What Do You Actually Need?
WEDDING EDITION
What do you actually need? A broad question, but okay, let’s dive in! In this post, we are going to talk about what you actually do and do not need for your wedding!
DISCLAIMER: No one is telling you what you should do or should not do, take this with a grain of salt baby and you do what is best for you! At the end of the day, this is me, trying my best to help you out in any way that I can!
Do I actually need to hire a wedding planner?
I actually get asked this more than I think I should! Let me rephrase this question - how much time are you willing to set aside to actually plan your dream wedding? If your wedding is less than 6 months away - GIRL, hire the wedding planner! That is simply my recommendation, because there is so much to be done and so little time - and the last thing you need to do is stress this season away. I can imagine most of us having stressful, time-consuming careers that can take away all our energy and leave us exhausted at night - leaving us zero desire to actually plan a wedding. So, the question you need to ask yourself is, “Is the time that I am able to set aside and dedicate to wedding planning more than what it would cost to hire someone to do it for me?” If the answer is no, I know an amazing wedding planner - and if the answer is yes, then I truly value your time and dedication into all that goes into your wedding day, on top of maintaining your “normal” routine.
How many wedding invites do I actually need to send out?
I would like to think we would all know the answer to this, yet there are certain situations and dynamics that lead us back to this question. I recommend sending one invitation per household!! If you are inviting single-roommates who all live together, they should each get their own invitation. Keep roughly 2-3 for your keepsakes, 1-2 invitations for your photographer (put these in your details box), and 5-10 extra invitations for those “emergency” invites!
Do you actually need to hire a videographer?
As someone who has dipped their toes into both industries, I believe both are totally worth it for your wedding day. However, I do respect your budget and can see where this could lead to an issue. No one is here to stretch your budget! If you cannot afford to hire both, maybe opt for a photographer who you know can document those moments that you’ll be able to feel through those photos. Or vice versa!
You do not need a wedding videographer, just like you may not need a professional photographer. Both are key investments and create art for you! If it is in your budget, I would recommend hiring one! If it is not, either splurge on your photographer to your best ability or opt for someone to record it on their phone or camcorder!
Do you need to book your wedding venue for the night before?
Some wedding venues offer this at an additional cost, and if you have a venue that offers this for free - do it! I strongly would recommend to at least physically walk through the ceremony with all parties to be sure everyone is on the same page on where to stand, what to do, etc. This will help you prepare for your wedding day + gather your thoughts on what to do so you can truly enjoy your wedding day!
Even if you literally walk down the aisle, tell your parties where to stand and what to do - you can go through the fine details at your rehearsal dinner or later that evening when discussing your wedding ceremony!
Do you need to hire a decorator for your wedding?
This is a similar situation with a wedding planner! I know of some businesses who offer both wedding decor rentals + set-up/tear down who may be able to help suit your needs! However, if you are fully dedicated to DIYing your wedding decor, center pieces, and all that jazz - go for it! It will take some patience and a lot of time!! Before you buy anything, I would look into renting items either from a business in your area, purchasing used items off Facebook Marketplace, or even keeping it simple by using what you’ve already purchased!
