Planning Your Wedding in Sioux Falls – Where to Start!
Written by a Sioux Falls Wedding Photographer
First of all, congratulations! Getting engaged is such a special time in your life and a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Before you start planning your wedding, take a couple of weeks or months to celebrate your engagement. Enjoy telling family and soak in that newly engaged feeling. When you start planning, it can get stressful, so make sure you take as much time as you need before you begin.
Once you’re ready, where do you start? There are so many things to think about and get done that it can be very overwhelming. Let’s start at the basics.
1. Figure out your top 3
Wedding planning is tough because it’s hard to decide how much you want to spend on things. First, choose your top three wedding priorities. Maybe it’s a beautiful wedding, gorgeous florals, and amazing photos. Whatever it is, allocate a larger portion of your budget to those things, and get stricter with the rest. I have a couple more tips for saving money in those areas later, too. Either way, make sure your most important things are what you dreamed of.
2. Set a budget
Before you look at vendors, take the time to make a budget. Make an overall budget for the wedding (such as “I want to spend 25k on the wedding in total), and then think about how much you want to spend in each area (such as I want to spend 3-4k on a photographer). Once you add up all the expenses you hope to spend, try to stick to it. This will make looking for your vendors easier, since you know exactly how much you’re willing to spend. Feel free to look at how others separate their budgets to get an idea of how much each area can cost.
3. Curate your vision
Time to get on Pinterest! Beforehand, think about what vibe you want your wedding to have. Is it going to be a cozy gathering or a huge party? Choose the big ideas, then work your way down. Also, keep an open mind. If you have an idea of what you want, that’s great! If it’s not a priority, keep an open mind if it’s not allowed or doesn’t work out. Check out this video to see how I handle those wedding disappointments that may come up during wedding planning.
4. Think about dates
What year and season do you want for your wedding? Before deciding a month, consider which colors you love (Spring pastels, bright summer, moody fall, etc.), and whether there is any special meaning you would like to include in your date (like the day you started dating). Keep the weather in mind, but if you’re loving the winter vibe, go for it! For summer, remember how hot and humid it will be if you’re having the ceremony or reception outside. No matter what, stick to what you love, and deal with the hurdles of the season, since each one has its own obstacles.
Tip: Don’t pick a date! (Unless you chose one that’s very special to your relationship) It will make it so much easier when you start looking into venues.
5. I believe in you, start reaching out to vendors!
Begin with your venue and tours. Once you figure out whether you want your ceremony and reception at the same place and have one/both booked, look at photographers and DJs. Once you’re there, I would love to help you with the rest! Learn more about me and my process here! I always help make my couples’ timelines, too! Reach out here if you have any questions or need any assistance, and happy wedding planning!
Written by Julia Zawacki with Julia Pics
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