Your engagement is in full swing, but now it’s time to figure out how to go from “Yes!” to “We do!” The first steps when planning a wedding have a lot to do with laying the right groundwork. From figuring out what kind of wedding you want to setting a budget, creating a guest list, and choosing a venue. This is what you need to do to get your plans off on the right foot:

Define your wedding vision.
Set your budget and priorities.
Create a preliminary guest list.
Choose and book your venue.
Assemble your wedding planning team.

Ready? Let’s get planning!

Start Planning Your Dream Wedding at Modern Moments Today!

At Modern Moments, we offer a charming and versatile space at affordable rates. Set the scene with complimentary tables and chairs, providing plenty of seating for your loved ones, and convenient parking ensures everyone is on time for your celebration. Wedding events are our specialty, and we can’t wait to welcome you and your party.

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Define Your Wedding Vision

Bohemian, black-tie formal, rustic and charming, slick and modern—there are so many ways to style a wedding, and all of these approaches are valid. But your vision should reflect you and your future spouse’s personalities, not just whatever is trending.

Brainstorm about the colors, décor, and overall atmosphere you want to create. You can find inspiration on other couples’ wedding pages or through sites like Pinterest. Build your own mood board to keep track of ideas and organize random thoughts into themes that will eventually become the motif on your big day.

Set Your Budget and Priorities

Many of your wedding decisions will be at least partially guided by budget. When deciding how much you’ll spend on your wedding, it’s crucial that everybody agrees on three things:

Who’s paying
How much you’re willing to spend in total
How the total budget will be divided between spending categories (e.g., dress, catering, photography, venue)

Partitioning your budget is easier when you list each category according to priority. Some couples might want the best food possible but do not care so much about flowers. Others might spend more on a venue but less on suits and dresses.

You can track expenses and continually balance your budget using dedicated wedding budgeting tools or a simple spreadsheet. Be sure to leave a little wiggle room for those unexpected extras that are guaranteed to pop up along the way.

Create a Preliminary Guest List

Your guest list may be packed with your nearest and dearest, but there’s more than sentiment hanging in the balance. The number of guests you invite will also heavily influence your venue options and budget.

Start by adding close friends and immediate family to the list. These are the people you can’t imagine getting married without. Next, expand the list to add extended family and acquaintances.

Along the way, manage expectations between future spouses and respective families by communicating who is being invited and why some people, like your mother-in-law’s third cousin, twice removed’s neighbor, may not make the cut.

Choose and Book Your Venue

Tour multiple venues and ask lots of questions before you book a location. Your contracted venue should:

Accommodate your guest list
Be available on your desired date
Fit with your wedding vision
Have the features (e.g., multiple breakout spaces, indoor or outdoor options, updated public bathrooms) you desire most

Assemble Your Wedding Planning Team

Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator can provide invaluable guidance and support. Ask potential planners about their experience, vendor connections, and past successes. Put that same effort into researching and booking your key vendors—reliability, open communication, and transparency are incredibly important.

Sometimes your planner will make referrals, but trusted friends and family members may have some ideas as well. Ask your recently married friends and anyone with industry connections if they have a caterer, photographer, or florist they recommend.

Say ‘I Do’ to the Perfect Venue—Contact Modern Moments Now!

Are you dreaming of al fresco festivities with Mother Nature as your backdrop? Or is your wedding event planning revolving around visions of an indoor party that goes on rain or shine?

At Modern Moments, we can accommodate up to 300 people in our indoor venue or as many as 100 guests outdoors. Add professional event planning services, and all that’s left for you to do is enjoy your happily ever after.

Contact us today and see how we can help you realize your ideal wedding.

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