Congratulations on your recent engagement! This is an exciting time in your life, and you’re probably eagerly anticipating planning your wedding day. Esperanza Ranch is a premier wedding venue in Luther, Oklahoma, and we’re here to help you make your dream wedding a reality.
In this blog, we’ll share some wedding tips and advice to help you with the wedding planning process. We’ll cover everything from setting a budget to choosing the right vendors to creating a wedding timeline.
1. Set a budget and stick to it.
One of the most important things you can do when planning your wedding is to set a budget and stick to it. This will help you avoid overspending and ensure that you’re able to afford all of the things you want for your big day.
When setting your budget, consider all of the costs associated with your wedding, including:
Venue rental
Food and drinks
Attire
Photography and videography
Flowers
Music and entertainment
Officiant
Invitations and stationery
Transportation
Décor and rentals
Once you have a budget in mind, start tracking your spending to ensure that you stay on track. It’s also helpful to create a spreadsheet to keep track of all of your expenses. When creating a wedding budget spreadsheet, be sure to include the following columns:
Vendor
Item
Estimated cost
Actual cost
Date paid
As you start booking vendors and making purchases, be sure to update your spreadsheet regularly. This will help you stay on top of your spending and make sure that you’re not overspending in any one area.
Here are some tips for tracking your wedding expenses:
Keep all of your receipts. This will make it easier to track your spending and ensure that you’re getting accurate data.
Review your spreadsheet regularly. This will help you stay on top of your spending and make adjustments as needed.
Set spending limits for each category. This will help you avoid overspending in any one area.
Communicate with your fiancé(e) about your spending. It’s important to be on the same page about your budget and expenses.
Here are some additional tips for staying on budget:
- Be flexible with your dates and times. If you’re flexible with your wedding date and time, you may be able to get discounts from vendors.
- Shop around for vendors. Compare quotes from multiple vendors before making a decision.
- Consider DIY projects. There are many DIY wedding projects that you can do to save money.
- Ask for help from family and friends. Family and friends may be willing to help you with wedding planning tasks, such as setting up and taking down décor, or helping with food and drinks.
By tracking your wedding expenses and following these tips, you can stay on budget and plan the wedding of your dreams.
2. Choose the right vendors.
When choosing vendors for your wedding, it’s important to do your research and select reputable companies that you feel comfortable working with. Be sure to get quotes from multiple vendors before making a decision.
Some of the most important vendors to choose include:
Wedding venue
Photographer
Videographer
Caterer
Florist
DJ or band
Officiant
When choosing vendors, be sure to ask about their experience, pricing, and availability. It’s also important to read reviews from other couples who have used their services.
3. Create a wedding timeline.
A wedding timeline will help you stay organized and on track throughout the planning process. Be sure to include all of the important tasks and deadlines in your timeline, such as:
Choosing a date and venue
Booking vendors
Sending out save-the-dates and invitations
Ordering your wedding dress or suit
Planning your ceremony and reception
Choosing your wedding favors
Getting your marriage license
It’s also helpful to build in some buffer time into your timeline in case of unexpected delays.
Unexpected delays are inevitable on wedding days. Whether it’s a late-arriving vendor, a traffic jam, or a bad weather forecast, it’s important to have some buffer time built into your timeline to account for these unexpected delays. By building in buffer time to your wedding timeline, you can relax and enjoy your day, knowing that you have some wiggle room to work with in case of unexpected delays.
4. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of wedding planning, but it’s important to remember that it’s your day, and you should enjoy it. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and focus on celebrating your love with your closest friends and family.
Inevitably, at least one thing will go wrong on your wedding day. Expect that this will be the case and be determined to not sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, you will be married and that is all that matters.
5. Be flexible.
Things don’t always go according to plan, especially on your wedding day. Be flexible and prepared to go with the flow. If something unexpected happens, don’t panic. Just take a deep breath and enjoy your day.
Ask one or two friends, or family, to trouble-shoot on your wedding day. Go over your expectations with them and then trust them to handle any unexpected issues that come up.
6. Delegate tasks.
Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your fiancé(e), family, and friends. This will help you reduce stress and make the planning process more enjoyable.
Here are some tips for delegating tasks:
Identify your strengths and weaknesses. What tasks are you good at? What tasks do you not enjoy doing? Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can start to delegate tasks accordingly.
Choose the right people for the job. Consider the skills and interests of your fiancé(e), family, and friends when delegating tasks. For example, if your sister is a great cook, ask her to help you with your wedding menu.
Be clear and specific about your expectations. When you delegate a task, be sure to provide clear and specific instructions. Let the person know exactly what you need them to do and by when.
Be willing to compromise. You may not always get things done exactly the way you want them to be done, but that’s okay. Be willing to compromise and let others do things their own way.
Show your appreciation. Be sure to thank your fiancé(e), family, and friends for their help with your wedding planning. Let them know how much you appreciate their support.
Here are some examples of tasks that you can delegate to your fiancé(e), family, and friends:
Address and mail invitations.
Assemble and deliver welcome bags.
Help with wedding décor and setup.
Direct guests on the day of the wedding.
Hand out wedding favors.
Take photos and videos of the wedding.
Help with transportation for guests.
Clean up after the wedding.
By delegating tasks to your fiancé(e), family, and friends, you can free up your time and energy to focus on the things that are most important to you, such as enjoying your engagement and planning the wedding of your dreams.
Here are some additional tips for delegating tasks effectively:
Create a to-do list and prioritize your tasks. This will help you to identify the tasks that need to be delegated and the tasks that you need to do yourself.
Assign tasks to specific people. This will avoid confusion and ensure that everyone knows what they need to do.
Set deadlines for each task. This will help to keep everyone on track and ensure that all of the tasks are completed on time.
Follow up with your team regularly. This will help to ensure that everyone is on track and to answer any questions that they may have.
Be flexible and willing to make changes as needed. Things don’t always go according to plan, so be prepared to make adjustments as needed.
By following these tips, you can delegate tasks effectively and make the wedding planning process more enjoyable for everyone involved.
7. Take breaks.
It’s important to take breaks from wedding planning to avoid burnout. Schedule some time for yourselves to relax and enjoy your engagement. The engagement period goes by quickly. Don’t miss a minute of it by stressing out of the future.
Consider spending time with friends or family on a wedding planning break and reminisce about your past. Make additional memories together with parents or other family. These are your last few precious moments together before the big day.
8. Have fun!
Wedding planning should be an enjoyable experience. So relax, have fun, and savor this special time in your life. The planning phase of a wedding is a magical time in your life. Prioritize making memories to last a lifetime.
Take photos of each part of the wedding planning process. Document the journey and have fun doing it. With each tasting, viewing and vendor explored, allow yourself to be fully engaged and present.
Decide that planning your wedding will be a fun and magical experience. Don’t allow yourself to get discouragd when things get tough. See each set-back as part of the experience and each getting you closer to the perfect wedding for you.
Esperanza Ranch is the perfect setting for any wedding theme, from rustic charm to modern elegance. Our experienced staff is here to help you create the wedding of your dreams.
Esperanza Ranch wedding venue
We offer a variety of amenities and services to make your wedding day unforgettable, including:
Stunning ceremony and reception venues
On-site catering and bar services
Accommodations for guests
Wedding planning services
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you create the wedding of your dreams.
