5 Tips for Couples Planning Their Nashville Wedding

Planning a wedding can be one of the most exciting yet daunting tasks a couple will ever face. With so many details to consider, it's no surprise that wedding planning can quickly become overwhelming. However, with careful preparation and organization, couples can enjoy the process and create a memorable celebration that reflects their unique style and personality. Here are 5 essential tips for couples planning their dream wedding:

1. Establish Your Priorities

Before diving into the details of your wedding day, take a step back and establish your priorities as a couple. What is most important to you? Is it having an extensive guest list or a more intimate gathering? Do you want to splurge on the best venue in town or invest in high-quality photography/videography? By identifying your priorities, you can focus your budget and energy on the aspects of your wedding that matter most to you. While discussing priorities with one another, try not to be influenced too much by trends, family, friends, etc. This is YOUR wedding, and you deserve to enjoy it exactly how you want. 

2. Set a Realistic Budget

Weddings can be expensive and quickly add up if not managed carefully. Setting a realistic budget can help you decide where to allocate your funds. Consider your priorities (and stick with them), as well as any financial assistance you may receive from family members when creating your budget. Remember to include a contingency fund for unexpected expenses.

3. Hire Professional Vendors

While it may be tempting to rely on friends and family to help with your wedding day or save money by hiring the cheaper vendor, hiring professional vendors can ensure a seamless and stress-free experience which is priceless. From a seasoned wedding planner to an experienced photographer/videographer, investing in top-quality vendors can make all the difference in your wedding experience and how you and your guests will remember it.

4. Stay Organized

With so many details to keep track of, organization is key when planning a wedding. I recommend hiring a wedding planner, but if you decide to manage the planning yourself, utilize tools such as spreadsheets, timeline templates, and checklists to stay on top of deadlines and appointments. 

5. Communicate Openly and Honestly

Finally, open and honest communication is crucial when planning a wedding. Communicate regularly with your partner and vendors, expressing your needs and preferences clearly and respectfully. Don't be afraid to ask questions or voice concerns as they arise, and work together to find solutions that work for both of you.

Bonus Tip: Define Your “Why”

This ties into step #1, but it’s a bit deeper than that. Why are you two getting married? What excites you most about this? Close your eyes and spend 5 minutes picturing your wedding day. What does it look like? How does it feel? When you’re telling your kids about it several years from now, what do you want to be able to tell them? Take all this information and tie it into one statement that will become your “why” throughout the process. Once you know your “why”, you can begin working on your “what"s and “how”s which will be the vendors you select, activities you’ll choose to do or not to do, etc. Having a solid “why” as your wedding planning foundation will help guide you every step of the way in making decisions that you’ll love. Here are a few examples of wedding day “why”s followed by “what”s and “how”s:

• “We want to spend a weekend with family and friends simply celebrating the love we all share” (why)

- creating an atmosphere for mingling and fun activities that guests can enjoy together (what)

- allocating funds toward a band, entertainment, games, a large enough venue, and creating a timeline that allows us to spend more time with guests (how)

• “We want to enjoy our wedding day and every moment without being controlled or told what we have to do” (why)

- not being pulled away from each other or family/friends and being able to take in moments as much as we want (what)

- hiring a videographer and photographer with a documentary approach that understands how to capture moments candidly. (how)

• “We want to have the most beautiful wedding and photo/video where we feel like we’re on the cover of a magazine” (why)

- extravagant attire, venue, florals, decor, etc. (what)

- hiring the best designers, florists, entertainment, etc. in town and in addition to this, choosing a photographer/videographer who has a more editorial approach and will step in to pose and perfect moments/shots versus having a documentary/candid approach. (how)

In conclusion, wedding planning can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for couples. You can create a beautiful and memorable celebration that reflects your unique love story by establishing priorities based on your “why”, setting a realistic budget, hiring professional vendors, staying organized, and communicating openly and honestly. Your engagement is a season in your life that doesn’t need to be rushed or turned into a checklist. I hope you’ll enjoy this transitional period from dating to marriage, and find ways to celebrate planning milestones along the way.