As some of you may know, I am currently engaged. So, as a wedding photographer, I probably know more than the average bride-to-be. But honestly, I don’t know EVERYTHING about planning a wedding. I still had lots of questions and wasn’t quite sure what my immediate priorities should be. After doing a little research & talking to others who have recently been in my shoes, I put together a list of where to start. Here’s what I learned:

1. Soak it in.

I know it’s so tempting to immediately start planning but take a little time to just enjoy your engagement. You only get to be a fiancé for a very brief time in your life, so soak it in. Also, share the excitement with your friends & family, they’ll be so thrilled you took the time to call and tell them.

2. Set a budget.

I know, I know. This is the worst. You can find my favorite budget planner HERE.

3. Create a guest list.

I made the mistake of not doing this early on. Rookie mistake, I know. I feel like a lot of people want to immediately pick a date. But in order to pick a date, you have to have a venue & in order to pick your venue, you have to know how many guests to expect. So, do this at the beginning.

4. Choose a venue & set a date.

Now that you know how many guests to expect, this will help you narrow down venue options. Ask around, take tours and keep your style & guest count in mind!

5. Book your “must have” vendors.

Have a photographer, florist or makeup artist you’ve been dreaming of working with? Book them first so that you can make sure they’re available for your date & also figure out if you’ll need to compromise elsewhere when it comes to budget.

6. Find your dress.

I know this doesn’t seem like something that needs to be done immediately but it surprisingly is. You don’t (typically) get to take home your dress the day you say yes to it. If your dress is custom, it could take anywhere from a few months to a year to have it ready. I got really lucky & bought a dress off the rack that already fit me so I haven’t personally experienced this but I was warned about it many times.

Obviously there’s a whole lot more to planning a wedding than these 6 things but hopefully this will give you some guidance on what your top priorities should be! If you have any questions or want to chat with me about your wedding day, contact me here.

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Kalli June is a playful, laidback, adventurous wedding and senior portrait photographer based out of Southern Indiana. She loves incorporating a documentary style into her work with movement and flow. With every session, her goal is to capture those raw and genuine moments that come from just being yourself.

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