Wedding Priorities? What Are the Top Four?

The first thing to consider, and your first priority, when planning a wedding is the ceremony. After all, that's what a wedding is all about. Your wedding ceremony should be well planned, meaningful, and significant. It should not be longer than War and Peace, or a slam-bang-out-the-door affair.

Since many churches, temples and houses of worship book weddings as much as a year or more in advance, it's best to reserve your ceremony first--and don't forget to reserve the clergy who will perform the ceremony also.

NOTE: Many weddings take place at reception locations. If that's your plan, reserve early! And don't forget to book the clergy or officiant who will perform the ceremony. 

Your second wedding priority is to reserve your reception site and caterer (if applicable). Just like ceremony sites, reception properties book as much as a year in advance. Some highly populated areas like New York and Los Angeles, may reserve as much as two years in advance.

Once your ceremony site and officiant are reserved, reserve your reception site!

Music can make or break a party and that premise is particularly relevant when it comes to a wedding. But great bands, DJs, and orchestras book fast. After all, they can only perform at one wedding on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and when they're reserved, they're gone.

For that reason, they must be booked early. Just like popular reception sites, great entertainment may reserve as much as a year or more ahead of the wedding date.

When the reception ends, and the cake is in crumbs, and the champagne has stopped flowing, what's left??? Your memories!!!

For that reason, you need to find a great photographer and videographer but unfortunately, many brides shop price and not quality, which is a BIG mistake!

Just like top bands and DJs, talented, skilled photographers and videographers book fast, and when they're gone, they're gone! After all, they can only do one wedding on the same date.

So don't let great talent slip through your fingers: Reserve early!

Once your top four wedding priorities are reserved, you can breathe a little easier! Be sure to contact only vendors/venues that have been referred to you. This is not the time to let "your fingers do the walking..."