Are you newly engaged? Congratulations!! I know how overwhelming wedding planning can be, so I’m here to take the guesswork out of the first steps of wedding planning after getting engaged. With years of experience photographing weddings at some of the most stunning wedding venues in San Antonio, Texas, I’ve put together the ultimate wedding planning guide to ensure your big day is as seamless and magical as possible.

The First Five Steps of Wedding Planning

Choose a Season for your Wedding

One of the very first things you need to do once you get engaged is decide when you want to have your wedding. This will depend a lot on where you want to get married. Are you getting married in Texas? Perhaps you should consider a spring or fall wedding to avoid the brutal summers. Are you planning a destination wedding in Colorado? Summer months are your friend! If you love greenery and wildflowers (I’m a sucker for green and wildflowers!!), I’d consider a Spring Texas Wedding. If you prefer more of a cozy fall feel, then a fall wedding is probably right for you!

In Texas, spring and fall are very popular times to get married, so you might want to consider choosing your preferred season for the following year to give yourself enough time to wedding plan. Keep in mind, even a Fall wedding in San Antonio, Texas can be brutally hot!

Decide on an Overall Wedding Budget

Deciding on a wedding budget is notoriously difficult. Many couples are shocked to find out how much to budget for a wedding in Texas. The average cost of a wedding in San Antonio, Texas for 200 guests is $30,000-$40,000.

Distributing your Budget

• Wedding Venue: One of the biggest expenses is your wedding venue which can cost upwards of $15,000. Often times venues also have a closed vendor list for catering so that you HAVE to choose a caterer on their preferred vendor list. Be sure to ask venues if they have an open vendor list!
• Catering: Catering can be another HUGE cost, so be sure to account for that in your budget as well. Most catering quotes will run you $25-50 per person. So for a 200 guest count wedding, that is an additional $10,000 for catering.
• Planner/Coordinator: The cost of a wedding planner in San Antonio will vary depending on whether you want full-service/partial planning or just coordination. You can expect to pay between $1500-$7,000 depending on the route you choose!
• Florals: Flowers are one of those costs that will likely give you sticker shock you weren’t expecting. A lot of your floral cost will depend on what you are wanting, obviously. Couples spend on average $3,000-$4,000 on florals for their wedding in San Antonio, Texas. This would be for the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, basic centerpieces, and a small ceremony arrangement. Anything more elaborate than that will add to the cost of your florals.
• Photography: The average cost of a wedding photographer in San Antonio, Texas is $3,000-$6,000. That range is highly dependent on the experience level of the photographer, with more inexperienced photographers falling below that range. If you’re paying under $2,000 for 8 hours of wedding day coverage, you are likely hiring a very inexperienced wedding photographer. If you hire someone over the $6k range, you are likely booking an experienced luxury wedding photographer.
• Videography: Videography in San Antonio, Texas is an additional cost between $2,000-$5,000.
• Miscellaneous: Don’t forget to include decorations, your wedding dress, hair and makeup, shoes, suits, DJ, photobooth, stationer, wedding cake, etc. when looking at your budget! These things add up quickly!

Once you have your budget decided, it’s time to choose a venue!

Find a Venue

San Antonio is home to some truly breathtaking wedding venues. From rustic barns to elegant ballrooms, there’s something here for every couple. Your choice of venue sets the tone for your entire day and plays a big role in your wedding photos. Look for venues that offer plenty of natural light to achieve that coveted light and airy look that we all love. Visit multiple wedding venues in San Antonio, Texas and surrounding areas. Consider lighting, space, and scenic views. Confirm that your venue has indoor options for bad weather and ask about their vendor policy!

Pro tip: If you have room in your budget for a planner, book your planner before your venue! Chances are your planner will have a comprehensive spreadsheet of all the venues, the cost and vendor policy, etc and can help you choose the perfect venue to fit within your budget!

Book your Vendors

Once you have your venue booked in the season of year you want, it’s now time to book the rest of your vendors! The order of vendors I’d book after you book your venue are:

1. Photographer
2. Florist
3. Caterer
4. Coordinator
5. Wedding Dress
6. Hair and Makeup
7. DJ
8. Rentals

As a wedding photographer in San Antonio, Texas, I am booking 18+ months in advance! If you want to ensure that your favorite wedding photographer is secured for your wedding, DO NOT WAIT to book!

Schedule your Engagement Photos

Once you have booked your wedding photographer, it’s time to schedule your engagement photos! It’s best to get on your photographer’s schedule as soon as possible as our dates book up pretty quickly most of the time. As part of my process for booking your engagement photos, we look at dates, sunset times, and locations. I like to provide a client experience guide in helping with these decisions as well as helping my clients know what to wear for their session with me. As part of my engagement sessions, I offer 2 locations and 2 outfits to give variety for the photos! Repeat after me: WE LOVE OPTIONS!

Conclusion

To wrap things up, Planning Your Wedding: The Ultimate Guide for Engaged Couples is only meant to be a starting wedding planning guide for you as you begin this exciting journey together! If you have any questions about anything you read here or about my favorite wedding vendors in the San Antonio, Texas area, reach out here or submit an inquiry below.

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I hope this wedding planning guide helps you plan the perfect wedding day here in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. As a dedicated San Antonio wedding photographer, I’m committed to capturing your special day in a way that reflects your love and joy. If you’re looking for a light and airy wedding photographer who will go above and beyond to make your day unforgettable, I’d love to chat! Feel free to share this blog, Planning Your Wedding: The Ultimate Guide for Engaged Couples with a bride who could use some guidance!

Wishing you all the best on your wedding journey, and I can’t wait to capture your memories.

XOXO,

Sarah

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