Friday FAQ

Welcome to our blog series, Friday FAQ! As we meet with clients, there are several questions that come up over & over again. Certain topics just seem to be staples for wedding planning confusion. We love helping our couples answer these common questions & make decisions in a way that fits their unique styles, personalities, and values!

Throughout our wedding seasons, we started keeping track of these wedding planning frequently asked questions. Our goal with this blog series is to shed some light on some of the most common questions our clients ask us! The first Friday of each month, we will be covering one of these FAQ’s with detailed answers, resources for more research, or alternative options!

We can’t wait to share some of our knowledge with you!

Photo by Denise & Bryan Photography

The timing of when to book your wedding vendors truly does depend on the anticipated length of your engagement.

For a variety of reasons, we typically work with couples who are operating on a 10-12 month engagement - especially in the Treasure Valley and surrounding areas. Regardless, there are five major vendors we always recommend booking early and with clear intention.

Before diving into the nitty gritty of this post, I want to start with some friendly planning advice. One thing we emphasize to our couples is this - planning your wedding should not be stressful. I don’t care what anyone says. Wedding planning can be stressful, sure, but it certainly does not have to be. We want you to look back on this time with fond memories, knowing you had so much fun planning your big day with the love of your life!

That being said, before you jump into booking your vendors and writing those checks (or swiping that card), try your very best to allocate one full month to some in-depth vendor research. Don’t get sucked into the false urgency of the process. It will not be the end of the world if you wait an extra day to book a vendor - and if it is, then they aren’t the right vendor for you. Spend some time learning about who you’re hiring. Figure out what resonates with them and whether or not you’ll vibe. You’ll thank yourself for being intentional with who you bring with you into these next 10-12 months. The people you surround yourself with during this time will truly make all the difference.

Okay; off my soapbox! We’ll get to it. For the purpose of this blog post, we’ll assume our couple is working from a 12 month engagement.

The Perfect Venue

First, your date and venue go hand in hand and will be the building blocks for the rest of your planning. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this is at the top of the list. Venues book out quickly, often a full year in advance for peak seasons. For a 12 month engagement, you will need to book your venue almost immediately after getting engaged, depending on your venue preferences. Outdoor venues generally book more quickly than indoor venues and peak season for most Idaho locations is approximately June through September.

Wedding Planner Tidbit: We are noticing a shift in popularity away from the summer months, moving towards autumn. (We’re a huge fan of this trend! Summer weddings are gorgeous but they’re dang hot!)

Bottom line, book your venue ASAP. You should have your venue booked at least 10-12 months in advance.

Your Planning BFF

Second, if you know you’re going to be hiring a wedding planner to work with you throughout the entire process, this needs to happen as soon as you have a date booked. Hiring your wedding planner, whomever they may be, before you start anything else will truly allow you to benefit from all your planner has to offer.

Instead of venturing solo into the wide world of wedding vendors, teaming up with a seasoned planner will help you navigate not only which vendors to book, but why they are the right vendors for you and how they fit into your overall wedding day vision. Most full service planning packages include vendor meeting time, which will greatly reduce the headache that goes along with playing phone tag and attempting to schedule vendor meetings around your busy schedules.

If you’re not anticipating hiring a planner for the entire process, be sure to keep in mind the other package options that may better fit your needs and book accordingly. We always recommend hiring at least a day-of coordinator. (Those reasons are for another blog post!)

Full service packages typically book out 12 months in advance, if not more. Partial planning packages and/or day-of coordinators typically book out 8-10 months in advance. The general rule of thumb for all of your vendors is that booking earlier will always be better.

Capturing the Moments

Third, as soon as you have your date set, the party really begins! Once you have your date, location, and planner, it’s time to book your photographer and videographer. Photographers and videographers are in the same category as your venue - they book quickly and often a full year in advance for peak seasons.

Here are a few things to consider when booking your photographer and/or videographer:

• Do they offer package options for both photo and video?

  • In our experience, it’s usually best to have fewer vendors who do their jobs really well than to hire a ton of vendors who all do passable work.

• Does their visual aesthetic match the overall vibe you’re going for?

• What is their delivery method? Digital, physical album, printing rights, etc.

• Do they have a second shooter? What qualifications does their second shooter have?

Similar to booking your venue, you should get your photographer and/or videographer booked at least 10-12 months in advance.

Roses are Red

Fourth, once you have your venue, planner, and photographer/videographer booked, it’s time to start thinking about all the pretty things! Your florist can truly make or break your big day (at least we think so). Florists tend to not be on as tight of a booking timeline as the other vendors because most florists have the capacity to book multiple weddings in one weekend or in one day. This means you can wait until about the 6-8 month mark to finalize all the details with your perfect florist.

Here are a few things you might consider asking your florist:

• Where do they source their flowers?

• What is their policy for last minute add-on items?

  • Let’s say it’s a week before the wedding and you need one more boutonniere for an uncle you weren’t expecting to attend. Will they charge extra? Will they be able to get it to you in time?

• Do they delivery? Do they set up? If so, what do they charge?

Again. the rule of thumb is always to book earlier rather than later. So if you find an amazing florist right away, don’t hesitate!

Glam Squad

Fifth and finally, your glam squad is a crucial part of your big day! Even if you’d prefer a more natural, subtle wedding day look, hiring the right makeup artist and hair stylist is so important. There’s just something about professionally applied makeup and professionally styled hair that adds the extra “umph” to your big day. Plus, it’s a fantastic time to pamper yourself!

Most hair stylists and makeup artists book out 6-8 months in advance - you’ll want to start your research early and narrow down your options before reaching out to anyone. In our experience, hiring your wedding day hair and makeup can be tricky if you don’t have a plan for how you’re going to execute the process. Here’s what we recommend:

• Start by browsing the portfolios of any and every local hair stylist and/or makeup artist you can find. Bookmark the ones whose style matches your overall vision.

• Once you’ve narrowed down the general aesthetic you’re going for, narrow it down even further. Pick your top three.

• Contact those top three to inquire about availability, pricing, travel, etc. Then book who you feel will be the best fit!

I know I sound like a broken record, but I’ll say it again - earlier is always better when booking wedding vendors. If you find a hair stylist or makeup artist you’re in love with right away, book them.

you want to surround yourself with the right people. not just the ones who were available.

As you go through the planning process, we’d encourage you to remember that it does not need to be stressful! Give yourself the time you need. Spending the time doing your research on your wedding vendors will only benefit you. It’s definitely a fine line between taking your time for proper research and booking your vendors in the appropriate time frames. But at the end of the day, it’s up to you to set your own priorities. Each couple is unique. Each wedding is unique. And that’s what makes this so dang fun!

Photo by Radion Photography

We hear this question from Every. Single. Couple.

And it’s a really good one! The ceremony processional order can be a tough thing to figure out - especially on your own. The short answer for this one (and for most wedding questions) is, “There is no single, right order.” But there are certainly some guidelines to follow based on things like which traditions you’d like to stick with, what your or your families’ religious preferences are, and who makes up your wedding party. In this first Friday FAQ, we’ll give you a basic universal template and then tackle a few of the most common ceremony processional orders in detail.

Basic Universal Processional

Regardless of the specific order of individuals, there’s a general form that all ceremony processionals take. It almost always goes something like this:

1. Officiant

2. Family

3. Wedding Party

   • Our general rule of thumb is “Ladies on the Left” - unless it’s a traditional Jewish ceremony.

4. Bride

Whether you’re working with a secular ceremony, or one that is devoutly religious, the general structure of your processional order will follow this general outline. If you’re looking for a basic place to start, this is it!

Most Common Processional Types

Non-Denominational Christian

This is probably the most common processional type we see. And the great thing about it is that it can vary from the general outline based on your specific needs or preferences, because this particular order is not strictly tied to any specific religious traditions. Here is what we typically recommend for our couples who wish for a non-denominational Christian ceremony:

1. Officiant enters & takes his/her place.

2. Groom ushers his mother down the aisle with his father following behind them. Parents are seated & groom takes his place.

3. Bride’s mother and brother/uncle/family member enter & are seated.

4. Wedding party enters. Bridesmaids & groomsmen may either walk separately or in pairs. Wedding party takes their places, filtering from the outside, in. (i.e. those standing furthest away from the couple enter & take their places first, ending with the Best Man and Maid of Honor)

5. Ring bearer & flower girl enter. They may take their places with the wedding party, or may be seated with family in the front row(s).

6. Bride enters with her father, or whomever is escorting her down the aisle.

Catholic

The traditional Catholic processional order follows the above order relatively closely, with a few specific alterations. For a traditional Catholic processional, we recommend the following:

1. Deacon, groom & Best Man enter together from a side door & take their places.

2. Groom’s parents walk down the aisle & are seated.

3. Bride’s mother walks down the aisle escorted by bride’s brother/uncle/family member & are seated.

4. Wedding party enters. Bridesmaids & groomsmen walk in pairs & take their places in the first row of pews, standing until given direction by the Deacon.

5. Maid of Honor enters alone & joins the other bridesmaids in the first pew.

6. Ring bearer & flower girl enter. They take their places with family in the reserved pews.

7. Bride enters with her father, or whomever is escorting her down the aisle.

Jewish

The processional order for a traditional Jewish ceremony switches it up a bit with which side the bride, groom, and their families stand/sit. For a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride stands on the right (with her family sitting on the right) and the groom stands on the left (with his family sitting on the left). The processional order is:

1. Rabbi and/or cantor enter & take their place.

2. Grandparents of the bride enter & are seated in the first row on the right side.

3. Grandparents of the groom enter & are seated in the first row on the left side.

4. Groomsmen enter, typically in pairs, & take their places.

5. Best Man enters & takes his place.

6. Groom enters & takes his place.

7. Bridesmaids enter individually & take their places.

8. Maid of Honor enters & takes her place.

9. Ring bearer & flower girl enter. They take their places with family in the first few pews.

10. Bride enters with both parents; her father on her right and her mother on her left.

Secular

For a secular (or not strictly religious) wedding ceremony the processional order may take whichever form you’re most comfortable with! We typically recommend using the basic outline from the non-denominational Christian processional. This seems to be a safe bet and includes most of the usual family members. As we mentioned earlier, the processional order for a non-denominational Christian ceremony is not strictly tied to any religious traditions, making it a relatively neutral template to follow.

Alternate Options

Not totally excited about any of these options? None of these options fit your family dynamic? No big deal! The beauty of your wedding day is that you get to create a day that reflects YOU. Here are some of the alternative processional options we’ve helped our clients decide on:

• No Best Man or Maid of Honor

• Bride walks down the aisle on her own

• Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins as part of the wedding party, but not as bridesmaids or groomsmen

• No wedding party at all; no bridesmaids, no groomsmen - just the couple!

• Father of the bride walks the mother of the bride down the aisle, then circles back to walk the bride down the aisle

• Bride’s brother or uncle walks her down the aisle

No matter what you decide on, your wedding ceremony processional order doesn’t have to be a source of stress! Just like the rest of your wedding planning process, we always recommend balancing your unique values & beliefs with your individual situation. Every family is different and everyone’s beliefs are different, so every wedding is going to be unique! And we think that’s totally something to celebrate.