Congratulations! You’ve gotten engaged! This is a time to celebrate! But it can quickly turn into a time of stressful planning. Many brides decide to plan things themselves instead of hiring a planner, in order to save money. We are all about saving money, however, planning a wedding can be a challenge. Especially if you have never done it before. However, there are tools you can use to help make this process less stressful and more enjoyable. Here are a few of our favorite tools you can use to help you plan a wedding by yourself!
Check out the Wedding Websites: Wedding planning websites such as The Knot (www.theknot.com), WeddingWire (www.weddingwire.com), or Zola (www.zola.com) offer many wedding planning tools to help you plan your wedding. Checklists, articles, vendor directories, and even guest management features. Websites are also a great way to have everything you need in the same spot. Guest list and addresses, RSVPs, registries, etc. Download your chosen site’s app to keep everything at your fingertips and in one easy-to-access location.
Read Wedding Planning Books: This may not apply to everyone, but if you prefer paper over online resources, you can find several helpful checklists and organizers within wedding planning books. Furthermore, they can offer practical advice and guidance about putting together the pieces of a wedding and saving money. Our favorites are “Easy Wedding Planning” by Elizabeth and Alex Lluch, “The Knot Book of Wedding Lists” by Carley Roney and the editors of TheKnot.com, and “Plan a Great Wedding in 3 Months or Less” by Judy Allen.
Don't forget Pinterest: Create a Pinterest account and start pinning ideas for wedding themes, decor, dresses, and more. Pinterest is a visual platform that allows you to search through inspiration boards and discover new ideas. It’s also a great way to show others what you seek. Don’t you know how to describe the cake you want to bring to the bakery? Pin a few pictures with the design or look you want, then just show the bakery the pictures!
Look for Wedding Forums and Communities: Join online wedding forums and communities where you can connect with other couples, share ideas, and ask for advice. Reddit's r/weddingplanning is a great place for random advice and outside opinions. On Facebook, look for wedding resale groups in your area. You can often find recommendations for great vendors, and gently used decor pieces for a fraction of what they would cost brand new.
Attend Local Wedding Expos and Shows: Attending local wedding expos and trunk shows will add a large amount of value to your planning experience. There, you can meet vendors, see samples of their work, and gather inspiration. These events also often offer discounts, prizes, and exclusive deals for attendees, so don’t forget to ask for specials!
Wedding Budget Calculators are a Must: Use online wedding budget calculators like those available on The Knot or WeddingWire to determine your budget, allocate funds to different categories, and track your expenses. Talk to your partner and anyone who might be donating to the cause before putting your budget together. It may be you have more, or less, than you originally thought, and you don’t want to go over budget.
Remember to involve your Partner: While this may seem obvious, a lot of times, the person that you chose to spend life with can help with the issue that you can’t seem to figure out! The wedding is for both of you! Make sure to prioritize what's most important to both of you as you start your marriage!
Hopefully these tools give you a good place to start on your wedding planning journey. Did we mention your favorites? Do you have a favorite planning tool or website we should know about? Tell us in the comments!
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