Are you a bride-to-be? Here are five expert tips to help you plan your wedding like a pro

Planning a wedding comes with so many responsibilities that the couple usually decides to outsource the task to a wedding planner.

In the event that the bride-to-be takes on the task to plan her own dream wedding, she will need some guidelines to aide her plan one of the biggest days of her life.

Experts advise that such brides begin their wedding preparations a year ahead of the actual day. This would give them plenty of time to get everything in order.

Planning for any event, for that matter, requires the planner to plan for the unexpected because a vendor might delay during the set up which could sway the original course of events.

Enough of the what-ifs and could-haves; these five tips could set the ball rolling for any bride who intends on planning her own wedding:

Photo: She said YesBudget

The budget is central to the wedding. It is best to sit with your spouse and discuss how much you two are willing to invest in your big day. The budget will help put things in perspective for you and help you sieve out all the needs and wants for your wedding.

This is also the best time to reach out to friends and family who have made earlier commitments to help with the funding for the wedding. Get their inputs on how much they are willing to part with; once you are clear about the money available to you, the real planning can begin.

The most important point to note here is to ensure you stick to your budget. This will help make your wedding dreams a reality.

Photo: PinterestTeamwork

Women are said to be dreamers and weddings are a big part of almost every girl’s dreams. That notwithstanding, your husband-to-be has as much say in the final decisions as you do. Involve him and make this a fun activity for you two; make sure to document your activities with photos or short videos for your memory log.

Also, get your bridal train on board with the rounds. Delegate some of the activities on your to-do list; your girls will be happy to help. Don’t forget to ask your parents to chip in occasionally.

Remember to enlist vendors that have been endorsed by friends or other couples. They are a big part of the team that would make the ceremony a success.

Photo: Pearman PhotographyPrioritize

What aspects of your wedding are the most important to you and your spouse aside your wedding? Limit those other essentials to three or four. Stick to them throughout the whole planning process because those are the things you won’t compromise on; the rest can be tossed around.

For instance, African-American weddings are big on receptions, especially, the venue and its decoration, food, music and drinks. With those sorted, everything else can fit into the puzzle.

Photo: Bridal MusingsInspiration

Experts advise getting wedding planning books and magazines to help you plan your big day. With the invention of virtual mood boards like Pinterest, it is easy to streamline ideas for your wedding. Remember there are so many wedding themes to choose from.

It is advisable to settle on one or two tops from the onset so all other planning will revolve around that. Selecting a theme helps streamline thoughts and decisions and it gives the planning a sense of direction.

Photo: Martha Stewart weddingsOrganize your thoughts and actions

There are so many things to do when planning a wedding and it is so easy to forget anything. It is advisable to get a workbook like spreadsheets or planning apps and websites that will help you track all your thoughts, expenditure and help you ensure you are still within your budget.

Also, create a master checklist that has all the deadlines and tasks in one place and penned down chronologically. Set reminders when necessary; this will help you track your progress and prompt you when you are lagging.