How To Enjoy the First 90 Days of Wedding Planning
Free Printable: 90-Day Wedding Kickstart Checklist
Congratulations… Now Breathe
First things first — congratulations! You’re engaged! Chances are you’ve got a phone full of ring selfies, a Pinterest account working overtime, and at least one friend casually asking if they’re “definitely” on the guest list.
We know you’ve already got a full-time life — work, friends, family, maybe kids or a dog who thinks he’s a toddler. Adding “wedding planner” to your job title? Doesn’t exactly scream fun. We get it.
That’s why the first 90 days of wedding planning are all about foundations — the big decisions that make everything else easier. Nail these now, and you’ll skip the last-minute scrambles, “I didn’t think of that” moments, and budget headaches.
And because we believe wedding planning should be more champagne-and-laughter than spreadsheets-and-stress, we’ve made you a free [90-Day Wedding Kickstart Checklist] you can print and follow along.
Month 1: Set the Foundation
The goal: Big-picture clarity before you spend a penny.
1. Set Your Budget (Want + Need)
Figure out what you need to spend — fair warning, it might be a little higher than your “dream number.” Then settle into that happy middle ground where your budget and expectations actually get along.
📎 Use Our Wedding Budget Guide → to get realistic numbers and see where to splurge or save.
2. Draft Your Guest List
Start big — list everyone, even your mom’s co-worker she swears is “like family.” Then trim to fit your budget and your vision. Remember, every single cost grows with your guest count, from food to chairs to cake.
📎 Read Our Guest List Tips → for how to cut without family drama (yes, it’s possible).
3. List Your Priorities
What will you remember in 10 years? A packed dance floor? Gorgeous flowers? A five-course menu? Deciding now helps you make smart trade-offs later.
💡 Pro Tip: Guest count is the lever that controls your budget. Adjust it before cutting things you really care about.
Month 2: Lock in the Big Decisions
The goal: Put your date in stone and grab your key players before someone else does.
1. Pick Your Season or Date
Think beyond “when would it look pretty?” and ask:
- What’s the weather like for guests?
- Will it be peak bloom season or cozy candlelight season?
- How’s the daylight for photos?
Choosing a season first can help you be flexible on exact dates, which might save you money or open up vendor options.
📎 Read: Choosing the Best Month for Your North Georgia Wedding → for seasonal pros and cons.
2. Book Your Venue
Your wedding date doesn’t truly exist until your venue is booked — it’s like your wedding’s birth certificate.
- Venues only host one wedding per day. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
- Many vendors won’t reserve your date until you’ve secured a venue.
- Without a venue, you’re basically planning a party on “someday.”
💡 Why it’s a time-saver: At Pleasant Union Farm, booking your venue also books your caterer, florist, and planner (yep — all in our all-inclusive package). That’s four major tasks off your list in one sitting.
3. Secure Your Core Vendors
Think of these as your “one-per-day” team members — once they’re booked by someone else, that day is gone.
- Photographer (their style will define your memories)
- Caterer (included in our all-inclusive)
- Florist (included in our all-inclusive)
- Planner/Coordinator (included in our all-inclusive)
💡 Booking tip: If you have your heart set on a particular photographer, reach out as soon as your venue is booked — they can fill popular dates 12–18 months out.
Month 3: Build Your Team & Shape the Experience
The goal: Fill in the rest of your vendor roster and start giving your wedding personality.
1. Book Remaining Vendors
These might not be as hard to secure as your core vendors, but popular options can still book out months in advance.
- Entertainment (included in our all-inclusive) — whether it’s a DJ or live band, music sets the mood.
- Cake (included in our all-inclusive) — and yes, tastings are the best homework you’ll ever have.
- Rentals — specialty chairs, chargers, or linens that match your vision.
- Officiant — especially if you want a personal connection or religious service.
- Transportation — think about guest shuttles if you have out-of-town guests.
💡 Why book now: The earlier you book, the more choice you have. Wait too long, and you might be choosing between “available” and “your style.”
2. Dial In Your Style
Now the fun begins. This is where your Pinterest boards become something tangible:
- Choose your color palette (hint: seasonal flowers can save you money and look more natural).
- Think about textures — linens, greenery, candlelight.
- Pull inspiration from weddings similar to your vision but make it your own.
💡 At Pleasant Union Farm: We’ll show you real weddings from each season, with different styles, so you can see what works here in real life — not just in styled shoots.
3. Plan Guest Experience
Think beyond the wedding day. If guests are traveling, they’re making a weekend of it.
- Suggest local hotels, B&Bs, or vacation rentals.
- Recommend things to do — wineries, hikes, shopping.
- Make transportation easy, especially if alcohol is involved.
📎 Local wedding weekend guides:
Avoid These 90-Day Pitfalls
- Booking vendors before confirming your budget and guest count.
- Falling in love with a Pinterest look without checking cost or seasonal availability.
- Trying to plan everything in the first three months (leave some fun for later).
FAQs: Your First 90 Days of Wedding Planning
1. What should I do first after getting engaged?
Start with the big-picture decisions: budget, guest list, and priorities. These three shape everything else. At Pleasant Union Farm, we walk couples through these steps during the booking process so they can make smart decisions before locking in vendors.
2. How soon should I book my wedding venue?
As soon as you’ve chosen your season and guest count, book your venue. Popular dates — especially spring and fall weekends in North Georgia — can be gone 12–18 months in advance. At Pleasant Union Farm, booking your venue also secures your caterer, florist, and planner in one step, saving you weeks of research and calls.
3. What vendors should I book first?
Start with the ones who can only take one wedding per day: venue, photographer, caterer, florist, and planner. At Pleasant Union Farm, catering, florals, and planning are part of our all-inclusive packages, so your “must-book-now” list gets much shorter.
4. Do I need a wedding planner if my venue is all-inclusive?
It depends on your venue. At Pleasant Union Farm, a professional wedding planner/coordinator is included — so you have someone to guide you from day one, manage timelines, and keep the wedding day running smoothly.
5. How do I set a realistic wedding budget?
Find out what your dream wedding actually costs, not just what you hope it costs. Then adjust guest count, season, or style until your vision and budget meet in the middle. We give Pleasant Union Farm couples a detailed budget guide with real numbers based on past weddings here, so they can plan without financial surprises.
6. When should I choose my wedding style or theme?
After you’ve booked your venue. The location sets the tone for your wedding, so you’ll have a clearer idea of what style fits best. At Pleasant Union Farm, we share real wedding galleries from every season so couples can see how the space transforms for different looks.
7. Can I plan my wedding in less than a year?
Absolutely — especially with an all-inclusive venue like Pleasant Union Farm. Because we provide core vendors and handle the big logistics, we’ve had couples plan beautiful weddings in as little as 90 days without losing their minds (or their Saturdays to vendor meetings).
You’ve Got This (And We’ve Got You)
Your first 90 days of wedding planning don’t have to be overwhelming. With the right priorities, a solid plan, and a venue that handles the heavy lifting, you can actually enjoy being engaged — instead of drowning in to-do lists.
At Pleasant Union Farm, we give couples all-inclusive packages that don’t mean cookie cutter — every wedding here is as unique as you are. And because we include core vendors like catering, flowers, and planning, you can spend more time on date nights and less time chasing contracts.
📎 [Download your free 90-Day Wedding Kickstart Checklist here] — then [book your tour] so we can walk you through it step-by-step (and maybe even make planning the most fun part of your engagement).
You’ve got the checklist — now let’s make it doable.
Join our free 6-Week Wedding Kickstart Series and we’ll walk you through your first 90 days step-by-step. Each week, you’ll get bite-size action items, Pleasant Union Farm pro tips, and the kind of insider know-how you won’t find on Pinterest. No overwhelm, no guesswork — just your wedding moving forward while you still have a life.
Owner, chief dreamer and assistant farmer at Pleasant Union Farm
