Are you feeling overwhelmed with the sheer number of tasks that go into planning a wedding? You’re not alone. From finding the perfect venue to choosing your vendors, there are countless decisions to be made. It’s easy to overlook something important in the rush to get everything done. That’s why I’ve created the ultimate pre-wedding checklist to help you stay on track and make sure your special day runs smoothly. In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to remember, from selecting your wedding party to preparing for the big day. Let’s get started!

Choosing the Perfect Venue

One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the perfect venue for your wedding day. Your venue will set the tone and ambiance for the entire event, so it’s essential to choose one that reflects your style and personality. Start by considering the size of your guest list and the type of wedding you want. Do you envision an outdoor ceremony with a stunning view or an elegant ballroom reception? Once you have a general idea of what you’re looking for, start researching venues in your area.

When you visit potential venues, be sure to ask all the right questions. Will they be able to accommodate your guest list? What’s included in the rental fee? Can they provide catering or will you need to hire an outside vendor? Is there adequate parking for your guests? It’s important to get all the details upfront, so there are no surprises later on.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, consider scheduling a second visit. This time, bring along your wedding planner, caterer, or any other vendors you’ve already chosen. This will give you a better idea of how the space will look when it’s fully furnished and decorated.

Choosing the perfect venue can be a daunting task, but with careful research and planning, you’re sure to find a place that will make your special day unforgettable.

Selecting Your Wedding Party

Your wedding party will play an important role in your special day, so it’s essential to choose the right people to stand by your side. Start by considering who you can rely on and who has been important in your life. This could include family members, close friends, or even mentors who have guided you throughout your life.

When selecting your wedding party, it’s important to balance your choices. Consider the size of your wedding, your budget, and your personal preferences. Typically, a wedding party includes a maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and flower girls or ring bearers. However, you can personalize these roles based on your preferences.

Once you’ve selected your wedding party, make sure to communicate clearly with them about their responsibilities and expectations. You’ll want to ensure that everyone is on the same page and has a clear understanding of what is expected of them.

Next, you’ll want to start thinking about finding the right vendors to make your wedding day perfect. From photographers to florists to caterers, finding the right vendors is crucial to making your day unforgettable.

Finding the Right Vendors

Once you’ve got your wedding party settled, it’s time to focus on the vendors who will help bring your dream day to life. From the photographer who will capture your priceless moments, to the florist who will provide beautiful arrangements, to the caterer who will serve delicious food, each vendor is an integral piece of the puzzle in creating a memorable event.

It’s important to do your research when selecting vendors. Look at their portfolios or sample work, read reviews online, and ask for recommendations from friends and family who have had positive experiences with particular vendors. When you’ve narrowed down your options, schedule meetings or consultations to discuss your vision for your wedding day and ensure that their style and personality aligns with yours.

Remember, communication is key. Be clear about your needs, expectations, and budget with your vendors from the beginning so that they can provide you with the best possible service. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or make requests, as vendors are often willing to work with you to create a personalized experience.

I’ll arguably say that you should chose a really solid photographer. Not only will they (I) be with you the entire day, but once the wedding is over and the decorations are put away and taken down, the only thing you will have to walk away from your wedding with are the pictures that photographer took. Photographers and videographers are worth every penny so do your research, make sure you like their editing style and portfolio and you get along with them since they’ll be with you more than your spouse will be!

Another vendor that may not feel worth it in the moment is a wedding planner or at least a day of planner. You may be thinking “we don’t need one of those, my mom or aunt can plan the day of.” Please please please don’t do this. For one, let your loved ones be present on your wedding day. Secondly, having a professional wedding planner is key to your day moving smoothly and making sure everything is where it is supposed to be. They also make the timeline for the day which is vital for a smooth wedding. If you decide to not book one, be sure to talk to your photographer as many of us already make timelines for the day to make sure we have the time we need to get all the shots and precious moments you are looking for without rushing you throughout our day.

Once you’ve secured your vendors, you can move on to ordering the cake and other necessities.

Ordering the Cake and Other Necessities

With the dress and venue sorted, it’s time to turn your attention to the sweet stuff – the cake! Schedule a tasting session with a few different bakers to find the perfect flavor and design for your big day. Make a date out of it too! In the busyness of wedding planing, it’s super important to still take the time to have fun and enjoy the season of life and love you’re in.

When it comes to other necessities, such as decorations and favors, it’s a good idea to check in with your venue to see what they offer. Some venues provide centerpieces or even linens, which can save you time and money.

As with all your vendors, make sure to communicate your needs and budget clearly. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want – after all, this is your special day!

Finalizing Your Guest List

Once you and your partner have established a general idea of the size and scope of your wedding, it’s time to start finalizing your guest list. This can be a tricky task, especially if you have a large family or many close friends. Start by creating a preliminary list of everyone you would like to invite and then whittle it down as needed to fit your budget and venue capacity.

Remember to consider any special circumstances, such as whether or not you will be allowing “plus ones” or if there are any guests who might not get along well with others. Once you have a final list, make sure to send out invitations in a timely manner and keep track of RSVPs.

With your guest list taken care of, you can move on to preparing for the big day. From booking your vendors to finalizing your ceremony script, there are many details to consider to ensure that your wedding is the perfect reflection of your love for each other.

Preparing for the Big Day

When it comes to preparing for the big day, there are numerous details to consider. Start by booking your wedding vendors, including your photographer, musician, and caterer. Choose vendors that align with your vision for your wedding and that you feel comfortable working with.

In addition to booking your vendors, take time to finalize your ceremony script. Work with your officiant to ensure that your vows and readings reflect your love and commitment to each other. You may also want to consider including personal touches, such as communion or a worship song.

As the big day approaches, make sure to schedule hair and makeup trials to ensure that you and your bridal party look and feel your best. Don’t forget about transportation – arrange for a limo, party bus, or other means of getting to and from the ceremony and reception.

Finally, make sure to take care of any last-minute details, such as paying vendors and packing for your honeymoon. With everything in order, you can relax and enjoy your special day with your loved ones.

Your wedding day is all about celebrating your love for each other, and with careful planning and preparation, it can be the perfect reflection of your relationship.,

In conclusion, planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but with the ultimate pre-wedding checklist, you can ensure that your special day is unforgettable. Remember to choose the perfect venue, select your wedding party, find the right vendors, order the cake and other necessities, finalize your guest list, and prepare for the big day. Your wedding day is a celebration of love, so enjoy the planning process and don’t forget to celebrate each moment along the way. As you enter this new chapter in your life, always remember the importance of love, commitment, and support.

If you’re having trouble with your budget, be sure to check out my blog on wedding budget 101! https://firebynightphotos.com/wedding-budget-101/

Happy planning!

I am so excited for this dude and the adventures he is about to go on into college! I had the honor of capturing a friend’s high school senior photos in Upper park, Chico CA. Hunter and his family have been dear friends of my family ever since his parents were in my parents young married group. I was pretty young when i met his folks and ever since then, we got to do a lot of life with them. This was such a special session to capture and watch the man that Hunter has grown into.

I remember when my brother and I would go and baby sit Hunter and his sister when they were just kids and now she’s in college and he’s finishing up his last couple months at Butte Core charter.

We started the session at his family home to take some dressed up shots of him playing the piano, him in his track and field uniform and a couple of my favorite shots with Sting from the Lord of the Rings. Now if you don’t know what that is, Sting is a named sword from the trilogy. From there we went out to Chico State where a lot of grad photos are taken. I just love the raw brick and beautiful architecture of the buildings. The campus is gorgeous with lots of trees, a fun rose garden and some great urban back drops. We went to one more location for the bulk of the session and that was to Upper Park, which is a huge park that we have in the area. Wide, sweeping open fields, a lake and all kinds of hiking trails.

The sun was entering its’ golden hour which meant that the sun lit up the fields of Upper Park perfectly giving us some of the best shots of the session. We played around with his guitar, wild flowers as well as got some fun shots of his parents celebrating becoming empty nesters and a job well done raising two great kids!

Congrats to Hunter and cheers to a season of some of life’s greatest adventures!

Every time I start working with a new couple I like to ask them what part of the wedding planning process feels like the biggest obstacle. Most of the time they say “staying within their budget. Let’s face it, budgeting day to day can be tough let alone your wedding day. I know from planning our own wedding it can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

Traditionally, a majority of the wedding finances were provided by the parents of the couple; today’s weddings often look a bit different, with money coming from multiple sources. The first step in setting your budget for your big day is to look at where the money is coming from. If it’s coming from family, be sure to thank them first and foremost. If the two of you are funding it, then be sure to set an agreed upon amount that you’re willing to spend. Make your expectations known to each other on what is going to be the most important thing to you that day (besides getting married of course). Communication is key here.

Now, no two wedding are alike so communicate with your partner on all the details you envision for your day, both big and small, it all will contribute to your overall budget in the end. The best way to do this is to PRIORITIZE. Know what parts of the wedding you need to have and which parts you can cut some corners on or spend a little less. To help get you started and thinking what all goes into a wedding, here are 8 aspects of the wedding that you and your partner can rank from most to least importance.

• Venue
• Catering
• Photography & Videography
• Guest items – Favors, transportation, access to Hotels ( If applicable)
• Attire & Grooming (hair, makeup, dress/suit etc.)
• Florals & Decor
• Entertainment & Music
• Invites & misc

As tempting as it might be to skip this with all the other planning you are doing, DON’T! Prioritizing these items will really help you make those harder decisions when you begin to approach that budget cap you set at the start of the process.

Budget based on REAL costs of goods. You may find a lot of budget templates out there that break everything down by percentages. 10% for venue, 10% photography, 5% catering etc. These won’t help you in the long run because they are only guesses. What you’ll need to do next is get a list of the vendors you are looking into and the services you want them to provide. Get in touch with them and get estimates from them based on the packages you are considering.

This is a big step in the planning process. While it may take a bit more time, doing this will make the rest of the process run smoother. Once you have everything mapped out and packages roughly selected, you’ll probably be starring at a number that is grossly higher than the budget you set for your day. This is TOTALLY normal friends! Now is the time that you go back to that list you made of most important to least important.

The best way to do this is to start with your top 2 items that you can’t live without on your big day. From here, plug those numbers in your budget and see what you have left. (I know from our wedding our most important were the venue and our photos. We got married a the church we met at as kids and where our love story began, and at the end of the day we wanted nice photos to remember all the fun and emotions that were had during the day. Good photos are so worth it in the end guys, and I’m not just saying that as a photographer. They are hard copies of memories frozen in time that we always look back on.) Based on the quotes you received from those 2 vendors, add those to your budget and see what you need to do to get those packages you were looking at to have the experience you desire for your day. From there, move onto the next 2 items and see what you can do to economize them. For example, say it’s a venue and the catering. Is there a venue that has similar qualities to your dream location that’s a bit cheaper to save money or is there a catering company that makes your second choice dinner option that’s not going to cost you $35/plate? After you do all that and you come to your lowest 2 in the list, see where you can economize without losing the experience. Say it’s florals for example. Rather than expensive florals, could you go to Costco and get your wedding party together and all make some bouquets together thus creating a fun memory to add to the season of life you’re in?

Once you’ve done all this, you should be left with a budget that work for YOU and will give you the best our of your big day!

With the budget in place, be sure to keep track of your spending no matter of small. Sadly, wedding budgets are not something you can do once and then forget about. Even the smallest of purchases can add up once you start adding in those big vendors.

All in all, sit down together and communicate your priorities for your wedding day. Make it a fun date too. Pour some wine or bubbly, light some candles, set the mood with music and dream about your big day together. After all, the most important part of the day is that you two will be married at the end.

Blessings friends!

~ Josh