Photo by Krista Stevens Photography

Let’s be honest, planning a wedding can feel pretty overwhelming. Let us guess, you’ve been studying Pinterest at all hours of the day and night, and researching wedding planning blogs like crazy? Sound about right? However, you can never fully anticipate what your wedding day will be like until it’s actually here. It’s okay. Take a deep breath. We are here to make planning a wedding feel like a breeze. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of top tips from past couples and newlyweds. They’ve walked down the aisle, said their “I Do’s” and have fully enjoyed their receptions. And now they’re ready to pass on their knowledge to you.

PLAN AHEAD & CHOOSE YOUR VENDORS CAREFULLY

• “Start early! (or as early as you can) - It really helps to have plenty of time, especially if you're getting married at a popular time of year. Things book up fast!” - Hillary

• “Make sure you pick a great venue, caterer, and photographer. Those are so important! Also make sure to take time to actually enjoy the planning process. Remember it doesn't all have to be done at once!” - Leah

VISUALIZE YOUR PERFECT WEDDING DAY

• “Start with trying to form your own vision. Pinterest/Etsy are great but can overwhelm you!” - Sequoia

• “Your wedding is about you and your significant other, no one else. It’s hard to remember that sometimes when trying to accommodate everyone’s needs. Even if things don’t go as planned on the big day, in the end you are married and that’s is all that matters! Enjoy every minute of it, it goes by quick!” – Allyssa, Bride

• “Don’t worry about the guests, it’s YOUR wedding, just the two of you. If they love you enough they will make it to your wedding. Don’t plan stuff around them.” - Missy

Photo by Danielle Flake Photography

ALLOW TIME FOR YOU & DELEGATE

• “One piece of advice I would give to couples planning their wedding is to allow enough time off work before the day of the wedding to make sure everything is together and all the boxes are checked off. I work night shift as a nurse and I worked up until the Thursday night before my Sunday wedding and I felt so out of the loop on my vendors and all our decorations and I felt rushed to get everything together and make sure I had everything I needed.” - Paige

• “Delegate and take it a little at a time. Planning can be very overwhelming, but if you have reliable vendors and help from family/friends-it will go smoothly!” - Claire

Photo by Logan Jarrard Photography

consider your guests

• “Think about your guests! A lot of the decisions we made had to do with the flow and timing of the event. I pulled on prior experiences of weddings I was a guest at and thought about what choices were made in consideration of the guests and what weren't. Everyone will tell you that your day is all about you, and to a degree it is. But you wouldn't be where you are without the love and support of every person that will be at your wedding. They have given their time and resources to support you! So think of them when you are planning your event.” - Elizabeth

ENJOY IT

• “Just know something isn't going to go as planned. Be ready to roll with it once the big day gets here, and don't sweat the small stuff.” - Matt

• “Just enjoy every part! As much as I felt like a crazy woman running around getting everything done, it truly was such a fun time in our lives and I would do it all over again tomorrow! At the end of the day, forget about small details most people will overlook and just take in the fact you get to marry your best friend!” - Lilly

• “Everything will work out in the end. I spent a lot of time stressing out over the smallest things, and in reality.. on wedding day it is all going to work out- your friends and family are all going to pull together that day to make sure your dream wedding happens. Nothing will ever go just perfectly, so don't be super disappointed if something goes off the track! Keep a good attitude about it and ENJOY YOUR day. People will always have their own opinion, but it is your day and between the two of you. As long as you and your SO are happy and having a blast, I promise everyone else will be too. The stress is silly so don't worry too much. Also, take time to enjoy every single moment and soak it in!” - Courtney

Photo by Tory Bass Photography

It’s time to talk wedding budgets. To reduce wedding planning stress, it’s important to plan your budget in advance. You’ll want to make sure you and your fiancé are on the same page about what your top spending priorities are – and what you’ll be able to compromise on. 

In 2017, the average couple spent $33,391 on their wedding (excluding the honeymoon). Let’s start by seeing how the average budget breaks down: 

Source: The Knot

Allocating Funds

Typically, your reception will eat up the bulk of your budget. To avoid any surprises, you’ll want to plan accordingly and be sure to leave a rainy day fund for unexpected costs. 

• Stationery: 2–3%

• Wedding rings: 2–3%

• Parking and transportation: 2–3%

• Gifts: 2–3%

• Misc. costs: 8%

• Reception: 48–50%

• Ceremony: 2–3%

• Attire: 8–10%

• Flowers: 8–10%

• Entertainment/music: 8–10%

• Photography/videography: 10–12%

Photo Courtesy of Jodi Gray Photography.

Venue Cost:

One of the first things you’ll have to decide on is your wedding venue. There’s a myriad of options out there and you might consider everything from a barn to a ballroom – but no matter what you choose, this will most likely be the biggest line item on your budget. 

The average venue costs $5,400 (source) and most couples spend between $2,700 to $10,500. 

Things to keep in mind: 

There are a number of factors that can impact your venue cost.  

• Date: One of the biggest things that can impact your venue cost is your wedding date. A Friday or Saturday wedding will typically cost more than an event that takes place during the week or on Sunday. If you’re looking to save, consider a Sunday brunch wedding! 

• Tone: The more formal, the more expensive. A formal wedding means creating an overall upscale vibe – and things like a seated meal, fancy band, and all out decor can quickly add up. 

• Guest count: At Revolution Mill Events we offer flat rate pricing for our venue for up to 200 guests. But keep in mind that you’ll be paying per person for catering so the more people you have the more you’ll be spending.

• Outside vendor fee: Many venues have approved vendor lists or will charge a fee if you hire a vendor outside of their approved list. At The Colonnade, Pepper Moon Catering is proud to offer seamless event management and exclusive catering. We require that all food (with the exception of cakes and specialty desserts), beverage, and equipment rentals must be secured through our team. However, contracted vendors are welcome to provide other goods and services without an additional fee. 

• Parking: Keep in mind that if you select a downtown venue or a venue with valet parking your guests (or you) may end up paying parking fees. Both of our venues offer ample free parking, including a large amount of handicap spots. 
  
  
  

Photo courtesy of Danielle Defayette Photography.

What equipment is included? 

When comparing venue costs, you’ll want to keep in mind what the venue rental fee includes. Does it include basic furniture, flatware or linens?  

77 percent of venues include tables and chairs, but this is something you’ll want to verify. 

At The Colonnade, our rental fees include standard tables, chairs and accessories. Every package includes: 

• (25) 60” Round Tables

• (3) 48” Round Tables

• (6) 6’ x 30” Tables

• (20) 8’ x 30” Tables

• (8) 30” Tall Cocktail Tables

• Podium

• Decorative Easel

• Banquet Chairs

• Base linen package

• Audio/visual equipment

Calculate your costs

Starting to panic about how much this is all going to cost? The Knot offers a free Wedding Budget Calculator to help make sure you’re allocating your funds to the right places. Check it out here. 

If you’re looking for more details on what The Colonnade includes with our rental, check out our Wedding Guide here.  

Once you’ve said “yes,” wedding day prep can become a bit of a whirlwind. All of a sudden you’re faced with a million small decisions – it’s not just picking the dress, it’s picking what kind of table cloths will be used, what time the ceremony will be, organizing a seating chart, and hiring a whole team to help you pull off your special day.  

To help you enjoy the build-up to your special day, we’ve pulled together four must-use wedding resources that can help you make it all happen… with minimal stress.

WeddingWire

WeddingWire is here to take the stress out of planning your big day – they have tools available for picking your wedding date, planning your seating chart, determining your budget, and managing vendors. 

They also have a huge database that lets you search vendors by location. You can browse for everything you need, including venues, photographers, officiants, bands, jewelers, wedding planners, and more. 

Need inspiration? Pinterest is not the only place -- you can get all the inspiration you need on Wedding Wire. You can browse dress styles, check out the user forum, or take advantage of their expansive blog. 

Website: www.weddingwire.com

The Knot

A popular alternative to WeddingWire, The Knot is another one-stop wedding planning shop. On one easy-to-use online hub, you can manage almost all your wedding needs including your:

• Registry

• Guest list

• Budget

• Wedding day timeline

• Vendors

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, The Knot even has a free quiz to help you define your wedding day style. After you take the quiz they’ll help guide you to the right vendors to make your vision a reality. 

Website: www.theknot.com

TriadWeddings

Looking to get more local? TriadWeddings is a premier wedding resource and planning guide in Greensboro. Browse local wedding resources or download their free local wedding guide. 

One of our favorite parts is The Real Weddings section, where you can browse photos of other area couple’s weddings. 

Website: www.triadweddings.com

Triad Bridal Association

Sometimes deciding which vendor to opt for can feel like a real stab in the dark. However, the Triad Bridal Association takes the guesswork out of picking a vendor. 

When you hire a Triad Bridal Association member, you will be working with one of the area’s top wedding professionals. Someone with plenty of experience, who is not learning on your wedding. All of the Members adhere to a Code of Ethics, and you’ll breathe easy knowing that you (and your wedding) are in good hands.

Revolution Mill Events and Pepper Moon Catering are proud members of the Triad Bridal Association!

They’ve also got a section dedicated to local wedding shows where you can even snag a discount on a future show!

Website: www.triadbridal.com

Other Resources

• Evernote: If you’re looking to stay organized, this app (available on desktop and mobile) will keep everything on track. You can make multiple notes/notebooks, add pictures, or set reminders for yourself.

• Google Docs: Check out all the tools available with your Google account! You can use Google Drive to store photos, Google Sheets to make spreadsheets of vendors, and even Google Forms to gather RSVPs. All of your files will be easily shareable and available on your mobile and desktop.
  

Our Resources

If you’ve narrowed down your venue to The Colonnade, we provide a free wedding guide to walk you through everything you need to know about our venue. You can get an idea of a typical timeline, find answers to frequently asked questions, and see what’s included with your rental. 

If you’re ready to start planning your reception food and drink, you can view Pepper Moon’s Catering menu HERE.