The New York Times Weddings desk has developed an exciting and interactive new tool called How to Plan Your Wedding. With wedding planning being quite notorious for overwhelm, this personal roadmap will help guide you through the process.
My interview with The New York Times Wedding Editor, Charanna K. Alexander, provides more specifics on this new tool.
Q: How does the guide for planning your wedding complement or supplement the wedding planning process?
A: The Wedding Plan is a multifaceted educational tool designed to be a companion for couples new to the wedding planning process. It starts by helping couples define and prioritize their vision before they begin hiring vendors or thinking about how much they want to spend. We want them to get clear on what they want the day to look and feel like. From there, we move into budget, because that decision shapes everything: who you hire, the elements you include, even what you wear. It all starts with getting realistic about what you want to spend. We worked with wedding professionals to provide ranges that reflect real costs and to prepare some couples for sticker shock. Many people don’t realize what it takes to produce a wedding, or how much pricing can vary depending on the time of year, location and what’s available. Then we focus on building your team and bringing on collaborators who can help execute your vision.
At its core, the guide is a roadmap that helps couples get clear, stay organized and access expert advice so they can make confident decisions about their day.
Q: What was the inspiration for creating this tool to assist couples in planning their weddings?
A: The inspiration really came from both vendors and couples. As I traveled for speaking engagements and attended events, one of the most common frustrations I heard from wedding professionals was how much time they spend educating couples on what goes into producing a wedding and what it actually costs.
I thought, what if all of that information lived in one place? A resource where couples could get fully acclimated to the world of weddings before meeting with vendors, so they could walk into those conversations informed and prepared.
On the flip side, from both observation and personal experience, wedding planning can be overwhelming. There are so many moving parts and an endless stream of inspiration and information online.
I wanted to create a soft place for couples to land — somewhere they can move at their own pace, have meaningful conversations about the event they want to create, and learn about the industry, pricing and options all in one place.
Q: What is special or unique about this wedding planning guide?
A: What makes this guide unique is that it truly functions as a planning companion that touches on every aspect of designing a day that looks and feels like you.
We’ve included a personalized checklist that allows couples to remove tasks and share a customized PDF with their partner or planning team. There’s also a 12-week newsletter that keeps couples accountable while encouraging them to take breaks and focus on life outside of wedding planning.
For those starting from scratch, we created a wedding style quiz that breaks down five of the most popular styles. It guides couples through a series of fun questions to help them define their vision.
We also include a detailed budget breakdown covering the top 10 vendors most couples hire, along with realistic price ranges and the variables like location and season, that can cause those costs to rise or fall.
The guide itself is structured into four quarters, and at the end of each one, couples are encouraged to treat themselves to something enjoyable, like stepping away from planning or turning a task into something they actually look forward to.
Here is a snapshot of the interactive choices for selecting your type of wedding.
The New York Times writer, Sadiba Hasan, provided some wedding budget ideas to help couples plan their spending.
Q: Are there any specific items in the wedding budget that couples tend to spend more than expected or wish they had spent more?
A: Couples are often shocked by the hefty quotes handed to them by venues. It’s by far the most expensive category in the wedding budget, and I’ve talked with many couples who have shared stories about panicking after receiving their first estimate. In some cities, a $50,000 price tag for the venue alone is completely normal.
Q: All the budget items added together contribute to a sort of ‘budget creep,’ but another completely unexpected item is the service charge.
A: Couples often look at the menu price (e.g., “$100 per person”) and do the math. However, the final invoice often includes a service charge of approximately 20% to 25%. This is one of the ‘hidden fees’ that many couples didn’t see coming.
As far as where couples wish they had spent more, I’ve spoken with many who realized that cutting corners on certain items negatively impacted the experience or their memories. Couples who hired a budget photographer often wish they had paid more for coverage hours or a second shooter to capture different angles and candid moments. (A rising trend involves couples asking friends and family to capture candid moments and share them via a QR code or app.)
I also frequently hear from couples that the “vibe essentials,” like the entertainment (DJ or band), is one area they wish they had spent more. After all, what’s the point of spending so much on a wedding if the guests aren’t having fun?
Q: Do couples spend more than expected on certain budget items that they wish they had spent less?
A: Flowers frequently come up when couples discuss expensive budget items that they wish they had scaled back. Massive floral arches or hanging installations that are only viewed for 20 minutes during the ceremony and die quickly are high-regret items.
However, many couples are learning that they can save by choosing locally grown flowers, opting for high-quality rentals, selecting a venue with a lush natural landscape, or even using candles as centerpieces instead of large floral arrangements.
Best wishes with your wedding planning!
