After the Extravaganza

A huge thanks to my husband, Kevin, and brother, Cody, for helping me at the show! I'm so thankful for the love and support I get from my family!

So you went to the Bridal Extravaganza last weekend!  You saw every vendor, smelled every flower, tasted every cake and meal service...maybe even won a grand prize?  Now what?  With all the wedding info overload how in the world do you even begin to process it?  It's actually quite easy, just follow these steps:

1. Categorize all the brochures and pamphlets.  Make a pile of venues, a pile of photographers, and so on.
2. Toss out the vendors you have already booked.  If you have a florist already booked, there is no need to look at other florists.
   
3. Organize your piles based on priority.  Obviously, if you haven't booked a venue you need to do that before you select your videographer.  So, figure out what you need to book first, second, third, and organize your piles based on that.
4. Start with the most important category and go through that pile.  Select your top 3 choices.  Hopefully you jotted down notes on their paperwork to refresh your memory, but if not just review their brochure and hop onto their website.  Looking at their reviews will be helpful too.  And verify their pricing fits within your budget.
   
5. Schedule meetings with those top 3 professionals.  Try to meet with them all in the same week, so everything is fresh on your mind.  Meet with them all and then discuss them with your fiance.  Within the next day or two sign a contract with the professional you have chosen and get them booked in.  If you wait too long to contact them after meeting them, you risk that vendor booking your date to another bride, especially that first month after the show when all the brides are making their final selections.
   
6. Then just move onto the next wedding category on the list and start with step #4 again.

  By organizing your wedding planning this way, you eliminate confusion and save lots of time and stress.  Happy Wedding Planning!