This is What You Need to Know About Planning Your Oklahoma Wedding

Planning a wedding can be totally overwhelming, but we’re here to make it simple for you! Read on for tips and advice on planning your Oklahoma wedding.

images by sarah eliza

1. START BY SETTING UP A BUDGET

   Set up a wedding budget using a spreadsheet, and divide into categories like “venue, planner, florals, catering, etc.” You’ll want a column for estimated and actual. There are a few typically-forgotten wedding budget items that you won’t want to forget here:

   •Envelope stuffing and postage (postage can get costly!)

   •Tips for wedding vendors

   •A day-of wedding coordinator (if you’re not already using a planner)

   •Service fees

   •Transportation

   •Alterations

   •Getting-ready brunch/lunch

   •Cake-cutting fees

   •Event insurance

2. USE A WEDDING CHECKLIST

To make things simpler, download a wedding checklist. Where can you find a wedding checklist? Over at our friend B.E Wed Oklahoma’s website.

3. BOOK YOUR VENUE, PLANNER, AND PHOTOGRAPHER FIRST

You’ll want to book a wedding planner, your wedding venue, and your wedding photographer first. Those are the first three wedding pros who book up quickly, so you’ll need to jump fast to get the date you want with all three. HOT TIP: If you book your planner first, they can help you find your dream venue if you don’t have one in mind yet. They’ll accompany you on venue tours, compile information, and look over contracts, so you can make the best decision for you.

4. LEARN HOW TO STOP STRESSING OVER THE SMALL WEDDING DETAILS

The first step to relieve wedding planning stress is to hire a wedding planner. If you can’t afford one, hire a month-of wedding coordinator or a day-of coordinator. You should never ever ever skip this. The next thing you need to do to relieve wedding planning stress is remember this: at the end of the day, leaving married is the entire reason you’re even having a wedding. That is the most important part of the day. You won’t remember the tiny things like the menus being the wrong font on your 50th wedding anniversary. Keep things in perspective, and you’ll stress a whole lot less.

5. KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO AGAINST WEDDING TRADITIONS

You don’t have to follow wedding traditions whatsoever. This is your wedding, and you should only include details meaningful to you and your soon-to-be spouse. Who cares what your aunt’s husband’s (twice removed) sister thinks about you having a first look or having wedding pies instead of a wedding cake? Now more than ever, couples are going against the grain and doing what they want to do for their weddings. Give yourself permission to do the same.

6. HIRE WEDDING PROFESSIONALS

If you don’t follow any of the advice in this blog post, at least follow this one. ONLY hire professionals for your wedding. Having family-members or friends who are not in the wedding industry is a recipe for disaster. First, you’ll want to let those you love enjoy the day rather than work it. Next, they aren’t professionals. If you have high expectations, they aren’t going to meet them, and having amateurs work your wedding will cause you unnecessary stress. They’ll be bothering you throughout the night with questions, potentially delay the timeline, and even…go off the clock early to drink and party. Does that sound like an exaggeration? Take it from us, we’ve seen it much more than just a handful of times. This ties back in to stressing less at your wedding: hire professionals, and keep your worries at bay.

Special thanks to Spain Ranch couple Carley Moore of Content Therapy and My Mod Mess and Corwin Moore of Bros Hooligan and Red Door Grille Tulsa for sharing their jaw-droppingly gorgeous wedding gallery with us.

Photography: Sarah Eliza

Florals: Ever Something

Cake: Laurannae Baking Co.

Gown: Aleena Leena

Food: The Vault

DJ: RedLine

Rentals: Telluria and Party Pro Rents

HMUA: Stunning by Starla and Ash Franke Styles

Video: NB Productions

Featured on the Wedding Blog