How To Plan a Wedding in 7 Steps

Planning a wedding can be both exciting and stressful.

Are you feeling unsure about where to start or worried about getting every detail right without the overwhelm?

Since 2010, we’ve helped couples at Zion Springs turn their dream weddings into reality, making the planning process fun and manageable.

In this guide, we’ll take you through seven easy steps to help you plan with confidence, from setting your budget to adding those perfect finishing touches.

Creating a realistic budget helps you stay within your financial limits and avoid overspending.

Here’s how to make your wedding budget work for you:

• Determine your total budget: Include your savings, family contributions, and other available funding sources.
• Allocate funds: Distribute your budget across essential areas like the venue, catering, attire, and photography.
• Adjust non-essentials: For decor, invitations, or party favors, adjust based on remaining funds to stay within your overall budget.

The number of guests will determine the size of your venue, and both will directly impact your budget and timeline.

Here’s how to approach these decisions:

• List important guests: Start with close family, friends, and anyone you can't imagine celebrating without.
• Guest count & venue size: The size of your guest list will dictate the type of venue you'll need. A larger guest count means you'll need more space and will also increase costs for catering, seating, and invitations.
• Book your venue early: Tour venues with your guest count in mind. Look at size, availability, and what's included (e.g., catering, decor).
• Align venue with theme: Choose a venue that complements your wedding style and fits your budget.

Your Ideal Wedding Guest List

Your guest list shapes several aspects of your wedding, especially your venue choice and budget. Start with close family and friends, then expand the list to include others important to you.

When finalizing the guest list, keep these factors in mind:

• Capacity & cost: Your guest list will affect the venue's size and your overall budget. A larger list means more expenses for food, seating, and invitations. 

How to Choose the Right Venue

Select a venue that complements your theme and works within your budget. Check reviews and ask for references from past clients to ensure you're making the best choice.

For more practical tips on preparing for venue tours, questions to ask, and strategies for making the right choice, check out our guide on Maximizing Your Wedding Venue Visits and Tastings

Pinning down your date and theme is where the magic begins.

Pick the Perfect Wedding Date

When selecting your wedding date, consider the following:

• Which season best matches your vision?
• Do special dates, like an anniversary, mean something to you both?
• Do any close family or friends have scheduling conflicts to consider before choosing the date?

Popular dates fill up quickly. Be aware that choosing a weekend or peak season date often comes with higher costs, which may affect your budget.

A Wedding Theme That Reflects You

Your wedding theme should showcase your personalities and shared interests. Whether a rustic garden or a classic vintage look, your theme will guide your choices for decor, attire, and venue. A beach theme could inspire light, and breezy decor is perfect for a relaxed celebration.

High-demand professionals like photographers, caterers, and entertainers tend to get booked quickly.

Here’s how to approach it:

• Research vendors: Look for those who match your style and budget. Check reviews and recommendations to confirm their reputation.
• Prioritize early booking: Once you’ve found the right vendors, secure them quickly to lock in your date.

Tips for Negotiating Wedding Vendor Contracts

When reviewing wedding vendor contracts, carefully review the terms to fully understand what’s included and address any uncertainties before signing. Don’t hesitate to negotiate elements like payment schedules or additional services that could work within your budget.

The heart of your wedding is the ceremony and reception. 

Here’s how to plan these essential elements:

Designing the Ceremony

Start by thinking about what makes your relationship special and how you want to represent that during your ceremony. Incorporating personalized vows, a meaningful reading, or a ritual can make the moment more intimate. For example, you could include anecdotes about how you met or your favorite shared experiences.

The countdown is on! With your wedding day in sight, all that’s left is to put the finishing touches in place and let the celebration begin.

Confirm with Vendors

Go through a checklist to finalize details with each vendor. Verify that contracts are clear, payments are complete, and any last-minute adjustments have been made. 

A final walkthrough at the venue shortly before the wedding can help confirm that everything is set up according to your plans.

Wedding Day Timeline

Think of your wedding day timeline as the blueprint for a stress-free celebration. Map out everything, from the morning prep to the final dance, to know exactly how the day will flow. 

Assign tasks to your wedding party or coordinator—whether rounding up guests for photos or queuing the music for your first dance. With a solid plan, you can focus on enjoying every magical moment, knowing everything is running like clockwork!

Wedding planning can start to feel like a second full-time job, and this is where an all-inclusive venue can help by significantly reducing the planning steps. While not all services may be provided in-house, the venue typically handles several aspects, lightening your load.

Here are the main advantages of choosing an all-inclusive venue:

• Vendor coordination: Many all-inclusive venues either provide or recommend trusted vendors for services like catering, decor, and coordination, saving you the hassle of searching independently.
• Centralized communication: You’ll deal primarily with the venue team, who often manage multiple aspects, reducing the need to juggle multiple contacts.
• Bundled services: The venue offers pre-designed packages that cover essentials, meaning fewer contracts and pricing negotiations for you.
• Effortless setup: The venue team oversees logistics from setup to teardown.