by Andrea Calodolce
When it comes to planning your wedding, no matter what the size, taking the time to think about and clearly define your vision will save you so much time, money, effort and disappointment.
When you are crystal clear on what your priorities are, you can use those priorities to inform every single decision you make during the wedding planning process. Your priorities essentially become your guidelines, your rule book, and your map for planning your wedding. We all know that having a map means you are more likely to end up at the right destination by the most efficient route and with the least stress!
No doubt you’ve already found yourself endlessly scrolling, getting distracted by all the sparkling pretty things online, frantically saving and pinning posts, and ending up with a very confused (very pretty, but confused) array of inspiration focusing mostly on what things look like and completely forgetting the other elements that are so important in making your wedding day a success.
Of course, what your wedding looks like is important. You want a celebration that truly reflects you and your personality as a couple, and to make beautiful memories to look back on. However, too many couples forget about what their day feels like, who they want to be there, and where the celebrations will take place – which all contribute to the overall feel (along with all the pretty things).
We know that starting with a blank sheet of paper can feel daunting and overwhelming, so we’ve devised the Three Vs to help you out. So, grab a pen and paper or download our free worksheet (below) to get started.
In each section, we’ve included a few examples. Choose those that are relevant to you or add your own. Remember, you’re only choosing your top priorities. We recommend two from each section. Any more and your vision is still too broad to be useful in guiding your planning process.
1. VALUES
Here it’s important to ask yourselves two questions.
- Why are you getting married?
- What is most important to you when it comes to your wedding?
Examples:
- Family/Community
- Sense of/Connection to Place
- Nature
- A reflection of culture
- Sustainability
- Equality & Inclusion
- Privacy/Personal
- Unique experience
2. VENUE
Where do you want to get married?
Think big picture, not specific locations. And keep in mind that the place you say “I do” (ie. have your ceremony) does not have to be the same place where you celebrate afterwards. In fact, you may choose the celebration location first, then choose a ceremony location nearby.
Examples:
- Practical (eg. indoors, no wet weather plan)
- Accessible
- In nature
- Indoors
- Special Significance
- Outdoors – beach, coast, gardens
- Private – exclusive use, Airbnb
- Local
- Destination
- Great food
- Spectacular setting for photos
3. VIBE
What do you want your wedding to feel like?
Here we’re talking about the overall atmosphere (not themes or aesthetics).
Examples:
- Relaxed
- Intimate
- Romantic
- Fun
- Formal
- Friendly
- Festive
- Chic
- Sense of Occasion
BONUS V – VIPs
Who do you really want to share your wedding day with?
This is a tough one, but it’s important to be really clear on who you actually want at your wedding. Keep in mind that opening this number up may compromise your ability to plan according to your values. For example, a larger number of guests could mean you can’t go as high quality on the food, depending on your budget.
Once you’re done, stick your Three Vs on the fridge or by your desk, and every time you make a decision or get excited (distracted) by something you see online, check back to see if you’re on track to achieve your unique vision. And, share it with us so we can provide advice and recommendations tailored specifically to you!
PHOTO CREDITS
Kat Rollings
Martine Payne