Can you believe it? You’re engaged! We are so excited for you and this new journey. As Jackson Hole photographers, we understand the excitement ahead of you! In the same vein, we are aware of the chaos of wedding planning and how intimidating that can be. Here are the first wedding planning decisions to make now that you are engaged to help you start off on the right foot!

General Dates

Before anything else, think about when you want to get married. We suggest picking a general date, as a specific date is more likely to already be booked for wedding venues. Or if you’re planning an elopement, permits may be running low. Also consider how long you want to save for and plan your wedding. If it is a smaller, more intimate wedding, then 6-9 months is a possibility. However, if you are planning a larger celebration then you will want to have more time to plan. The more time you have for planning the better chances of getting your dream venue, vendors and more!

Budget

Once you have an idea of when your wedding will be, start talking about your budget. How much do you already have saved, how much can you contribute each month, are your parents pitching in? Find out all the details of what is available to you, then start planning how you want to spend that money. Make a list of your priorities, and plan to spend more for those vendors that matter most to you.

If you are feeling constricted with budget, here’s my best advice. Choose 3 things. Focus on those 3 things and let the rest fall away. You’ll be thrilled to have 3 perfect things on your wedding day and be much less stressed trying to work within your budget! Creating a budget may seem limiting, but in reality this is one of the first wedding planning decisions that you can make to eliminate stress and keep you on track.

Venue

Wedding venues book up quick! Many venues in the Jackson Hole area book up to 18 months in advance. If you’re considering a Jackson Hole elopement, you’ll want to look into permits available asap! If permits are all taken there are tons of options for spots to get married without a permit! As a result, you will want to book your wedding venue as soon as possible. Visit venues that are in your budget and see what their availability is for your general dates. Once you book your wedding venue your wedding date will be official. And then you can move on to booking other vendors.

Similar to venues, wedding photographers schedules fill up about a year in advance. Making this one of the first wedding planning decisions to research and discuss as a couple. Find a few photographers that you love for their style and then schedule a call to get to know them and their pricing. Then make a decision on how you connected as well as the quality of their packages.

Again, congratulations! This next chapter will be filled with so many beautiful moments and memories, especially on your wedding day. Ready to book your Jackson Hole photographers?