If you’re one of the lucky couples that gets to celebrate your wedding in Sun Valley you’re in for a treat. With mountain backdrops, gorgeous landscapes and beautiful venues, you’re bound for a wonderful event.
However, planning a wedding can be daunting and knowing what to do can be even more nerve wracking. Luckily, we’ve compiled a wedding planning checklist for Sun Valley weddings in hopes to make your day that much more enjoyable.
1 Year+ Ahead
Set Your Budget
This is a great place to start when planning your Sun Valley wedding. Some venues are more expensive than others and knowing your priorities and when and where you want to get married will be key in deciding your budget. Search online for some helpful budgeting tools or feel free to reach out to a wedding planner (like Sprout Design Wedding) to see what an average budget needed would be.
Pick Your Date Range
You’ll first want to decide what year will be best for your Sun Valley wedding. Are you leaning more towards summer or winter? Knowing what general season you’d like to get married will help you narrow down what months will be best and will affect your budget slightly. Choose a few months that sound good to you and narrow it down by dates. You’ll end up having to choose dates based on your venue, but knowing a general time frame will help you make your final decision.
Figure Out Your Wedding Vision
If you haven’t started using Pinterest, now might be the time to begin! Start researching other weddings and get some magazines to determine the overall vision and vibe you’d like at your wedding. This will help you determine which venue you will want and help you portray what you’d like to your Sun Valley wedding planner.
Hire Your Sun Valley Wedding Planner
This isn’t necessary if you want to plan your own wedding, but if you’re looking for a flawless event where you get to focus on having fun and being with family and friends vs. worrying about the caterer, a wedding planner is for you. Do some research for wedding planners in the area or check out Boise to find one that will be willing to travel. You can also contact us at sproutdesignwedding.com for a quote.
Create Your Guest List Draft + Ask Your Wedding Party
Figuring out your guest list can be daunting, but making a rough draft of the amount of people you’d like to invite will help you determine how many people can fit at your venue.
You’ll also want to ask your wedding party to be part of your wedding once you know a few more details. Ask them in a special way or just call them and let them know how excited you are to have them in your life.
Find and Book Your Sun Valley Wedding Venue
Many people think this is the hardest part of planning a wedding which is why we recommend having a wedding planner by now to help you with this process. Check out some of our favorite Sun Valley wedding venues here. Make sure the venue gives off the wedding vibes you want and that it is within the budget you decided in the beginning.
Start Meeting With Wedding Vendors
Your wedding planner will help a lot with timelines and will help with vendors, but once you’ve chosen your wedding party, it's time to start working on deciding your caterers, photographers, videographers, musicians, florists, and bakers in your area. Check out their online profiles to make sure they are what you want.
9 Months+ Ahead
When you have a wedding planner you’ll be stress free when deciding on timeline. Here are some things to think about when you’re 9+ months before your wedding:
Shop for your wedding dress
Reserve your hotel and rooms
Create a registry and wedding website
Send out save the dates
4-6 Months+ Ahead
It’s getting much closer to your wedding! Be sure to do the following 6+ months ahead of the special day.
Decide on Groom, Groomsmen and Bridesmaid’s attire
Determine wedding invites
Choose your wedding bands
Begin honeymoon planning
Pick your wedding hair and makeup
2- 3+ Months Ahead
You’re getting even closer! Here’s what we recommend you do in month 3.
Select a Rehearsal Dinner location
Mail out your wedding invites
Have your wedding dress fitting
Plan your Bachelorette/Bachelor parties
Create your wedding playlist
Order wedding favors
1 Month Ahead
Your wedding is only 1 month away! It’s time to crank out a few last minute items before the big day.
Finalize your wedding vows
Gather up your RSVP’s and final headcount
Create your wedding day timeline with your planner
Finalize your seating chart
Buy gifts for your significant other and your groomsmen and bridesmaids
1 Week Ahead
Things are starting to get real! Here’s what to do 1 week before you say I do!
Pick up your wedding dress
Get your marriage license
Check in with your vendors
Wedding Day!!
If all goes as planned, you should be able to have a wonderful and flawless wedding day. Make sure you eat, get your hair and makeup done and try and stay on schedule. Once you’re married, have the best time celebrating the best day of your life, oh and don’t forget to dance the night away!
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For wedding planning help, design and advice for your Sun Valley wedding, contact us here.