What could be more exciting than getting engaged to the love of your life? But before you can say “I do,” there’s a lot of planning to be done. First, you’ll need to choose a date and a venue for the big day. Then, you’ll need to start thinking about who you want to invite. And of course, you’ll need to find the perfect look and accessories!

The months leading up to your wedding can be both exciting and stressful. By keeping organized and taking things one step at a time, you can make sure that your big day is everything you’ve ever dreamed of. 

When it comes to wedding planning, there are three main phases: the planning phase, the design phase, and the execution phase. Each of these phases is important, and skipping steps in any one of them can result in a less than perfect wedding day. Here is a brief overview of the three stages of wedding planning.

The Planning Phase | First Steps to Wedding Planning

When you first get engaged, the natural inclination is to start planning your wedding right away. But before you jump into the deep end of wedding planning, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate what kind of help you’ll need to make your dream wedding a reality. That’s where a wedding planner like me comes in during the first stage of planning. 

A wedding planner can be a lifesaver when it comes to planning your big day. We are experts in the field and can help you with everything from finding vendors to breaking down + packing up after the party is over. Most importantly, we can help keep you organized and on track while planning. “How to plan a wedding” is the job description, and you don’t need another job with everything else you have going on.

Once you have your wedding planner on board, you can start discussing your budget, your guest count, and the location. Each of these factors will determine your overall vision. But don’t rush this part! Being on a solid foundation is important, and you will need to be a team from the beginning of this process. Enjoy your engagement because once you move into the next phase, the real work begins. 

The Design Phase | Wedding Planning Checklist

In the design phase, you’ll start to bring your wedding vision to life. This phase usually lasts from 8 months before until 2 weeks before the wedding. You’ll choose your wedding vision and begin booking vendors. Which vendors do you book first? Well, that completely depends on you!

Designing your wedding is about your preferences and your tastes. Do you want a culinary adventure that highlights diverse foods from different places you’ve traveled? Or do you want an immersive experience filled with entertainers and visual stimulation?

Perfect! Whatever you decide as a couple is what you should place as the top priority in your design. Remember, this is your wedding! And just like any other important event in your life, the design should be a reflection of both of you. Need a little help with your wedding planning? Download my Master Wedding Planning Checklist. 

The Execution Phase | Countdown to Wedding Day

The execution phase is all about putting all of the pieces together and bringing your wedding day vision to life. It starts about 30 days before the celebration and lasts through 30 days afterwards. This is when you’ll finalize details with your vendors, confirm the guest count for the caterer, and approve your wedding day timeline. You’ll also need to make sure that you have all of the necessary documents in order, such as your marriage license and wedding day breakdown duties. 

If you have followed your wedding plan through the first two phases, this part is the easiest. Your wedding day is a moment in time that will show all the hard work you put into allowing this day to flow like you want. After the wedding, you go enjoy your honeymoon, and your wedding planner will follow with vendors on gratuities, minor hiccups of the day, and anything else that doesn’t need your immediate attention. 

So, there you have it! These are the three phases of wedding planning. Keep these steps in mind as you start to plan your wedding, and don’t forget to enjoy the process! This is one time when there are no do-overs!