Planning your wedding is a wonderful, exciting journey, where you try to get as close as you can to your fairytale, dream wedding. Think about it, what is better than planning the biggest, most lavish party of your life? But, as you may have noticed, it’s not all about cake sampling and wedding dress shopping.

You’re confronted from all sides by big decisions that have to be made that can make or break your special day. Should you pack your things and have your dream destination wedding? Should you DIY the entire reception? That’s highly plausible, because I remember that I, with the help of some others, laid out a whole Resin Bound Patio DIY. This should make it easier for you to DIY the reception.

But, luckily, people have been getting married for centuries, and as a Pittsburgh wedding photographer, I have been getting the hang of how to plan a successful event. Here are my best tips provided by Pittsburgh wedding planner experts. The list covers everything, from the things that are often forgotten, to the things you can skip altogether!

 

Figure out your budget first

Before you even think about tackling everything at once, take a second and consider one of the most important factors: the budget,

Identify what matters to you, what you want to splurge on and what you can skimp on, and find a budgeting tool that helps you to create an outline of the costs. Also, a great tip is putting aside around 10% as a cushion. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

 

Don’t stress over wedding invitations

There’s no need to go overboard with the fanciest, most luxurious stationery. Expensive, traditional wedding invitations are not necessary anymore. Try spending less on the stationary or go the full digital invite route. One of my most common tips is to try to spend the majority of your money on the actual wedding day, not on the process beforehand.

 

Have fun with the dining experience

There is a myriad of ways to create a unique dining experience that your guests will remember after they leave. You have options such as skipping the kitchen and bringing in food trucks, having dessert as a starter, or surprising your guests midway through the night with a pizza snack. Whatever you end up choosing, make it your own!