There’s nothing we want more than a successful, upbeat wedding reception, so we put together a wedding planning checklist in Lincoln, NE. This reception starter checklist will help you get things rolling with planning the party of the year! Start here to create a list of goals so you can pace yourself and have a perfectly planned wedding reception that you can enjoy, too!
Wedding Planning Checklist in Lincoln, NE
Once you’re engaged, the questions start coming! When are you getting married? Which venue are you using? Will I be invited?! The first thing we suggest is to actually enjoy those first days or weeks of being engaged! Try to focus on what vision you see for you and your fiance on your wedding day. From a hotel reception to one near downtown, spend time with your partner discussing how you can mend each of your visions into one perfect celebration of your love!
Lincoln Wedding Planning Checklist
Budget
Know your numbers! Are you willing to splurge, or do you need a reception on a budget? Either way, you’ll want to figure this out first when wedding planning in Lincoln, NE, because it will save you time and allow you to make the best decisions as you plan. Having an epic Lincoln wedding doesn’t mean going broke, but it does mean deciding what you want to skimp on and where you want to go all out. Make a list of everything you’ll need to pay for and how much you’d like to spend in each area.
Date
Once you have a budget nailed down, you should pick when to have your wedding ceremony and reception. You’ll want to clear this with your wedding party and close families of course and make note of any large happenings in Lincoln, NE, or near your ideal wedding location. Thinking about having a fall wedding in Lincoln, NE? Beware of a Husker game day, which can cause costs for hotels near your downtown Lincoln wedding venue to rise for guests.
Venue
Along with picking the right date, finding the perfect venue is the other major cornerstone, and be prepared for top venues to have limited availability. Many times, your date will be dependent on what the venue has available unless you’re looking at background reception. Setting the date and venue early on will help you claim the season you want!
To note, fall weddings in Lincoln, NE are quite popular, so if you want a fall wedding the last weekend before Husker football season begins, on a Husker by-week, plan over year in advance.
When it comes to wedding venues, review if you prefer an all-inclusive venue which typically is less work on your end, or a location where you can bring in your own catering or rentals and have more flexibility in some of your vendor options.
Cinematography Team
While it’s standard to hire a wedding photographer in Lincoln, NE, and hope that is automatically a top priority on your wedding planning checklist, we promise you should not overlook hiring a videographer as well. No one ever regrets having video footage of their first dance, their cousins doing cartwheels on the dance floor, and their sibling’s heartfelt speech.
Unfortunately, failing to hire a videographer to capture the reception is a choice many people regret passing on, and we are working hard to not let this happen to future couples. Our Lincoln wedding videographers capture all the best highlights of your wedding so you can relive the fun later. It’s like watching home movies — only the upscale version with cinematic background music and high-definition pictures.
Wedding DJ
Music and wedding receptions go hand in hand. Not all party playlists are created equal, and you want the best soundtrack to set the tone for your wedding reception. Hiring a wedding DJ in Lincoln, NE from Complete Weddings + Events guarantees your event will be on point with the best tunes.
Even a smaller reception can benefit from having a professional there keeping the beats and the schedule of events that evening going. Sometimes the best idea will be hiring a DJ who can take care of all of those things for you. We’ll help you find the right playlist for your party — hear for yourself!
Entertainment for Guests of All Ages
Whether you are dancing the night away or having an enchanted beachside dinner, each reception has its own unique way of encouraging guests to enjoy themselves. There are endless ideas for party fun and mapping out what that will be is an exciting part of the planning process. Maybe you’re thinking of a giant ball pit, a high-energy DJ to keep the crowd dancing, or perhaps guests will hop in a photo booth rental from Complete Weddings + Events Lincoln, NE for some glamour shots — the choice is yours!
Menu
Food can be the highlight or the disaster of an event, so make sure you get this one right and hire a professional caterer. Also, ensure a proper guest count is collected early enough so the caterer knows how much food to prepare to make sure nothing runs out (nothing kills a party faster than hungry guests). Finally, avoid any unpleasant allergic reactions or issues by making sure you know which guests have dietary needs so you can plan accordingly.
Complete Weddings + Events Lincoln, NE – DJs, Photographers, Videographers, Photo Booth Rental, and More!
Creating your wedding planning checklist in Lincoln, NE is a big job, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By making a plan to start and then working one thing at a time, you will find yourself a master party planner in no time.
For any questions you have, Ask Complete Weddings + Events to get expert help from a wedding planner in Lincoln, NE.