Wedding Planning Advice: The First Step

My Best Wedding Planning Advice

You’re engaged! Yay!! Now you’re probably wondering looking for all of the wedding planning advice you can find!

​The first step you need to take is deciding where your wedding will be. Will it be in your hometown with all of your family and friends? Will it be in a unique destination with your closest loved ones? Or will you & your partner have an intimate “I Do” with just the two of you?

There’s a lot to think about when deciding between a hometown wedding vs. a destination wedding, or a destination wedding vs. an elopement. I’m here to help you make that decision by pointing out the benefits of each option!

Hometown Wedding

Are you and your fiancé from the same city or state? Are your families within reasonable driving distance from each other? A wedding in or near your hometown might be the thing for you! 

The Benefits of a Hometown Wedding:

• If you’re wanting a wild party with all of your family and friends, definitely consider a hometown wedding! For example, having your wedding near where your family and friends live will ensure that most of your crew will show up! The less distance people have to travel to a wedding, the more likely they are to come. 
• The bigger the turn out, the more gifts! Therefore, if you and your fiancé are in a place where you could really benefit from the gifts and support of your guests, a hometown wedding will definitely give you the biggest return on your investment.
• Additionally, if you’re wanting a long engagement and are in no hurry to get married, hometown weddings typically take 10-12+ months to plan.

Destination Wedding

Looking for a wedding venue that is a little more exotic than anything your hometown has to offer? Still want your closest friends and family to be there? Consider a destination wedding!

The Benefits of a Destination Wedding:

• By inviting your closest friends and family somewhere unique to watch you say “I Do,” you’re including them in your love story and also providing them with an unforgettable experience and a mini vacay!
• Destination weddings turn your wedding from a one night event, to a series of sweet memories. You can have a family hike the day before the wedding to check out the area, a celebratory brunch the day after the wedding, share a condo or a suite in a resort with your bridal party, etc. This adds even more excitement to your wedding and prolongs the celebration of your marriage.
• If you’re looking for a slightly shorter engagement, destination weddings can typically be planned within 6+ months.
• I also have a guide written with wedding planning advice for destination weddings, check that out here!

Elopement 

If adventure is your love language, planning an elopement might be for you! Elopements are great for the couples you want something extremely intimate and unique.

The Benefits of an Elopement:

• If you’re looking for less headache, you get to skip the bulk of the wedding planning stress with elopements. For instance, you won’t be needing wedding invites, a caterer or bar service or bakery, wedding favors or seating arrangements, sleeping and travel accommodations for guests, etc. You can get away with simply picking a dress, a location, a photographer and officiant. Maybe add a floral bouquet, and you’re set! 
• With elopements, you can tackle two birds with one stone; say “I Do” in an epic location and your honeymoon begins immediately after! Then you can start celebrating and enjoying your vacay as soon as the ceremony is over.
• Elopements can provide the quickest engagement process. Most elopements can be planned in as little as 2-3+ months.
• If you’re wondering how to elope or how to plan an elopement, check out this guide on elopement planning.

There are definitely pro’s (and con’s) to each option. In the end, you need to decide what’s best for you. 

In conclusion, sit down with your partner and write down 3 things you want to get out of your wedding day. Whether it’s a fun party, quiet moments, pretty views, gorgeous photos, stress free, lots of dancing, good food, great drinks, memories with family & friends… whatever it is, write down the 3 things that matter most to you two. 

However, if you’re still stumped I’ve created a flowchart below to help you narrow it down!!

Wedding Planning Advice

If you want more personalized recommendations and advice, let’s chat! Fill out my contact form and I can share more info on how to plan the perfect wedding or elopement for you and your partner.

Here’s a few more articles that you’ll love:

• Elopement Planning Guide– If you’re wanting to elope but you don’t know where to start, check out my elopement planning guide!
• Best Places to Elope– Top elopement locations in the U.S. and beyond!
• How to Write Your Wedding Vows– How to write personal, original vows for your wedding or elopement.

Or check out my Planning Tips page for more wedding and elopement advice. Happy planning!!