We are thrilled to introduce our featured day-of coordinator for The Big Fake Wedding San Francisco, Kristine Tsai! Kristine is a wedding planning queen, so of course we had to ask her to contribute to our day-of coordinator blog series. Today, Kristine is sharing with us some simple wedding planning tips – enjoy!
Kristine believes that planning your wedding should be as fun as the wedding itself. After planning her own wedding, she changed her career and now helps couples plan and coordinate one of the most precious moments of their lives. Kristine believes that the path towards your wedding day should be clear, fun, and easy to understand.
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Wedding Planning, Simplified
You just got engaged. You updated your Facebook status and the congrats from your friends are pouring in. Before you know it, people start asking if you’ve set a date yet. And maybe you haven’t. Or maybe you want to get married soon, but you’re worried about the amount of time you need to plan your wedding.
Fortunately, you can plan a wedding with less time than you think. When you opt for a short engagement, friends, family, and even some industry professionals will tell you you’re crazy and that you need more time. But if you focus on prioritizing what matters to you and your partner, you can plan your wedding quickly and decisively.
Where to Start – While they seem practical, wedding checklists are a constant reminder that you’re behind. A lot of this stuff is personal preference, so cross out everything that doesn’t apply to you.You’ll reduce your stress by having a simpler starting point.
Budget – Everyone has a budget, and it’s to your advantage to stick with it. Cost and quality go handinhand, but be disciplined about prioritizing spending on the most important aspects of your wedding. This will help you get the most bang for your buck.
Date and Location – The earlier you start searching for a wedding venue, the more options you have. When time is limited, your preferred venue might be booked. If this happens, ask yourself whether the date or venue is more important. Knowing your priorities will help guide your decision.
Wedding Professionals – With your venue booked, you can start hiring vendors. As with location, the earlier you start, the more you have to choose from. Along with online resources like blogs and wedding sites, take advantage of your vendors’ referrals. Referrals not only help you find an alternative when your first choice is unavailable, but will also help you build a team that works well together.
The Details – Your wedding details should be a reflection of you and your partner. Friends and family offer opinions and suggestions, while Pinterest and wedding blogs highlight the latest trends. All these sources can be resourceful and inspiring, but they can also add a lot of stress when you already have a million decisions to juggle. Use them for inspiration, but be careful to not let them distract you.
Remember What Matters Most
No matter how long it takes to plan your wedding, it’s the same process. In the midst of todo lists, detailed projects, and outside pressure, if you stay focused, you can minimize your stress leading up to your wedding day. And when that day comes, have fun and let your vendors do what they do best. You’ll be married, and that’s what matters most.
Photo Credits:
David & Tania Photography (1 + 2) | LynnKai Chao Photography | Stephen Hughes Photography (4 + 5)
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