How to Plan Your Wedding The Wedding DOC Way: Thoughtfully, Intentionally & Calmly
There is no shortage of wedding advice online. Pinterest tells you what your wedding should look like. Instagram tells you what's trending. Family and friends have lots of suggestions. Suddenly, planning your wedding can start to feel like an overwhelming pile of other poeple's opinions. As an Indianapolis wedding planner and coordinator who's been in the game a long time, I offer the following advice to all of my couples: Plan thoughtfully, plan intentionally, and give yourself permission to enjoy the process. Here are some things to consider if you need a framework to get your wedding planning on track:
Decide How You Want Your Wedding to Feel
Before choosing colors, flowers, or a venue, talk with your partner about the experience you want to create. Make sure that you are both on the same page for the day you are imagining together. Do you want your wedding to feel intimate? Elegant? Relaxed? Joyful? Like one big party? Answers to questions like this can help guide decisions when choosing what vendors to hire or where your budget should be allocated.
When you inevitably find yourself scrolling TikTok, ask yourself “does this contribute to the experience we want?” If it does, add it to your dream wedding list. If it doesn't, scroll on.
Let Your Budget Reflect What Matters to You
There isn't one “correct” way to spend a wedding budget. Maybe photography is your priority. Maybe it's incredible food, a packed dance floor, beautiful florals, or an unforgettable guest experience.
Tilt your budget toward the things that are important to you. If photography is the most important thing for you, research great photographers and pay them what they are worth. Likewise, if a custom 5-course menu isn't on your must-have list, work with a caterer that can offer you other options. A thoughtful wedding budget isn't about spending less. It's about spending intentionally.
Don't Let Trends Plan Your Wedding
Social media runs on trends being just that; trendy. There will always be another new viral grand entrance song. There will always be a new "it" bouquet. If you genuinely love something, keep it as part of your day, but don't add something to your timeline simply because you've seen it everywhere.
Your wedding doesn't need to look like a For You Page. It needs to feel like a reflection of your love story.
Make Decisions and Move On
This is a hill I will die on. When planning your wedding, make decisions ONCE. Once you've chosen a vendor, color palette, invitation, or dress that fits your vision and your budget, stop looking. There will always be another option. That doesn't mean yours isn't the right one.
Remember What You're Actually Planning
Your wedding day is a real day, not a Pinterest board. The timeline may shift. The weather may change. Something may not look exactly like the inspiration photo. And that's okay, because while you might not remmeber all of the inspo, you'll always remember your partner's face during your first look. You'll remember your favorite people dancing. You'll remember the toast that made everyone cry. You'll remember how it felt to finally say "I do". Those are the details that actually matter.
Hire Professional Vendors
Your wedding day is not the time to learn on the job...or to put your mom in charge. Hiring experienced, professional wedding vendors means you’re trusting important details to people who do this professionally and are solely focused on creating your perfect day. The first vendor your should hire? A wedding planner or coordinator. An experienced wedding planner can help you create a realistic budget, recommend trusted local vendors, help create and manage your timeline, and troubleshoot the details you may not even know to anticipate. We also know exactly how to communicate with your entire team so that everyone can do their best work to make your day an absolute dream. The best part is, your family and friends aren't expected to set up chairs or tear down a flower arch at the end of the night.
Planning an Indianapolis Wedding?
The Wedding DOC provides boutique wedding planning and coordination services in Indianapolis and Central Indiana, helping couples feel organized, supported, and completely present on their wedding day.
You get married. We'll handle the rest.
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