Congratulations on your recent engagement! Getting engaged and beginning wedding planning can be such a fun time, but it can also be stressful when thinking of all the work that needs to be done. Whether you’re having a long engagement or are getting married in just a few months, here are some things to think about as you begin planning for your special day.

Set your budget.

If you’ve had family members offer to chip in, politely ask what expenses they’d like to cover. One relative might want to put a numerical amount toward the overall cost, while another may want to pay for the wedding cake. Once you have an idea as to how much money is being contributed, ask yourself what the realistic number is that you and your fiancé can put toward it. How much money can you reasonably save between now and the wedding?

Estimate the number of guests you’ll invite.

This coincides with the first step, as the number of guests determines the venue size and amount of food and drinks, for example. You may want to have a big wedding, but if the funding just isn’t there, you’ll need to cut down the invite list. Limiting which guests get a plus one is a way to keep numbers down, so just make that known to them when sending out invitations.

Research wedding venues.

Now that you have a rough idea of the number of guests you’re inviting, you can start looking at venues in your price range. Ask yourself questions like, will the ceremony and reception be held at the same venue? Is this venue close to a hotel for guests to stay? Request tours of venues you’re interested in to really get a feel for the space as well.

Discuss your wedding style and theme.

Do you prefer a glamorous style or something more rustic like modern farmhouse? This will influence your decision on which venue to choose, as you want the space to accommodate your décor vision. Stillwater Event Center’s banquet hall is appealing without leaning toward a specific style, so you can makeover the space however you wish.

Select a venue and set the date!

Now you can start sending out save-the-dates to let your guests know where and when the wedding is taking place. It’s best to get these out soon so that guests can plan ahead, especially if they’ll be traveling. When selecting the wedding date, also check to make sure that the day beforehand is available for the rehearsal.

Research and hire vendors.

Research photographers, florists, DJs or bands, cake decorators, and caterers. Stillwater Event Center has an in-house caterer, Scheel’s Catering, so when you choose us as the venue for your reception, you also cross the food vendor off your checklist. Our menu is filled with different appetizer, entree, and dessert choices.

At this point, it’s time for the fun stuff! Go wedding dress or suit shopping, plan the bridal shower and bachelor/bachelorette parties, create your wedding registry, send out those official invitations, and start planning your decorations. Make sure to be in contact with the venue to know when you can set up and take down—at Stillwater Event Center, you can start setting up at 8am on the day of your wedding.

Stillwater Event Center wants to make sure your wedding is everything you imagined. Contact us today to start planning your special day!