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PL ANNING
Cast a wide (inspiration) net
Tackle some of the logistics
Now that you have the helpful visuals and words to describe your ideal wedding day look, it’s time to do a deep inspo dive. This is the “dreaming” phase of your planning, so don’t worry too much about the cost of an idea or whether it’s a good fit for a certain venue— your vendors can help you figure all that out. Right now just focus on getting a better idea of what you do (and don’t) want. Instagram and real weddings (like those on TheKnot.com) are crazy-valuable sources of inspiration, but don’t stop there. Practically anything can inform your wedding day vibe, so be on the lookout for unusual sources of inspiration. Love a pattern you see on a dress while shopping at Anthropologie? Snap a pic of it. Touched by the sweet china pattern on your mom’s plates at Thanksgiving? Model your invitation suite after it. The more unique places you can pull inspiration from, the more true to your DNA your wedding will feel.
Nailing down certain specifics for your day can make imagining it (and executing it) much easier. Once you think you’ve compiled a good amount of inspiration, start to narrow in on a few of the most important factors for your day, such as which season you prefer to get married in, a general radius or location, and the size and formality of celebration that feels right to you. A lot of times, your season or your setting can dictate your vision, so you want to firm this up ASAP. Have your heart set on a beachfront wedding? You’ll likely want to say “I do” during warmer months, and a sandy spot may mean a more casual feel overall. Likewise, the desire for a moody, glamorous affair may point you in the direction of a fall ballroom wedding. Once you have certain guidelines sketched out pertaining to your whole vision, it will be much easier to find vendors, details and products to help you execute it flawlessly. >>
fun ways to personalize your day Make your wedding truly feel like your wedding with these touches.
The invitations
Think beyond just coordinating your paper with your color palette. Instead, include unique details as well, like finishing the envelope off with vintage stamps from the states where you both grew up, shutting it with a custom wax seal depicting your initials or incorporating a favorite piece of poetry onto the back of your details card for guests to frame.
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Your vows
The promises you and your partner make to each other during your ceremony are the whole reason this party is going down, so put your heart into it. If you’re too nervous or shy to do anything super personal, think about including a special sentiment in your wedding programs instead, like additional vows, a favorite poem, quote or inside joke.
The menu
Serve solely local cuisine, or a certain specialty dish you both love (like French pastries, if you got engaged in Paris). Midnight snacks are also becoming increasingly popular, so keep the dance floor packed by having waiters pass around your grandmother’s famous chocolate chip cookies or paper cones filled with “Nuts for Each Other” peanuts.
Your transportation
Leave your ceremony or reception in a vehicle that’s totally #couplegoals. Take a ride in a vintage cab to nod to your love of New York City, scooter away on a super-sleek mint-green Vespa if you’re honeymooning in Italy, or say your final farewells to your coastal reception venue aboard a luxe sailboat. It will be a farewell to remember.
10/30/18 9:01 AM