wisconsin wedding planner, wedding planning tips
Pop the bottle, you’re engaged! It’s an exciting time to be you! The champagne is flowing, the "congratulations!" are rolling in and for several days you’re walking on air until suddenly, you remember you have to plan a party for 200 guests. Although trying on dresses and tasting cakes is super fun, at the end of the day, planning a wedding is a lot of work! Whether you intend to hire a wedding planner or trek out on your own, here are five things you should do first:
5 things to do the moment you get engaged in wisconsin
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1. Put Pinterest on the back-burner and spend some time getting inspired on Instagram!
2. Consider all four seasons before you settle on a date. (Yes, even winter!)
3. Think outside the barn—it isn’t Wisconsin law to get married on a farm.
4. Take your time finding the *right* wedding vendors.
5. Practice your new mantra: “I must prioritize my floral budget!”
I’m guessing you’ve already created a Pinterest board or two (or three!) for gathering and saving wedding ideas. Pinterest is a fantastic platform for collecting images and you should definitely take advantage of this free tool, but hold the phone! Before your index finger gets all pin-happy, consider these three reasons to put Pinterest on the back burner and get inspired on Instagram first:
Take it from a pro—your Pinterest searches are littered with clickbait pins and generic wedding trends competing for placement. If you’re looking for fresh, unique posts that will truly inspire you (rather than lure you into a sales funnel) then Instagram is the place to be! Especially because you can...
The wedding professional community has a serious love affair with Insta. I can’t speak for every wedding pro out there, but personally, I consider Instagram the #1 barometer for unique and emerging trends on the wedding scene. If you’d like to quickly find the freshest ideas, why not go where the pros go!? Once you find one stellar account, just browse the accounts they follow and prepare to...
Even when you find a particularly good Pinterest board you will inevitably end up sorting through varying themes, styles and color palettes. If you find yourself gravitating towards a particular look, you’ll have a much easier time finding cohesive galleries of your favorite style on Instagram!
1. Put Pinterest on the back burner and spend some time getting inspired on Instagram!
avoid the popularity contest.
...Tap into a community of professionals.
...swoon over cohesive galleries.
For all of the obvious reasons, summer in Wisconsin is a great time to get married. Fall is an equally wonderful season for weddings. But before you pick a date based solely on the weather, consider these three things:
Instead of picking colors simply because they match the season, consider picking the season to match your favorite color palette. Not only will your photographs look stunning, but it’s a surefire way to make fast friends with your wedding planner and florist! Remember to discuss seasonality with your florist before setting your heart on popular stems that aren’t available year-round.
Are you planning to travel towards the equator the day after your wedding? If so, that could be reason enough to reconsider a July wedding! If you’re hoping to save a few bucks (and beat the crowds) do some research and consider traveling during the off-season.
Amidst all the excitement over actually getting married, I’ll bet you haven’t even thought about your anniversary, huh? As a recently married Wisconsin native (and one wrapped in a blanket at all times) I’ll be looking forward to many January anniversaries—what a perfect excuse to plan a sunny vacation every single winter!
2. Consider all four seasons before you settle on a date. (Yes, even winter!)
your favorite color palette.
your honeymoon.
your anniversary.
If you live in Wisconsin you’ve probably attended at least one magical barn wedding, and perhaps you've been dreaming of your own ever since. I’m not here to poo-poo on your countryside dreams (honestly, yay barns!) but I do encourage you to consider the alternatives. Who knows, maybe the venue of your dreams is not what you expected! Here are five unique Milwaukee wedding venues in 2019:
3. Think outside the barn—it isn’t Wisconsin law to get married on a farm.
+ Ivy house
+ the atrium
+ south second
+ good city commons
+ hotel madrid
And if you’re still dreaming of that rustic aesthetic check out my two favorite, unique Wisconsin barn venues:
+ the landing 1841
+ boxed & burlap
You might think that booking stellar wedding vendors will be an easy job, but the truth is that stylish couples unwittingly book the wrong vendors all the time. Seasoned wedding planners spend years cultivating vendor relationships and learning how to coordinate gorgeous weddings, so if you’ve hired one, don’t take their advice for granted! If you’re planning your own wedding, consider these pro tips before signing any contracts:
4. Take your time finding the *right* wedding vendors.
Don’t discount a vendor because they don’t rank on the first page! Do some digging! (We’re creatives, after all, not web developers.)
Like I said, go where the pros go!
What worked for your friend may not work for you, or your venue. Ask questions and compare options—you won’t regret it!
...especially the ones who will get up in your grill on your wedding day (your wedding planner and photographer, for example)
Look beyond the first page of Google.
Search for vendors on Instagram.
Don’t put all your faith on your buddy’s recommendation.
meet your vendors in person.
I once heard a florist say, "The only real difference between any old party and a wedding, is flowers." That is to say, flowers make a wedding day truly magical! Before you even think about DIY floral design (a true sin, if you ask me) consider these options for saving money elsewhere and maintaining a healthy budget for that flower magic:
5. Practice your new mantra: “I must prioritize my floral budget!”
Many venues have special pricing for Fridays and Sundays, especially in the off-season.
It’s common for couples to overlook furniture until they’re faced with a rental and delivery bill for several thousand dollars. Skip the hassle and extra expense by choosing a venue with tables and chairs included!
Sure, offering an open bar all night long would delight your guests, but what do you hope your friends and family will remember about your wedding day in the years to come? The booze, or the dazzling beauty?
Okay fine, I’ll admit I’m a vegetarian with an agenda. Guilty as charged. But honestly, vegetarian food is safer, more affordable, better for the planet and equally delicious! (I promise if you give them cheese and beer, they won’t even notice!)
I hope you enjoyed this list of tips for planning your unique Wisconsin wedding! Stay tuned for more!
Set your wedding date on a Friday or Sunday.
Choose a venue with furniture on-site.
restrict the open bar.
Stick to vegetarian meal options.
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