Need help for planning

The venue is the most important thing to figure out first, and if you want to have it in your yard, then do it! We are! Gives you so much flexibility in your dates, vision etc. Look on facebook for affordable photographers and start making your guest list.

Hi Shazi! Like Samantha said, securing your wedding venue is the first and most important step (because everything else is planned around that date and location)!!

Do you have any flexibility with your wedding date? 2022 is going to be a very busy year for weddings, and if a lot of the vendors you are contacting aren't available then I'd consider switching your wedding to a weekday, Friday, or Sunday night.

For budget reference you should check out WeddingWire's Cost Guide - it's an awesome tool that will show you average costs for wedding services: Wedding Cost Guide.

I've also listed some wedding planning guides below that are really helpful when you're getting started:

Just Got Engaged? The 8 Things You Need to Do First

How to Plan a Wedding Step by Step

7 Things Couples Should Agree on Before Wedding Planning

Figure out what your priorities are. Many couples focus on the guest experience (good food, free drinks, great dj) and great photos for memories. The decide who your must have guests are. You don’t need to invite everyone you have ever met. Pick your closest current supportive best friends and family. Decide how much you are willing and able to spend without getting a loan or money from others that nearly always comes with strings attached.


With all of that info, you can start looking at venues. Prepare for 100% attendance and count yourself and fiancé (along with staff) in the capacity for fire code compliance. Blank slate venues that allow outside catering are often more flexible and less expensive (many include basic tables and chairs as part of the rental fee) than all inclusive venues that have food/beverage minimums that are easily 5-6 figures that they don’t tell you upfront you will be paying. All inclusive do not let you do tastings with caterers until after you book the venue. Parks department owned venues are cheapest and allow outside catering with tables and chairs included.
Don’t ask your bridesmaids/groomsmen until 6-8 months before the wedding and make sure they are your current closest innermost social circle. Don’t purchase your dress until 7-10 months before the wedding.

Hi! Planning a 2022 wedding here! Definitely venue first. We are having ours on a Sunday and have not run into any issues with availability yet. We have decided to save a bit of money and only have a photographer for the ceremony and portraits after. Then we will just collect any photos taken from the reception from friends and family. We are doing. Non flower decorations or silk flowers and only a real bouquet for me and boutonnière for him. No dj (venue won’t allow one) but we are going to make a playlist on Spotify to play some background music. We aren’t doing the traditional bouquet toss and garter toss so we don’t really need an MC. Hope this helps!