How to plan a wedding- Houston, TX | Erika Figueroa Photography
Congratulations! You are engaged and probably asking, “What Next?”. Hi, I am Erika and I am a wedding photographer in Houston, TX. I have been photographing weddings and events for over 10 years. When I got engaged I was also overwhelmed. Even with all my knowledge of the wedding industry, I felt unprepared. I cannot imagine having to plan a wedding knowing anything about weddings. There is one thing for sure, it will be an unforgettable night!
- Make a Guest List. Start by making a list of the important people you want to be there to witness this special day. The rule of thumb is if you haven’t spoken to them in the past 6 months they are at the end of the list. Knowing how many guests you want at your wedding will help you determine how big of a soiree you need to plan. This also means, the bigger the guest list, the bigger the budget.
- Set a Budget. How do you set a budget when planning a wedding when you do not know what to expect. Start by making a list of all the must haves for your wedding. Whether it is an open bar, a photo booth, or that amazing photographer your have been eyeing. *Clears throat* Setting those priorities will help you decide on what items to splurge and other items to DIY. Pro tip: the average cost for wedding photography in Texas is $3,000. You can expect more for luxury photographers. View my wedding collections here.
- Reach Out to Vendors. When you reach out to vendors let them know what stage in your wedding planning you are at. Do not ghost a vendor, it is bad etiquette. Don’t forget to subscribe to their newsletter as they may send out some offers via email.
- Hire a Wedding Planner. I cannot stress this enough… Hire a wedding planner. Add it to your must have list because you absolutely need it. A wedding planner will guide you through your whole wedding and they will communicate with vendors for you. Even if you do not hire a planner to plan your whole wedding, hire an event coordinator for the month prior to your wedding. Venue coordinators are there to make sure the facility is taken care of so hire someone that is going to take care of you and your family.
