Image courtesy of Katie Mihalak Photography

Planning your wedding can be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can also cause some unnecessary stress. Through the years, we have helped many couples plan their big day. As a family-owned farm, we understand the importance of creating memories with our loved ones and want to help make your wedding venue and planning process perfect for your special day. Here are five important tips to help make planning your big day a little less stressful:  

1. Set a wedding budget and stick to it 

Probably one of the most important details you can decide early on is your wedding budget. You and your partner should sit down and discuss this before you begin planning. How much can you realistically afford to spend on top of your real-life expenses? Do you have savings you are willing to use? Do you have any financial help for your wedding? How much can you afford to save between now and your wedding date? A budget may seem like a mundane place to start, but it will help overall with important wedding planning decisions such as your “non-negotiables”. Perhaps there is a certain wedding venue, dress, or band you cannot live without. Don’t forget about your guest list – this number can significantly impact on your overall budget, so we recommend starting here when you begin your wedding planning.

2. Create an inspiration board  

Creating a “inspo board” for your wedding can help you and your partner gather your thoughts and can create a vision for you and your wedding planners to work towards. This “board” can be a Pinterest board, Instagram posts, or maybe just a photo album you save in your phone with images that you like and make you think of your own wedding day. When working with your wedding planners and venue, this vision board can help you to describe the overall feeling or story that you want your wedding to tell. It is a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page when helping you plan. Are you picturing a rustic, timbered barn wedding with whimsical lighting? Do you want a bold and colorful wedding? Or maybe a soft and elegant feel is more your style. Creating this inspiration can also be a fun creative outlet for you and your partner to enjoy together. Or if you’d like to get your friends and family involved in the planning process, this is a great first step to ask for their help. 

3. Find a venue & wedding planner that suits you and your vision 

Selecting the perfect wedding venue is probably one of the biggest and most important decisions you will make when planning your big day. Making sure the venue offers what you envision is a huge consideration. Often, couples will also want to hire a planner or perhaps choose a venue that provides a planner. Here at Port Farms, we offer a dedicated staff to our wedding couples. Not only will you have a friendly wedding planner assisting you with your decisions, but we are here to ensure your experience is amazing and you plan the day of your dreams. We work with our couples to help with those personal touches and work to create the perfect wedding day for you and your guests.  

Something else we like to be up front about is what options we offer. People often don’t think about asking a venue for a list of what is included or what additional options are available. Are tables, chairs, cutlery, or linens included in your cost? These are all great questions to ask up front to make sure your venue is everything you want it to be. 

4. Prioritize photography 

One of the best ways to remember how perfect your wedding day was is by hiring a photographer/videography who understands your vision. Your wedding day photos will last a lifetime and can be a great way to savor your memories for years to come. It is also a way to see how much your guests enjoyed celebrating you and your partner while you may have been busy. Photographers become an extension of your wedding team and if you find a good fit, they can help inspire and take some stress out of your big day. At Port Farms we have worked with many amazing local photographers such as Katie Mihalak Photography, who have been able to capture couples’ stories with the most stunning photos.  

5. Enjoy your journey 

This may sound like an easy one to remember, but sometimes this is the hardest part of wedding planning. Not only do you have a bright new future to plan with your partner, but you are now planning a day you never want people to forget. The days can become bogged down with to-do lists, financial discussions, venue questions, and catering companies. Try to remember this is a time to feel joy and to celebrate being in love and engaged. This is a once in a lifetime experience that should be remembered and celebrated. Take a step back, ask for some help when needed, and remember how fun the journey can be!