Are you feeling overwhelmed when it comes to planning your wedding? Lavender on the Lake is here to help.
I was talking with one of my October brides the other day, and I could hear the worry in her voice as she asked me questions in regards to her decisions that she had already made and in her upcoming choices that she still needed to make. She apologized over 5 times for asking so many questions and she even said, “I feel like I am all over the place.” I told her that she was doing great and to not apologize for asking any of the questions as I tried to appease her anxiety. She breathed deeply and said, “Ok, thank you. I know things will come together.” So I got to thinking. How can I help our future brides to lessen some of that anxiety when it comes to wedding planning? We all know that information is paramount when it comes to easing our minds, so I decided that I would write a blog with wedding planning tips for a Florida wedding. My intention is to help couples to streamline the wedding planning process and to ultimately share a specific checklist with our already booked LOTL couples.
The first two steps are interchangeable in my opinion. It’s sort of like which comes first, the chicken or the egg; if you have your heart set on a specific venue, perhaps you may need to make some changes to remain within your price point or to see how the venue may be able to offer more affordable options, such as a midweek option or a micro-wedding option. Regardless, setting the budget and selecting your venue should be at the top of your wedding planning list.
Set a budget. This is an important piece to wedding planning because let’s be honest; it is SUPER easy to get carried away. There are many pieces that come together to create the day of your dreams from catering, to floral, to the cake, to photography, to makeup artists. I know that YOU know. And it is important to know which parts really matter to you. If you are a big foodie like I am, you may want to spend a little more money on higher quality catering and cuisine rather than on having a photo booth. Perhaps you don’t want to spend a lot of money on floral and decor whereas putting more financial investment into your photographer or videographer takes a higher priority. Here at Lavender on the Lake we hand built our farmhouse tables and provide a choice of white, black, or cream table runners with minimal table decor. This saves our couples from spending money not only on table cloths, but also the tables are beautiful in and of themselves therefore, you may choose to do little bud vases and floating candles to keep things elegant and simple.
The next essential step is to find your venue. Once you have selected your venue, you can not only set the date, but it sets the tone for your entire wedding. A huge benefit to having your venue locked in is that it allows you to seek out vendors well ahead of time. Vendors book up quickly, so the earlier you set your date, the higher the chances are that you will get the vendor that you are hoping for. The venue that you choose is a reflection of your style and values which opens doors to bringing the vision that you dream of for your wedding day to life so this is high on the first priority planning list.
Begin making your guest list. The key word here is BEGIN. The guest list is a hard task because it brings lots of questions and opens lot of doors. For instance, this is when you will begin to wonder if you will allow for children to be at your wedding. And if so, is it limited to immediate family or do you allow first cousins to bring children? Or perhaps you make the decision to not include children in your guest count. And then there is the, “If I invite so and so from college, then I need to invite so and so” and SO on and SO on. You know the drill. When we say to BEGIN, this is because things may change within your budget as you make decisions in regards to your vendors, and you may need to adjust your guest list. If you need help check out our recent blog offering advice on how to create your guest list.
Photo Credit || Kirnos Photography
Choose a wedding style and theme. For some of you, this may be easy. Have you been dreaming of a mystical, woodsy theme with lots of greenery, ferns, and possible wisteria hanging from the chandeliers? (I cannot WAIT for someone to go big with floral decor on our ring of lights. There are 2 and they are 15 foot in diameter; Jason knew that not only would we need to dust and change light bulbs, but that florists would want to decorate them therefore we have them on a wench system so that they lower for easy decorating. Sigh.) Some of you may love the color pink and so your plan is to include any and all things pink throughout the reception space. When considering your style and theme, be sure to keep in mind the time of year as well as the location of your venue.
Photography Credit || Concept Photography
Select your wedding planner or coordinator. This is paramount in alleviating stress and anxiety because your coordinator is a professional who has likely assisted in too many weddings to count. They literally have seen it all- the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is their expertise that brings all of the components together and manages things behind the scenes so that you can let go and trust that things are being handled in order for you to truly enjoy your day. Having a wedding planner or coordinator is a requirement here at LOTL; if you need help with understanding the why behind this requirement, I encourage you to check out one of my recent blogs that dives deeper into this. The sooner you hire a planner, the sooner you can rest assured that things will come together.
Find your vendors. Vendors tend to book far in advance so the sooner you start reaching out to them, the better chances of having them be available for your wedding date. Plus! This is the fun part! You can go do cake tasting and test out local catering options and foods, as well as go into florists and see the beautiful florals and smell the fragrant aroma that a florist beholds. There are SO many wonderful vendors here in Central Florida, so it is important to get out there and explore. If you need any help, check out my recent blogs which spotlights a few local photographers, videographers, and planners. Our preferred vendor list is provided upon booking with us and offers a variety of vendors in different price points.
Design your invitations This is another fun part to wedding planning! There are many places to find stationers online, but don’t be afraid to search closer to home to support your local small businesses. Or if you or someone you know is super crafty, perhaps this is a task to do yourself or to delegate. This is great time to consider proving your couples with a little bit of information about your venue as well. For instance, because LOTL is a farm, it may be nice to encourage your high heel wearing guests to wear a pair of flip flops so that they can slip into their heels prior to entering the building. Best part is they can slip back into the flip flops to dance the night away.
Photo Credit | Kirnos Photography
Begin the process of creating a seating chart. As RSVPs come in, begin to group them accordingly to make your seating chart easier as you get closer to your date. Creating a seating chart can be a daunting task so asking a close family member on both sides for their input is a great help. I will be writing a blog for seating chart help a bit later, so be sure to check back for Lavender’s advice on this task.
Photography || Kirnos Photography
Throughout your process, try to breathe and enjoy the process. Lean on your partner, family and friends to remember that the purpose of your day is to celebrate your love. Believe that the planning and details will all come together on your special day and it will. If you are booked here at Lavender on the Lake, then you already know that I am here to help whether it is a phone call or text. Our purpose here is to help you have a once in a lifetime experience, and I feel so honored and grateful to be personally a part of this special time for each of our couples.
If you have been following my blog, thank you again for popping in and if you have not been following, I encourage you to go back and read some of the original blogs offering advice on vendors, things to do near Lavender on the Lake, and more. Have a lovely week!!
As you know, we believe strongly in supporting locally owned businesses and so I am linking other locally owned venues with each blog that I write. You can also find locally owned venues on this Wedding Venue Map.
XO
Shelley
