Why hiring a _____ is worth it...

Over the next few weeks I am going to be blogging about the lessons I’ve learned so far on what to save on and what to splurge on when it comes to weddings (you might even get to see a guest post by one of my fabulous wedding-planning partners-in-crime, Alyson Gardner of Alyson Jarvis Photography, get excited!).

This question of where to spend your money and where to save it is a question that every bride inevitably faces. I sadly remember it being the main one that kept me awake at night during those first few weeks of wedding planning. 

The truth is that regardless of if your budget is minimal or limitless, knowing where to spend your money and where to save it can make everything following that decision faster and less-painful (and we all know that those two things are music to brides’ ears).

So before I go into where to spend your money and where you might want to save it, I thought I would start by offering my main planning tool: Your Priorities List! While having to stress about who’s allowed a plus one, and how much you can afford per catered plate of food, it’s important to also take the time to let yourself get excited about your wedding, and I believe the best way to do this is to create your list of priorities for your wedding.

Whether it’s on a piece of paper (click here to see a quick template I put together), in your iphone or on the dry-erase board in your kitchen it needs to be written down and concrete. 

A great way to get this list started is by opening a bottle of wine (or a bottle of beer for you and your future hubby) and letting your minds run wild. What is the one thing you have always imagined for your wedding day? A horse-drawn carriage? Having the pastor who confirmed you officiate your ceremony? Walking down the aisle to specific song? WRITE IT DOWN.

And make sure your man gets involved in this too! Did he always think it would be cool to smoke cigars with his buddies at the reception? Has he always thought a live band would make the night? As lame, or even obvious, as it may seem, these are the things to keep at the forefront of all decisions going forward.  

The more you research and the more you experience the reality of wedding planning, these priorities may shift and change, but having that list in front of you early-on will be your best defense in keeping everything in perspective.

So as I leave you future brides, and past or not too soon future brides, with this beginning nugget of wedding-planning gold, I have one cornerstone, over-used (but only because it's true) piece of advice: This is all about You (and by you I mean you and your future hubby of course). 

As finances get tight, deadlines approach and your honeymoon starts to feel like the finish line of a marathon, remember that your wedding is celebration of love! And if you start to really feel the pinch of stress and anxiety, go and pay someone else to do the dirty work ;)