Planning your wedding day can be fun and exciting. However, it can also get confusing trying to keep everything in order to make sure things aren’t lost or misplaced.

This can be especially hard if you work during the day and you are trying to organize your wedding in your spare time.

Following, I have provided some great organizing tips and steps to planning your wedding.

This will also make sure you keep everything together and make planning your wedding less stressful.

It all starts after the proposal.

Important Steps to Planning Your Wedding That Should Not Be Skipped

Here are the major steps to planning a wedding that should not be forgotten:

Hiring a Wedding Planner

Wedding planners are professionals who help you with all aspects of your wedding, from start to finish.

They will work with you to find wedding vendors, book venues, and help you stay organized throughout the entire process.

If you have a busy job or lifestyle, hiring a wedding planner can be a lifesaver.

Creating a Budget

One of the most important aspects of wedding planning is creating a budget.

You need to sit down with your fiancé and figure out how much money you are willing to spend on your wedding.

Once you have a number in mind, you can start looking at different vendors and venues within your budget.

Remember, the average cost of a Maine wedding in 2022 is $30,000+

Choosing Your Wedding Party

After you get engaged, it is tradition to ask your closest friends and family members to be in your wedding party.

The wedding party typically consists of the maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, and groomsmen.

Choosing who you want in your wedding party is a very personal decision.

You should choose people who you are close to and who you know will be supportive throughout the entire wedding planning process.

Picking a Date and Venue

One of the first things you need to do when planning your wedding is picking a date and venue.

The date you choose will depend on a variety of factors, such as the availability of your venue, the availability of your wedding party, and your budget.

Once you have a date in mind, you can start looking at different venues.

There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing a venue, such as the size of the venue, the location, and the price.

You also need to make sure that the venue you choose is available on your chosen wedding date.

If you are having a hard time finding a venue, here are some of the BEST places to get married in Maine to consider.

Would you rather have your day at a Maine barn wedding venue? I got you covered!

Hiring a Photographer

Another important aspect of wedding planning is hiring a photographer.

What style of photography fits you best?

Find a Maine wedding photographer who you feel comfortable with and who you know will take great photos.

You should look at the photographer’s portfolio to get an idea of their style and see if it matches your vision for your wedding photos.

You should also read reviews of the photographer to see what other couples have said about their experience.

For more tips, see How to Choose an Elopement Photographer.

Booking a Band or DJ

If you want music at your wedding, you will need to book a band or DJ.

You should start looking for bands or DJs as soon as you have a date and venue for your wedding.

This is because good bands and DJs can get booked up well in advance.

When looking for a band or DJ, you should read reviews and look at their website to get an idea of their style.

You should also make sure to ask them about their experience with weddings and if they have any references.

Booking a Wedding Caterer

Food is an important part of any wedding, so you will need to book a caterer.

When choosing a caterer, you should look at their menu and see if it matches your vision for the food at your wedding.

You should also read reviews of the caterer to see what other couples have said about their experience.

It is also important to make sure that the caterer is available on your chosen wedding date.

If you are having a hard time finding a caterer, here are some of the best Maine wedding caterers to consider.

Ordering Your Wedding Cake

One of the best parts of wedding planning is ordering your wedding cake!

There are a lot of different bakeries in Maine that make beautiful and delicious wedding cakes.

You should start looking at different bakeries as soon as you have a date and venue for your wedding.

This is because some bakeries can get booked up well in advance.

If you need a place to start, check out the BEST wedding cakes in Maine!

Choosing Your Wedding Dress

One of the most important aspects of wedding planning is choosing your wedding dress.

You should start looking for dresses as soon as you have a date and venue for your wedding.

This is because it can take months to find the perfect dress and some bridal shops in Maine require at least six months for alterations.

There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing a wedding dress, such as the style of the dress, the fit, and the price.

You should also make sure that you are comfortable in the dress and that it is flattering to your figure.

If you need help finding a wedding dress, here are some wedding dress shopping tips.

5 Steps to Planning Your Wedding You May Not Have Thought About

Step #1: Make a Wedding email account

Create a separate wedding email account.– This will help all those wedding-related emails go to one place so nothing gets lost and you don’t have to search for them.

I know this sounds silly but it will truly save you a lot of time.

If you think of your registry, guest list, emails to venues, florists, etc. they will begin emailing you back (many of them, because let’s face it you don’t just contact one.) and you want to be able to find them all in one place.

 I prefer the free Gmail account

Step #2: Guest list check off

Once you made your guest list keep a checklist.

When people RSVP you can check off those that are coming and those that regretfully can’t make it.

Keep this list either in your new email account or on the fridge where you see it often and can be near it to check off who is coming and who isn’t.

This will be helpful to do as you get the RSVPs back so you don’t have to do this all at once.

DOWNLOAD MY FREE EDITABLE Wedding Guest Checklist

Step #3: Make a google doc of guests and their addresses

This step doesn’t seem as important but trust me, you will thank me for this later.

Making a google document with all your guest’s information will not only make sure you get invitations to all you are inviting, but you will have this already there and ready when you send out thank you cards.

This will make your newly married life so much easier.

Step #4: Toys for kiddos   

If you are brave enough to have littles at your wedding make sure there is something to keep them occupied, trust me this will allow things to run smoothly.

I suggest have a Kiddie table that hold coloring books, or photo booth props they can plan with. I’ve even been to weddings with bouncy houses for the kids!

Step #5: Make a #Hashtag

This is the newest trend lately and an amazing one at that.

Let me show you how to create a wedding hashtag!

Brainstorm with your soon-to-be love of a hashtag that fits you two and include this on your invitations and display it somewhere at each wedding table so your guests can see it.

The purpose of this is so that when your guests take pictures and include your hashtag you can later go back and see all the pictures they took (aside from your wedding photographer) that you may have missed.

Trust me, you are going to want this; your wedding day will be so beautiful and amazing yet it will fly by and there will be pictures you look back on and cherish because you may have missed the moment while you were getting around to everyone.

Final Thoughts on Planning Your Wedding

Wedding planning is a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun.

There are a lot of different aspects to wedding planning, so it is important to break the process down into small tasks that you can complete over time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by wedding planning, take a step back and relax.

You will have plenty of time to get everything done. In the meantime, enjoy the process of picking out your dress, cake, and decorations!

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Portland, Maine, or anywhere else in New England, I would love to be considered for the job! I have years of experience taking wedding photos and I am confident that I can capture your wedding day perfectly. My wedding photography style is light and airy while modern and natural, and I always make sure to capture all the important moments. I would be happy to provide you with a portfolio of my work as well as references from past clients. If you are interested in hiring me, please contact me today!

XOXO,

Catherine