Did you just propose or were proposed to? Congratulations. Now your next order of business is to plan your wedding. Did you decide to have it on Long Island? It’s an excellent destination — you’ll be in New York but just not in the hustle and bustle of the city. You might be tempted to immediately search “wedding venue long island,” which you can do, of course. But it should just be one of the many things that you need to do to plan your big day. Here are some things to do to help you avoid making mistakes planning your wedding:
Pick Out Your Venue(s)
You’re not going to be hurting for choices when it comes to Long Island wedding venues. There are places near beaches, there are country clubs nestled in the middle of the wilderness, there are ones with sprawling fields that can hold hundreds of people for your outdoor ceremony. Make sure that you and your soon-to-be spouse are on the same page. You can have your wedding ceremony in one location and the reception at the other.
Pick the Date
Now that you’ve found your location(s), you need to find out when they are available and whether those dates coincide with your plans. It’s a good idea to get this locked down very early. Otherwise, you’re going to run the risk of having to scramble later, which will add stress that you didn’t need. Ease both of your minds by getting this done early in the process. During this process, you can also find the officiant for your wedding.
Pick the Guest List
Here’s another time to be absolutely on the same page. One might want a large wedding and the other might want an intimate event. Get these concerns out in the open and work through them. Then it’s time to decide who to invite.
Pick The Entertainment
Are you going to have a live band or are you going to have a DJ? There are pros and cons to either one. The DJ is easier since it’s usually just them and their equipment, while a band adds the number of plates to the reception meal — more on that in a second.
Pick the Food and Drinks
This one may be easier if the venue has its own meal offerings. Then it’s just a matter of making the meal selections. Otherwise, you could hire a caterer. The same goes for drinks, whether you want a cash bar or unlimited drinks. Your budget may dictate that.
It may seem like a lot to take in … and it is. You need to also arrange transportation, if necessary, and print programs and pick wedding favors, among other things. This is something that you don’t want to put off to the last minute. Even with months of planning and preparation, there will be times that it will feel like the wedding date is rushing up at you a lot faster than you’d like. But if you do each part of the preparation in stages, then it will be a lot better in terms of being able to manage it. If you do the above, you’ll likely be in good shape when the big day comes. Then you’ll have a blast at your Long Island wedding.
