Wedding planning is not easy, especially if you've never planned a wedding from start to finish. Wedding planners plan multiple weddings simultaneously which takes a lot of organization to keep track of many, many details. As the lead planner and owner of Dulce Events (and former educator), I wanted to create a visual that explains our unique process to our clients. I want our clients to understand the stages of wedding planning and how we work. Our goal is to make this a seamless process, from start to finish. 

As soon as the wedding planning starts, you are bombarded with advice and the never-ending list of things to be done. Every well-meaning parent and friend will feel inclined to remind you of all the traditional wedding must-do or must-haves to put on your list. But, are they all really necessary? Today's couples say 'no'! 

Just because your parents had a guest book and your best friend had 10 bridesmaids, doesn't mean you need to do the same. In fact, here's what I tell our couples all the time: It's your wedding! You do you! There is no set of rules stating you must do everything that's ever been done. Honestly, who wants to go to a cookie-cutter wedding again and again? Your guests certainly won't.

​So, if you're looking to take some things off your list right away, here are a few things you can probably skip. 

Skip: The Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
Yes, they are adorable! But, it is nerve wracking getting them to dress up and perform! The cuteness lasts only for about a minute walking down the aisle. That is, if they even make it down the aisle. The meltdown usually happens about a minute before ceremony time and the wrestling, begging, and bribing begins. So, unless you have someone's kids that absolutely have to be a part of the wedding party, there's no need to put yourself, the kids, and their parents through the stress. Instead, take some pictures with the kids later and everyone will have a much better day. 

Congratulations! You're engaged! You might be asking yourself... now what?
Whether you were expecting it or not, there's a lot to think about now. But first, take a breath, enjoy the moment and take it all in. No need to rush into wedding planning if you're not ready. Being engaged needs to be acknowledged and savored, so don't skip over it. But if you are ready to jump in, here are a few things to do to get you started down the wedding path. 

1. Celebrate! Tell your family and your closest friends. Be ready to tell the story of how your honey proposed, again and again. Make the rounds visiting with friends and family to show off your new bling and allow everyone to celebrate along with you and share in the excitement. It really is a special time! And when you can, be sure to celebrate privately with your fiance with some alone time. Your lives will only get busier from here. 

2. Make it Social  Post the news on social media and let everyone know that you're engaged! Take a fun picture of your ring or make a sign as an announcement. Get a fresh manicure so you're ready for all eyes on your hands. 

What in the world is a virtual wedding planner? Is that really a thing? Yes it is! Hiring a virtual wedding planner is becoming a very popular solution and acceptable practice that makes sense for today's busy couples.

​Think of them as your personal "wedding consultant" and signing up with one is like having a pro in the family; expert advice just a phone call away! 

Congratulations on your engagement! Or maybe your daughter/son, sister/bestie just got engaged. Either way, you or someone you know may be getting married soon and you should probably know a few things about wedding planning before you (or they) dive in. 

Everyone knows a little bit about weddings. You've attended weddings, helped someone out with their wedding or watched enough episodes of Say Yes to the Dress to know what's up.

The problem is, planning a wedding is a very long process and a lot can happen between the engagement and the honeymoon. Life gets complicated, family & friends get emotionally involved and stress levels start to rise. 

Why wouldn't you want to hire some professional help? It's probably because you have some misconceptions about hiring a wedding planner.

​Here are some of the most common myths about wedding planning.