Where to Begin... {Amy & Clark}

So, I was at an industry event this past Tuesday chatting with two of my favorite DC photographers, Jennifer & Mary from Love Life Images. I was gabbing non-stop about how much fun I have been having planning my wedding over the last very short, but yet somehow long, very exciting three weeks.

While some of you may have caught wind from our blog that Clark proposed {more to come on the engagement story soon} it has been a whirlwind ever since! Our engagement day truly was the happiest day of my life thus far and without Clark knowing, it unleashed the months of planning that my dearest mum and I have been working on undercover!! Needless to say, it was high time to kick it into gear if I was going to make my hopeful wedding date of March 6, 2010.

Jennifer & Mary told me how fun it would be to follow along on this path of a Wedding Planner planning her own wedding... so, here goes!

First things first. While my engagement came in September, I started having the planning discussions with my mother over the summer in hopes that Clark would ask one day soon. As we hemmed and hawed over details, the day finally came when I had to pop the question to my parents... "What is the budget?" It's not an easy task of reigning in all the wonderful ideas to the confines of a budget but it must be done! I always advise my clients to define a budget and stick to it. It was time for me to follow my own advice...

The second thing that I always say is a must is having someone assist in the planning who isn't emotionally attached to all of those wonderful ideas and who can realistically guide you through matching up your dreams while still staying on the right track with funding it all - Hire a planner! Here we have the fabulous Sara Muchnick, Engaging Affairs' Powerhouse Planner. Sara has kept me on track thus far and I am SO blessed to have her willing to hear out all of my ideas along the way!! It's what planners are for, right?!

Finally, I had Clark sit down and pick his side of the guest list. {Yes, only his side... I did mine in July!!} This was a lot of fun to do. We both are very fortunate to have both friends and family that are excited to share in this long awaited moment with us! However, Sara has been key in reminding me that our guest count drives budget. Somehow I am having bridal amnesia when it comes to my own wedding and how things work in this process ;)



Must Haves in the beginning:
1) Defined Budget - be realistic about what you can afford and stick to it!
2) Have help in maintaining reality along the way!
3) Define guest list - this will help maintain your budget throughout the planning!

More to come on the fun stuff - event design, wedding gowns, photography, venue, bridal party and men's attire!

xoxo,
Amy Lorraine