#1 Venue

Congratulations, you nailed down a date for the big day! Now start scheduling those venue tours. Venues set the vibe for the entire wedding so it’s important you find the one that screams at you, not just one that makes you think “This’ll do”. Once you find the right fit you’ll have a better idea of the color scheme, decor, and overall style direction for the rest of the details.Don’t be afraid to branch out and be curious! Scroll all over Pinterest, look over wedding feature accounts on Instagram, and think about the landscapes you are attracted to the most. You want to make sure you know your options so you can be confident when you do nail it down. Some of your searches may look like this:-“boho wedding”-“garden wedding”-“mountain elopement”-“estate wedding venues”-“elegant wedding decor”-“unique wedding ideas”

#2 Photographer and Videographer

Ok I promise I’m not biased here! Photographers/videographers often book up to a year in advance, so you want to get your inquiries in quickly in order to save your desired date. Also if you are wanting to book an engagement session, all the more reason to book asap. You’ll need those photos for save the dates, and finding a date for the session early on may be difficult if the photographer is already booked for many others.On another note, they are also very helpful in the planning process helping you figure out your timeline for the best lighting, providing planning tips, and asking questions you may not have thought of yet to narrow down the wedding details. At the end of the day, the photographer/videographer provides the only part of your wedding that will last forever so it’s important to find the best fit for you!

#3 Planner

I saw that! The eyebrow raise you just did while thinking “I don’t need a planner, I’ll save the money and plan everything myself. My family/friends will all help.” TRUST ME, a planner truly is worth it. Their job is to constantly be thinking of the things you never would, and the “what if”s for anything that could go wrong. They will take so much of the pressure and responsibility off your shoulders, while giving tips and help along the whole process. They’ll even talk to all the vendors for you! All you have to do is tell them what you want, and get married!Because they will book far in advance as well, they are on the list to book right away. The sooner you have help with everything the better!

I hope this post helps organize your thoughts a bit. You aren’t expected to be an expert on this whole wedding thing, so let us vendors be that for you! In fact, I have a free gift for you! If you go to my home page at emmakphotography.com , you will be asked for you email. Enter it, and you’ll get my detailed wedding timeline checklist to help you through the entire planning process even after the wedding!

Enjoy, and happy planning!