Where should you start with wedding planning? We've helped hundreds of couples design and experience their dream wedding since 2016. In that time, we’ve seen some truly amazing weddings pass through our space. We’d like to pass some of what we’ve learned in that time on to you. So without further ado…
Our Advice for Engaged Couples
Captured by Complete Weddings on our elegant outdoor patio
First, we always want to start with: Congratulations! Getting engaged is a major milestone, and we hope you’ll spend time soaking up every second of it. Wedding planning can be stressful, so never forget what started the whole process! Your relationship is a beautiful thing to celebrate, and the folks who love you can’t wait to celebrate with you.
After you’ve taken some time to CELEBRATE with your friends and family, the planning can begin. Setting a date is of course a vital first step, but there are a couple of soft first steps we recommend taking before then.
Step 1: Prioritize
There is no shortage of options when it comes to a wedding, from the variety of venues available to the ever-longer list of themes, and every day somebody somewhere comes up with a great idea for a new wedding vendor. Do you want a live painter? Wood flowers? A calligrapher for your invites? Rental llamas in a tuxedo and gown? There are no shortage of ways to make your wedding unique.
With that in mind, you need to start with your priorities. What are the vendors you MUST have, and which ones could you do without? What do you want to spend the most on—artesan food, a boutique wedding dress, an award-winning photographer, a dream venue—and what would you be willing to hire on a “budget” package? Once you know what’s most important, you can dive into step two.
Captured by Tandem Wedding Productions in our lush cocktail hour space
Step 2: Dream
This is the part where you make your WeddingWire, Zola, Nearlywed, or Knot account. You scroll through Pinterest and start saving photos to boards. You create a file on Instagram and TikTok and scroll reels for photo and video ideas. As you dream, keep your priorities in mind. Once you’ve got a good idea of what’s out there, what you love, and what’s important to you, we recommend doing more than just sending your ideal vendors a message.
Step 3: Experience
The best way to discover if a vendor is “the one” is to experience them for yourself. Whether that means meeting up with them at a wedding show or touring a venue in-person, we recommend getting a firsthand experience.
If you don’t want your dream date to get snapped up, you’ll need to book your venue FIRST. If you’re looking for a September wedding, a unique date like 10-10 or 11-11, or a Saturday during peak wedding season, you’ll want to book your venue, even if that’s the only vendor you’re ready to take out of the Dream phase. The venue is the base from which you build the rest of your perfect day. We cannot recommend enough that you start here. Read our previous post to learn more!
Captured by Avery Kate Photos in our timeless Grand Hall
Step 4: Decide and Book
Making decisions is difficult, but if you’ve already got an idea of what you’re looking for and where it falls in your priority list, you can make decisions with confidence. We recommend visiting your ideal venues with an open mind—some venues offer same-day or on-site booking discounts that you can’t redeem unless you book then and there. If you’d like to be able to take advantage of those discounts, remember that you’ve already been dreaming and planning! You know what you’re looking for and what’s out there. If a venue seems like a great fit, it’s okay to take advantage of same-day booking to save room in the budget for the fun stuff.
Step 5: Fill In the Blanks
The biggest first step is booking your venue. From there your other vendors will fall into place. Don’t be nervous! You’ve got time. There are lots of online guides to follow, and your venue can help a lot with wedding planning! Ask your venue who their favorite photographers, videographers, caterers, and florists are! It’s likely they already know someone who might be a great fit for you, and they have an existing relationship that can help your day go even better.
So, there you have it. Planning a wedding can be intimidating—nobody said it would be easy! But it should be FUN! You and the person you love are planning an event to celebrate the relationship you’ve built. That’s a pretty cool thing. As long as you keep that in mind, and book that venue first, the rest will fall into place. Wishing you the best!
Captured by Jessi Lynn Photos during a reception in our beautiful Grand Hall
If you’re dreaming of an industrial-style venue with warmth and charm, and lots of lush greenery, we hope you’ll come and experience the Revel Center and our team firsthand. From the moment you step inside, you’ll be transported to a world of elegance and class, and a perfect canvas on which to design your wedding day. We can’t wait to meet you.