Ultimate wedding planning guide - Episode 21
Planning a wedding is a monumental task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! With the right approach, tools, and mindset, you can make the process enjoyable and stress-free. In this guide, I’m sharing my ultimate tips for wedding planning, including budgeting advice, time management strategies, and ways to make your big day unforgettable.
Whether you're just getting started or in the thick of planning, these tips will help guide you through every step.
Create & consume
What Austen is creating this week: a long catch up about my YouTube channel and where I think I want to be spending my time going forward.
What Austen is consuming this week: I finished Love Island season 6 and The Perfect Couple!
In this episode:
1. Start with your dream wedding vision
Before diving into logistics, take time to dream! What does your ideal wedding look like? My Wedding Planning Kickoff Workbook is the perfect tool to help you and your partner outline your vision. Inside, you'll find:
3 steps to get on the same page with your partner so both of your expectations are aligned.
A brainstorming section for your wildest, most fun ideas—don’t hold back!
A vendor checklist to ensure you're on top of every detail.
Sections for the basics like most important guests, time of year, dress code, and vibe.
Space to jot down all the details like your venue, catering style, and your top 3 priorities.
This workbook will help you create a clear wedding outline, making it easier to move forward with the planning process.
Download for free here.
2. Budgeting: keep it real
A wedding can be special without breaking the bank. Set a realistic budget early on, and remember these key points:
Identify your top 3 priority areas where you're willing to spend the most. For us it was venue, photography, and catering.
Keep in mind that each guest adds to the cost, especially when it comes to food and drinks.
If family members are offering financial help, be sure to clarify any expectations they may have, such as inviting a specific number of their friends or having a say in decisions.
3. Be flexible, start early
The earlier you start planning, the more flexibility you’ll have with choices.
I started about a year out from my engagement, and even then, many venues and vendors were already booked for Saturdays.
We opted for a Friday wedding, which gave us more options and allowed us to book our preferred vendors.
Being open to different days or times of the year can give you more leeway to craft your perfect day.
4. Create a wedding website
Having a centralized location for all your wedding details is key. We used The Knot to create a wedding website where we:
Added a timeline of our relationship.
Shared photos and introductions of the wedding party.
Answered FAQs and included travel details for our guests.
Tracked RSVPs and more.
A website helps keep your guests informed and reduces the number of questions you’ll need to answer individually.
5. Take notes from other weddings
As a guest, pay attention to what you love (or don’t love) about other weddings. I took note of things like:
Loved the cocktail hour flow at one wedding.
A friend reused bridesmaids' bouquets as centerpieces for the cocktail hour—cost effective and smart.
Magnetic boutonnieres for the groomsmen’s tuxes made life much easier for everyone involved.
Use other weddings as inspiration and tweak the details to fit your own style.
6. Pinterest boards are your BFF
Pinterest is the perfect place to organize your wedding vision.
I created separate boards for my bridal shower and my wedding to keep everything cohesive.
Having a color palette was especially helpful when it came to decision-making down the line.
I personally chose five colors, which guided everything from flowers to bridesmaids’ dresses.
7. Make things easy for your guests
To keep your guests happy and organized:
Send save-the-dates well in advance.
Set clear deadlines for RSVPs.
Address FAQs on your wedding website to minimize questions.
Be understanding if someone can’t attend—it’s bound to happen!
8. Canva for mockups, QR codes, and more
Canva became my go-to for planning visuals. I used it to mock up:
Tablescape mock-ups and floor plans
Coordinating bridesmaids' dress colors since I did mismatched shades
Custom QR codes for invitation RSVPs and sharing photos from my bridal shower in a Google Drive folder
It’s a simple, user-friendly tool that can help bring your vision to life.
9. Etsy for the final touches
For all those little details you may overlook, Etsy is a lifesaver.
I found so many cute, personalized items on Etsy, like signs and matching PJs for my bridal party.
I even launched my Etsy shop this year where I sell digital download templates to help brides and grooms in their wedding planning journey.
Whether you need decor or gifts, Etsy will help you close the gaps and complete your wedding aesthetic.
10. Manage your time wisely
Wedding planning can feel like a full-time job, but with some simple time management, it doesn’t have to be. Here's what worked for us:
We scheduled weekly wedding check-ins to review tasks and timelines.
Dedicated one day a week to focus on wedding tasks.
Outsourced where we could, whether it was hiring a day-of coordinator or delegating smaller tasks to family and friends.
11. Always have a weather plan
Don’t underestimate the weather!
Our wedding day had torrential rain, but we were prepared with a solid backup plan.
I’ve also attended weddings where the weather was unpredictable—from snow in Colorado to extreme heat on the East Coast—and they were still fantastic.
Being ready for any scenario will keep you calm and confident no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
12. Day-of essentials
Finally, a few key tips for the big day itself:
Know when your planner will arrive and assign a point person until they get there to answer questions.
Have everyone arrive early, especially hair and makeup teams, to avoid any time crunches.
Anticipate delays with hotel logistics (like needing certain key cards for certain floors or giving names of those who need to be let up to the suite to the front desk).
And most importantly—create a fun playlist to get yourself in a good mood as you get ready!
Summary
With these tips, you'll be well on your way to planning a wedding that's not only beautiful but also meaningful and fun.
Remember, the day is about celebrating your love and partnership, so focus on what matters most to you and your partner.
Happy planning!
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