Photo by Zac Wolf Photography via Bridal Musings
As we mentioned the other day, wedding planning can be all kinds of stressful. And one of the main sources of anxiety for lots brides or grooms, is the feeling that as soon as you get engaged, you’re all of sudden supposed to know how to plan a wedding.
But for many of us, there mere thought of it is pretty overwhelming.
Which is why talented wedding planner, Michelle Kelly of Fearless Authentic and Pocketful of Dreams has stepped in to help. Michelle has developed an online course, Wedplanology for brides and grooms-to-be, sharing her years of insights and her own proven planning process.
And today, she’s here to shake things up for you guys, with her insightful, practical, and super helpful 8-step plan for creating a wedding that’s perfect for you (without being entirely stressed out in the process!).
Over to you Michelle… (oh, be sure you scroll to the bottom to get all the details on her course and a free planning toolkit!)
Photo by Lorena San Jose via Bridal Musings
You start out on this wedding planning journey feeling so excited at the prospect of throwing the most amazing party of your lives.
You have an epic vision and big dreams about what it will be like. It feels thrilling and exhilarating to step into this wonderful world of weddings where everything is fun, creative and colourful.
Photo via Fearless Authentic
But then reality bites, you find yourself lost in a sea of ideas that you’ve no idea how to implement and you don’t know where to start with it all.
I have heard this time and time again from hundreds of couple, which is why I created WEDPLANOLOGY, to share my trusted process and support more women to be the blissed-out bride they really want to be.
So how do you plan a wedding without becoming entirely overwhelmed? This is my 8-step process…
Take Time To Dream
Photo by The Happy Bloom via Bridal Musings
Before you dive into Pinterest and the wealth of inspiration out there, take a little time to connect to what you really want.
Let your mind wander and dream about what this day will look and feel like. Where is it? Who is there? What time of year is it? Is it formal, laidback, fun or serious?
Note down your dreams and decide what’s truly important to the two of you. This will give you the starting point for a meaningfully authentic day, as well as focusing all your decisions going forward.
Think of it this way: would you set off in your car and just start driving without knowing the end destination first?
Decide Your How, Who, When & Where
Photo by Maui Maka Photography via Bridal Musings
Here, you are working out how you are actually going to make these dreams happen. So you need to know your HOW: your available budget, time for planning and other resources such as support from family and friends. Talking money is never fun, but it’s essential to know what you have to work with from the very beginning. So be brave and have those discussions.
Think about WHO is going to help you celebrate, your guestlist is the key factor that will have the most impact on your budget and will also dictate where you choose to celebrate.
Finally you need to think about WHEN and WHERE your wedding will ideally take place. Be flexible here rather than choosing specific dates until you know what availability is like at your chosen space.
Lock It Down
Photo by Ashley Ludaescher Photography via Bridal Musings
Now is the time to bring everything together and start to lock down the most important element: the venue or location of your nuptials. It’s going to be the bulk of your budget and will dictate so many other choices, so until you find this perfect space you don’t have a wedding, just a wish.
The venue-search is an in-depth process but one that should be entered into with a playful curiosity and an open-mind, plus a little guidance from your wishlist created at the beginning.
Design It: Details & Flow
Photo by Anushe Low via Pocketful of Dreams
Most people make the mistake of starting here, diving head-first into pinspiration and coming out feeling dazed and confused.
If you’ve followed the steps so far you’ll have a really clear vision, know exactly what’s important to you and what kind of budget and resources you have to bring it all together.
It’s time now to refine that vision and design your wedding day according to the overall experience you want to create. So gather up that inspiration, create moodboards, and choose your colour palette.
Think about the flow of your day and how you can add flourishes of personality across each stage.
Hire Your Dream Team
Photo by Svetlana Strizhakova via Bridal Musings
It’s only once you have been through phases 1-4 that you’ll know who needs to be in your dream team.
There’s a multitude of amazingly talented and creative suppliers just waiting to work with you so being clear from the outset about what you’re wanting to achieve will make your search so much easier.
Tackle this like you did your venue search and remember to be open to new possibilities and expert creative input. Often the greatest solutions lie beyond our own imaginations.
Handle All The Nitty Gritty
Photo by Sarah Kathleen Photography via Bridal Musings
Once your dream team is in place it’s time to manage the process of working with them. This is a real action phase where all your planning comes to fruition.
You’ll be setting up appointments, making purchases, sending out invitations and managing your guestlist.
You’ll want to ensure your systems are rock solid so you can stay on top of it all and keep that budget in check. So diarise key dates and keep a record of all communications to refer back to.
Nail the Final Stretch
Photo by George Pahountis Photography via Bridal Musings
You’re almost there! Woohoo.
Time to tick of those final items and see this baby through to the finish line.
There’s a few key tasks to undertake in the final stretch that brings all your planning together, like your seating plan, on-the-day stationery, confirming final numbers with your caterer and letting your suppliers know what’s needed.
I recommend getting all of this done and dusted way before your wedding day, so those last few weeks are calm and stress-free.
Let Go & Focus On You
Photo by Christina Block Photography via Bridal Musings
You should reach this final phase of your wedding planning feeling zen, blissed out, excited and confident that’s everything has been boxed off and dealt with already.
Now is the time to just let go and trust you’ve done everything you can and that your dream team will make your wishes become reality.
Make this time a nourishing one, all about looking after YOU and getting you prepared physically and mentally for your wedding day.
Take time to sit back and reflect on what you’re actually about to embark upon: your marriage, your commitment to each other and all the things you have to look forward to, starting with this epic celebration to kick off married life.
Photo by Carretto Studio via Bridal Musings
About Wedplanology
WEDPLANOLOGY opens for enrolments on Sunday 15th January 2017 and closes Sunday 12th February. The course then begins on Monday 20th February 2017.
The course includes:
- An intensive orientation module so they can set themselves up for success and get organised
- 1 group training / Q&A Call per Week with live teaching & support for questions
- 8x training modules with workbooks, worksheets, training videos and done-for-you templates to go back to again and again
- Module completion checklists to help them stay organised and on track
- Access to a private Facebook group – a supportive community of like-minded brides-to-be on the same journey
- A premium and private personal membership site with all materials to download and access at any time
- Personal support from Michelle Kelly on the Live Calls & in the Facebook Group
- Plus a whole range of bonuses including my done-for-you templates
Visit Fearless Authentic to access your free wedding planning timeline toolkit today and gain exclusive VIP access to special bonuses and early bird pricing.
