After booking the venue what is the next big thing to focus on??

I found my gown after booking our venue, then booked the photographer. Then we finalized colors at the same time we picked the bridesmaids dresses! Now our next big search is catering and videography. And a florist!

I found my dress after the venue, then booked the florist, decor, and photographer (in that order). Next is the DJ!

Engaged 8/18/20

Wedding 8/16/20

Started planning 8/21/19, took 3 days off( I was becoming obsessed and overwhelmed)

Booked the venue on 8/24/19 3rd venue tour. My venue comes fully decorated with open vendor for eveything but I really wanted someone to help me through the process while letting me be hands on, she is also my DOC.

Wedding Planner/DOC: done

Color palate: done

Wedding Party : done

Officiant : done

Type of dress( no official shopping yet): done

Grooms and groomsman attire: done

Photographer: done

Videographer: done

DJ: done

Deciding on invitation décor( DIY project)

Selecting the baker, 2 cake tasting coming up next month

Caterer, I have 3 companies lined up for tasting in the next 3 months

Buying my dress( Feb/March 2020) unless I get a great deal before than

Photobooth

Buying alcohol closer to wedding

Yep I am moving quick but I want this planned and smoothly done

We've changed our mind a million times but finally made some decisions. If your venue includes catering, then they will give you a menu with items to choose from but almost always are customizable if something isn't on there that you want. If you're hiring an outside caterer, it'll be the same thing. It's your and your fiance's day so pick something that you guys like!

Photographer for sure because they start filling up and then reach out to any and all possible vendors. Some people require you to book a year in advance some you can wait till it gets closer. Mine went like this:

Wedding date- October 13th 2019 (31 days yay!!)

Booked Venue October 2018

Booked Photographer October 2018

Wedding Dress November 2018

Booked Lodging, DJ & Catering March 2019 (planned for January but family stuff happened)

Booked HMUA April 2019

Booked Transportation April 2019

I'm getting married in Gatlinburg TN and their busy season is October for weddings so My venue and photographer had to be booked a year out. If I waited any longer it would have been swiped, as is when I booked my venue there was no Fridays or Saturdays left and only 2 Sundays (one of which was 13th I chose).

You definitely want to prioritize vendors that are one person/vendors that can only accommodate one wedding a day.

We did venue first (inclusive venue for ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, pictures, getting ready, etc. and takes care of food/alcohol/coordinator), then photographer, then DJ & officiant.

I recently booked my makeup artist and am looking into hair and flowers now.

Got my dress a couple weeks ago, but won't go in for alterations until June. Dresses can take 4-8+ months to come in if you're ordering a new one (I personally got a sample sale), and then get altered 3-4 months out.

Good luck!

I would do caterer.. that sometimes cost the most to put a down payment on so you can figure out what you can afford. that was my biggest challenge thankfully its all figured out now!

I got my church and venue first

then my photographer, donut bar and barista bar.

I am currently looking into a DJ

then later on I will book catering and bar

I was all over the place in my beginning stages. My FH and I have been engaged since 12/2017 and never actually started thinking about it until after our family vacation at the the end of March this year. One day he was just like, "When do you wanna do this?" WeddingWire offers a great checklist on the homepage that I have kinda just gone though. But checklist began like this:

1. Date - done

2. Venue (this is really happening!!) - done

3. DJ (watch for DJ specials because those are always helpful) - done

4. Photographer (also watch for specials) -done

5. Flowers - this one can be tricky - deciding

6. Cake - deciding

7. decide on "fun moments" (photobooth, cornhole, jenga, etc) - deciding

between 2 and 3 I had picked and bought my dress (I wasn't letting it go), and the week after got his and his son's suites. Between 4 and 5 I order my STD's, bridal party gifts and wedding favors. Flowers, I say is tricky because they are expensive. Check out budgetbride, they do a fabulous job of SILK flowers and they are crazy affordable. (if you want to go that way). Cake we decided on the design and then changed from a 4 tier to a 2 tier with cupcakes.

see? I am all over the place. I've got mostly everything else complete aside from engagement shoot, invites/rsvp's, centerpieces, and which food the venue will provide for us. (they have their own catering. We did set the latest date to book our honeymoon which is also making this process a little easier since everything now already adds up. one step at a time and remember to breathe. lots of wine can help too!

If your venue isn't all-inclusive find a caterer. Also, focus on getting a photographer, florist and DJ asap.

DJ, and Photographer should be next so they are booked for your wedding date only. Otherwise try to figure out Wedding Party, Cater, Colors, Guest List and Decor options.