Getting engaged is one of the most exciting and joyful moments in the wedding planning process! So, before you even begin to plan your wedding, breathe and take it all in. Enjoy the moments of bliss, throw yourself a little engagement party and share the good news on social media. That’s Step Zero!
Wedding of Kim & Adrian
Photography by Yung Yaw Photography
When you are ready to start wedding planning, there are 3 essentials steps to consider: budget, venue and guest list. Each one of these go hand-in-hand and as Mike and Sully sing in Disney’s Monsters Inc., “One without the other, don't mean nothing to me, nothing to me.” Read on below to find out how to make these 3 essential wedding planning steps work together to make the wedding magic happen.
Step 1: Budget Like A Pro
Money, money, money! Must be funny, in a rich man’s world. The first and absolute step of wedding planning is coming up with your budget. It acts as the road map and guideline for the entire wedding planning process. It informs the kind of venue you will have, your vendors and even your guest list.
Find a time to sit down with your partner and have a serious discussion about your savings and how much the both of you would be able to spend for the entire wedding. You should have a list of non-negotiables and work your budget around this. For example, if you have a photographer that may be out of your budget range but you would absolutely love to work with, account for that and adjust your budget around it. Maybe you could reduce the budget for decor and florals.
We would definitely suggest putting at least 40-50% of your budget towards venue, food and beverage. At DTE Weddings, we always tell our lovebirds, “Your guests will hardly remember your wedding decor but they will always remember when the food is good!”
Wedding of Ee Lin & Wai Kein
Photography by Twins Photograph
Step 2: Choosing Your Dream Venue
A dream is a wish your heart makes, Cinderella once sang. We were all once that little girl (or boy!) who dreamed about the perfect wedding and the perfect wedding venue. Now that we’re here, the first step to picking the right wedding venue is to dig deep and do tons of research, site visits and enquiries into their availability.
Determine the kind of vibe and aesthetic you would love your dream day to reflect. Are you looking for the glamorous hotel setting with fine china and opulent service? Or is your heart set on a garden wedding with lush greenery and sprawling views for miles? Or better yet, are the cosy and warm vibes of an intimate wedding more your style?
In Malaysia, there are two common kinds of venues: those that offer a catering service (typically hotels, restaurants, full service event venues) or those that are purely an event space where you have the freedom to style to your heart’s content with your preferred vendors. Both have their own pros and cons. Remember to keep your budget in mind as you seek out your dream wedding venue.
Wedding of Helena & Nigel
Photography by JH Pixels
Step 3: Planning Your Guest List
Whether you are faced with having to invite 50 people or 500, the guest list is one task you should face head on from the beginning of your wedding planning. Start with a rough draft of your must-have guests: your parents, godparents, favourite cousins, best friends etc. These are the people that you must have at your wedding ceremony or reception. Once you have that list, build the rest of your guest list around it.
Tip: It is also good to consider your parents’ guest list, whether it’s their work colleagues, their bosses or even their own best friends, as they would also want to share in your joy!
We always have clients asking if they should get a wedding website and send out their invitations and collect RSVPs from the site. Our advice: the younger generation would have no issue navigating the technology and love the convenience of a website. However, for Asians and wedding planning in Malaysia, the older generation, think your aunties and uncles, would prefer a more personal touch. They would prefer to hear directly from you, to offer their congratulations and to confirm their attendance.
When planning out your wedding guest list, consider how many people you can realistically host at your dream venue and how many people your budget will allow you to host. The more guests you invite, the more your venue and catering budget has to increase. You would need to find a venue that can host your total number of guests and provide the adequate amount of food for each person invited.
Wedding of Harith & Taylor
Photography by Toi Films
Bonus Step: Get Yourself A Wedding Planner
If all the above sounds daunting and overwhelming, consider hiring a wedding planner! We provide the best options for your budget, vision and guest list while helping you to manage the multitude of options out there in the wedding market. We are armed with multiple spreadsheets of recommendations, budget tracking and hear to lend an ear when it all gets too stressful. Talk to us today to find out your best wedding planning options!
Wedding of Luke & Erica
Photography by Jens KV Photography
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