later in the process.
Step Four: Secure Your Vendors
Once your budget is set, it is time to start securing your vendors! Your wedding planner, especially Alexandra Madison Weddings, will always be happy to provide vendor recommendations for all areas of the process. Vendors can include, but are not limited to, catering, florist, photographer, videographer, band or DJ, party rentals, hair and makeup artists, baker, bartending, and more! There are so many fun vendors these days that can set your wedding apart from others such as an ice cream cart, a live painter, coffee cart, champagne bus, etc.
With all things considered, it is important to initially pick out and secure vendors that only provide their services for a maximum of one wedding per day such as a photographer, videographer, band or DJ, hair and makeup artist, etc. After those important vendors are secured, you can begin exploring and securing others.
Step Five: Select Your Wedding Decor
Picking out your wedding day decor is always an enjoyable part of the process, especially for the creatives! It is just one step closer to building your dream! You will need to decide on a color palette, look into rentals for items such as table settings and chairs, and choose a theme or a look that you love!
At Alexandra Madison Weddings, we have a very extensive decor collection that is available for rent to each of our couples either by collection or individually. We add to our collection weekly and can always make adjustments to meet your vision! Our personal decor collection includes ginger jars, signs, lanterns, table top items, styling accents for those perfect detail shots, escort walls, place cards, candles and votives, cake stands, pillows for your lounge section, lawn games, and more!
Step Six: Leave the Rest to Your Wedding Planner and Enjoy Your Dream Day!
The last step is to sit back and leave the rest of the planning and coordinating to your wedding planner! We understand the importance of your wedding day and will always treat it like our own by paying close attention to every detail imaginable! It is such a joy for us to see our couples walking down the aisle and celebrating at your dream reception. Cheers!
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