Planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming. AND my job is to take that away and make your planning process a bit more easier. These super helpful tips will lead you in the right direction to get you started on planning the wedding of your dreams!

Julian & Kelly

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Speak with a Wedding Planner

First things first, speak to a wedding planner if you haven’t done so already. They have experience and knowledge on where to begin with the whole wedding planning process. These individuals can help you 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝. You may think to yourself, “It’s not in the budget”, “I’m a hands on type of person” or “I want to DIY everything” and this is VERY common and totally fine. Claudia & Co. can help with as little or as much as you’d like.

There's a package for every couple AND if you don't see one that fits your needs, not to worry, as 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 as we know how each wedding is unique. But if I'm being honest, not one couple has ever gone wrong when hiring a wedding planner speaking from our own experiences. We find more couples are saying that they couldn't have done it without one, even just for the comfort of having that professional to bounce ideas of off and of course making sure the wedding day runs smoothly.

Source: Google Images

Guest List

Be sure to know a rough idea of your guest count. Start writing a list of all the family, friends and even co-workers you would like to have celebrate with you. If the parents are very involved with the wedding, it's always a good idea to ask them to review your list to ensure nobody was missed. It's better to ask them sooner than later, because having a solid number from the beginning is best. Knowing your guest count is very helpful when searching for potential venues because all venues have a capacity for seated dinners (with and without a dance floor) as well as cocktail style. This helps save a lot of time as you won't be visiting venues that can't fit all your guests comfortably.

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗣: Making an ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ list of guests. This is very helpful if you need to decrease your numbers due to budget or even increase your numbers to meet the minimum guaranteed if you had several "A list" guests decline.

Robert Mauriell Photography

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Budget

This should be one of the first wedding related items to discuss, as it will be the deciding factor for many decisions. Sit down with your other half and really go over your finances to see what you feel comfortable spending. Maybe you have one or more family members helping out financially? If so, that’s a bonus! Be sure to discuss with them what they are comfortable contributing (remember anything helps) right from the beginning. Once you have your overall number, stick with it! If you're over budget in one area, try and rework your budget, so you aren't over spending and getting in over your head as this can be very stressful.

‍Source: Google Images

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Location

There are many factors to take into consideration when finding the perfect wedding location and so many options too! First, you need to consider what you and your partner envision for your wedding – something local or possibly a destination wedding or even a weekend getaway (Niagara anyone?).

Think about the guest count, maybe you have a guest list of 300+ so it might be best to stay local to accommodate your guests. If it's a smaller, more intimate wedding, heading to an all inclusive resort can easily be a reality. Another thing to consider is where your guests are coming from, as travel and accommodations are something to think about whether your wedding is destination, local or even an hour away.

If guests are coming from afar, then overnight accommodation is needed, so it's always best to consider a hotel or even a bed and breakfast close by to the venue. Parking at the location is something to think about as well, especially in the city. Does the venue provide parking? Is it paid parking? Do they offer valet services? Parking may be an additional cost at some venues, so be sure to ask these questions when your searching for the perfect wedding location.

Tara Weddings

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Theme/Style

Are you one that has been dreaming of your wedding since you were young and know exactly what you want? OR possibly the opposite and have no clue where to begin. What is a setting you and your fiancé are comfortable in? Are you more city goers and love that chic, sophisticated city view, or rather a couple who loves the outdoors and spending your weekends at the cottage. Whether you're thinking fancy, casual or something in-between, stick to what compliments you both as a couple.

Following this process will help with the type of venue you choose. There is so much inspiration out there so make sure to take advantage of that. Start by searching on Pinterest and Instagram, looking up hashtags that match the style of the wedding you want. (ex. #elegantwedding #whitewedding #modernwedding)

Flip through wedding magazines like Wedluxe or Elegant Wedding. Even searching on google and looking at wedding blogs like Style Me Pretty and Grace Ormonde will help get the creative juices flowing. As you search for inspiration, start ‘pinning’ or saving ideas you like, as this will narrow down your style and theme of the wedding. Another great source of inspiration is looking up creative/styled shoots that your local wedding vendors put together. You can find some of our favourite ones we created by clicking here.

Robert Mauriell Photography

As you can see, there are many steps in planning your dream wedding and we only touched on a handful of them. It's quite the process, but if you follow these tips I'm confident it will help make the planning process a bit easier. Just make sure to stick to your budget and make decisions together ensuring you always have your best interest in mind.

If you're looking for some extra help to make those tough decisions with ease, hire a wedding planner that works best with your style, personalities and of course, budget. Trust me when I say you won't regret it!

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If you want to see if we'd make a good fit, contact me today and let's chat over some coffee or tea.

XO Claudia