Wedding planning resources

I used to watch a ton of four weddings aha so maybe you can even watch wedding based shows for fun

When I got engaged, my mom gave me a wedding planning book. It helped me keep everything organized. It included checklists. It is through the Knot which has a website and is similar to Weddingwire, but I liked having a physical book. I've linked it below. I also watched Jamie Wolfer on Youtube. She is a wedding planner and she has a ton of free videos that offer advice on a ton of wedding subjects. She offers a program that she designed that will walk you through the wedding planning process, but it is a program you have to pay for. I don't know much about it since it came out after we got married, but her Youtube videos are free. She covers pretty much anything you can think of. I've linked her Youtube channel below.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Wedding-Planner-Organizer-binder/dp/0770433367/ref=asc_df_0770433367/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312132076760&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=845893614131772048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007834&hvtargid=pla-434335069873&psc=1

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdAcY6YGgF-RgGYXTsOENbA

I'd buy a wedding planning book. You don't really have to know anything about weddings to plan a wedding. If you've ever planned any kind of party / event it's really much the same thing.

My friends have all teased me because I plan our corporate events and when they found out I was getting married they said this should be a breeze, you've been planning your wedding your whole life (in terms of all the events I've worked / planned). And... they were right. It's been the easiest planning even with Covid looming

I found the checklist on The Knot to be super helpful, in addition to these forums. The Knot and Wedding Wire both have quite a few articles to read that provide ideas and such for things you can do, questions to ask when dress shopping/looking at venues/talking with photographers, etc. A wedding planning book is also a great resource. Happy wedding planning!

I agree with others that I found the checklist on The Knot super helpful. A wedding requires a bride and a groom and an officiant. Everything else is just extra. You can opt to do whatever traditions you want and skip whatever ones you don't want. If you opt to have guests, you need to host them in some way by feeding them something appropriate to the time of day and offering beverages of some sort (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Those are pretty much the basics. Anything else is more or less what you and your future spouse want.

Definitely a wedding planning book and pinterest. It also help if you have any family/friends who are married and had a wedding because they can help guide you through.

The Knot checklist was helpful. The forums here on wedding wire are a great asset. I also made my own planning book, which was basically my bible for 10 months!

I watched every single one of Jamie Wolfer's Youtube videos. She helped a lot. I also watched a lot of four weddings.

The podcast Bridechilla is pretty good. She has like a ton of episodes, but some of them are repeats and you can just choose the ones you're interested in, you don't have to listen in order.

Peerspace.com
Eventective.com
Thumbtack.comThebash.comOffbeatbride.comPinterestInstagramPaint chips from Lowes for color palettes to show to vendors.
Otherwise the articles section of WW is great.
Make your own binder for contracts and ideas when talking to vendors with plastic sleeves, dividers, etc from Target school supply section. Print your own timelines/checklists to include. Way cheaper and customizable to what you are doing.
Try not to get caught up in what the wedding industry pressures you to. Be a gracious hostess but many of the things online or on Four Weddings are designed to jack up the price. Pick 3-5 important areas to focus on and don't worry about the rest..you could even skip them entirely. Guests remember food/drink/entertainment. You will have your pictures at the end of the day. Everything else is optional.