Weddings Redefined

So, now that you're engaged, where do you begin?  Here's a quick summary of the first five steps of wedding planning (yes, even gay wedding planning):

1.  Create a budget factoring in what you can contribute yourselves (including how much you expect to be able to save by your wedding date), and how much you might expect from parents.  Most of my clients spend an average of $35,000-$40,000 on a 100 person gay wedding in the greater Boston area.

2.  Make a guest list and discuss rules about the guest list (that you should be strict about enforcing).  For example, what is your policy about children?  About co-workers?  About friends of your family?  About +1s?

3.  Hire a wedding planner!  Seriously, if you can afford it, you should, and I'm not trying to plug my business, but it's really good investment.  We can save you major time, stress and even money.

4.  Begin venue research.  Create a spreadsheet of options and set up appointments to visit.  Make sure those venue options have familiarity with gay weddings and gay couples.   Choose a venue.

5.  Set up room blocks for your out of town wedding guests traveling in for the wedding.

Did you get engaged over the holidays?  Where are you in your planning process?