Wedding planning is exciting, and it can also become very stressful—but it doesn’t have to be. My husband, Chris, and I got married in July 2022 after several date changes thanks to COVID-19. His family and some of his close friends live in the UK, and we were waiting for restrictions to lift so they could be here for it.

 

Going to a wedding or being in a bridal party is one thing, but I quickly learned it’s a different ballgame when it’s your own wedding (and your own budget). Planning a wedding from start to finish is something the average person has never done, and there are so many details to keep straight, vendors to contact, and expenses to track—it’s easy for it to get away on you. Here are 10 of my top tips for planning your wedding, which come from my experience as a wedding photographer and as a 2022 bride. I’ve also shared all of our vendors at the end of the post.

 

Start with the big stuff

It’s easy to get swept up in the fun stuff, like dress shopping (seriously, one of the best days of wedding planning), colour schemes, floral arrangements, and food, but you need to start with the biggest pieces before you dive head first into these details.

 

First up, get your venue secured ASAP. Once you have your date and venue down, everything else starts to fall into place. Tour venues in-person, if you can; you’ll have an opportunity to chat with a member of the team and get a feel for the space. Come prepared with a list of questions for the venue, such last-call time, when you can access the space, tear-down procedures, whether they allow outside alcohol and catering, their preferred vendors (this can be a huge help since these pros know the space well), insurance required, and if you need to secure a liquor license.

 

Once you have a venue, book your photographer, videographer, and even caterer if the venue doesn’t provide its own food since these vendors book quite far in advance.

 

Decide which costs are worth investing in

Wedding costs add up quickly, and you can’t do it all (unless your budget is unlimited). I also learned that most of the Pinterest-perfect floral arches and table settings you see on social media are expensive. What looks like a small cost can add up fast, too. Five dollars per chair rental sounds cheap—until you need to order 150 of them, plus linens, flatware, charger plates, glassware, the list goes on (and then add delivery fees). Pretty soon, your rental and decor bill can be higher than you planned.

 

Have a conversation with your partner early on (ideally before you even book vendors) about what’s most important to you and which costs you’re not willing to go without. For example, I was obviously ready to splurge on photography and videography but wasn’t interested in a wedding cake or favours. Honestly, no one takes favours home anyway, and our caterer did a dessert station instead. We wanted to provide our guests with a really fun night (especially after we postponed multiple times), so we focused most of our budget on food, the bar, a solid DJ, and fantastic venue (The Hemingway Room at The Commons). We still had pretty decor, but we kept it relatively simple.

 

Read your contracts

Whatever you do, do not skim your contracts and sign. Read these documents thoroughly and carefully. Every vendor’s contract is different, and you need to have a strong understanding of what’s included, like payment schedules, what happens if you need to cancel, if they can’t be at your wedding due to illness, and so on. If you have questions, ask. You won’t offend a vendor if you need them to clarify a point in their contract. I always welcome questions from clients because it means they actually read their contract.

 

Record your ceremony and speeches

Confirm you’ll receive your full ceremony and speeches as part of your videography package. We did, and I’m so glad we have these videos. The ceremony and speeches go by so quickly, and you’ll want to relive those moments. If you decide against hiring a videographer, ask a trusted friend or family member to record them on their phone for you—just make sure there’s a mic during the ceremony so they can get all the audio.

 

Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors for help

This is (likely) the first wedding you’re planning, but your vendors have done this countless times and have seen it all. They’re experts in their field and know what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions and communicate with them. This ensures you’re on the same page leading up to the wedding, but you’ll also feel better having some help. For example, most photographers (myself included) are happy to look at your timeline and help you block off realistic amounts of time for different sections of the day.

 

Hire a day-of coordinator

A day-of coordinator was one of the best investments we made. I was adamant that I didn’t need one when we started planning, but I quickly realized I needed help on the wedding day. I also didn’t want to be fielding calls from vendors that day or having my friends and family do everything. We booked Stacy with Locke Wedding Co., and she was incredible. We had a couple of meetings leading up to the wedding, and she always came with questions I hadn’t even thought about. I felt completely reassured that she had everything under control, and the day ran so smoothly thanks to her. You can also opt for a full planner, but a day-of coordinator is a great alternative if your budget doesn’t allow or you’re already deep into planning and realize you need help (like I did).

 

Stay true to you

At the end of the day, your wedding is about you and your partner. Period. People will have plenty of opinions about your wedding, but you don’t have to listen to every single one. Stick to what’s most important to you and plan a day that reflects the two of you—not what your parents, friends, or random relatives think it should be. Invite the people who are closest to you and don’t feel pressured to include everyone you know, and you can absolutely skip traditions that you don’t want to participate it (like garter or bouquet tosses). No one will notice that you didn’t do these things. And, if you want to include something quirky into the day, go for it! Your wedding doesn’t have look a certain way, and you’ll be happier knowing you planned the day you wanted.

 

Be open-minded about your dress—and find a great seamstress

I loved my dress, but it wasn’t anything like what I thought I would wear. The shape was similar to what I had envisioned, but I had never considered a simple, full crepe dress and thought I wanted lace and beading everywhere. This is why you bring your most trusted people to your bridal appointment. I let each of my bridesmaids choose a dress during our visit to Pearl & Dot (now the Anais Annette flagship boutique), and one of them pulled the dress I wore. It didn’t look like much on the hanger (most wedding gowns don’t), but I knew that it was the one as soon as I put it on (and so did everyone else). Even the sample fit well and it felt like me—more so than the intricate gowns I'd been trying on. This one felt like I was wearing it versus the dress wearing me. I also didn’t think I wanted a veil, but before I knew it we were buying a chapel-length veil and then the belt that was added to the dress for a little sparkle. Most of the dresses I thought I wanted were so uncomfortable when I actually put them on, but this dress was hands down one of the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn. The cut-outs on the side also highlighted my two rib tattoos perfectly. Buy something you feel good in and will be comfortable in all day. Don't be afraid to try some different silhouettes, too. I knew I didn't want a ballgown but tried a couple of fuller skirts anyway just to be sure. They were fun to try if nothing else!

 

Once you have your dream gown, find a knowledgeable seamstress. Do not skimp on this, whatever you do. This can make or break the look of your gown, so budget accordingly. My alterations were double what I had budgeted, just because of the construction of the gown (there were three hidden layers of fabric, even though it looked simple) and the nature of the alterations (she had to reconstruct the back because, well, COVID happened and I wasn’t the exact size I was in 2019 when I bought it). Ask the bridal salon you purchase your gown at for recommendations. They know seamstresses who they trust and who are familiar with their gowns.

 

Practice your first dance

This doesn’t mean a choreographed production, but by all means, go for it if that fits your style. This was a part of the day I was very nervous about (I don’t love being the centre of attention and have two left feet sometimes), and I wish we had danced to our song at least a couple of times before the big moment. Chris did a great job leading us through it, but I think I would have felt more relaxed if we had practiced. My nerves also show in the video.

 

Midnight snack—give the people what they want

Catering will likely be one of your largest expenses, and the midnight snack can really add to the bill. At this point in the night, the drinks are flowing and people aren’t that concerned about what they eat—as long as there’s food. If your venue allows it, look into having pizza delivered (we had Inglewood Pizza since it was close by). One of my bridesmaids also opted to have McDonald’s delivered for her wedding (served on silver platters by the venue staff), and people still talk about how much they loved both.

 

If you are in the midst of wedding planning and searching for a photographer, reach out and let’s chat about your vision for the day. I love helping couples find photo locations, talented vendors, and providing guidance on timeline creation to make the day run smoothly.

 

Our vendors

Venue: The Hemingway Room, The Commons
Photographer: Dana Cole
Videographer: Matt Hutchinson, Hearts in Reverie
Coordination: Locke Wedding Co.
Makeup (bride and MOB): Amber Prepchuk
Makeup (bridesmaids): Nicole Saxton (I had two artists because Amber is a dear friend of mine and was also a member of the bridal party, so I didn’t want her working all morning)
Hair: Kimberly Seibel
Dress: Lotus, Theia Couture (This style is discontinued, but there are still similar ones available)
Veil & Belt: Sara Gabriel Designs (My veil was the Julianne style, but the belt has been discontinued)
Alterations: Couture by Maisoon
Custom MOB jumpsuit and Maid of Honour gown: NRT Fashions (The rest of the bridesmaids' dresses were from The Bay or Laura)
Bouquets and arch arrangements: Flowers by Joan (She doesn’t have a website yet)
Greenery table runners: Succulents & Stems
Decor Rentals: Orange Trunk Vintage Styling & Rentals, Special Event Rentals, The Commons (They offer things like vintage couches, bar fronts, etc that are above the base rental cost), Chair Flair
Catering: Urbane Culinary
DJ: Sounds Unlimited
Midnight Snack: Inglewood Pizza
Officiant: Cynthia Beare, All Seasons Weddings
Limo: AM PM Limousines

 

(Below are some of the photos from our wedding, shot by the talented Dana Cole)