1. Not considering a professional wedding planner – Even if you hire an experienced pro for a few hours, it will always pay off. Whether you need help finding the perfect venue or need realistic estimates to create an accurate budget, a seasoned pro can share their expertise.

2. Meeting with vendors before you have a wedding date and venue booked – Your vendors already have weddings on the books for at least the next year. While you may be super excited to book your favorite florist, wait until you have a confirmed date and venue so they can actually book your date and know they are available.

3. Not having a rough budget estimate from the start – If your overall wedding budget is $30k but you want the venue that is $20k, you are really going to skimp on every other vendor category to stay close to your budget.

4. Randomly finding vendors – Ask your venue for a preferred vendor list, hire an experienced planner or use a resource such as StudioWed to find reputable professional vendors who have a great reputation and at least two years of experience. Also, read reviews for potential vendors on websites such as the Knot.com, MyWedding and Wedding Wire.

5. Not having a general style before you look at venues – Rustic mountain cabin, historic mansion, grand hotel ballroom, private home, country club, organic farm…all of these offer a very different types of atmosphere for a wedding. What is the feeling and type of atmosphere you want to create? Romantic, elegant, luxury, casual, chic, modern, artsy, vintage, simple and eclectic are just a few common adjectives to help you get started.

Written by Debbie Orwat, Owner at StudioWed Denver