🎄 On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… an engagement ring and a wedding to plan!
The holidays are here, and LOVE is definitely in the air!
Between sparkling Christmas lights, cozy evenings, holiday parties, and family gatherings, there’s something extra romantic about this time of year.
And if you’re newly engaged, congratulations! You’re about to experience one of the most exciting chapters of your life.
But once the excitement of saying YES settles in, you might find yourself wondering…
Where do we even begin planning a wedding?
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
In the spirit of the season, Premier Bride Magazine of the 904 is sharing our 12 Days of Wedding Planning, filled with practical advice, creative inspiration, and a little holiday magic!
Whether you’re planning a beautiful Jacksonville wedding, a romantic St. Augustine celebration, or a dreamy coastal wedding in Ponte Vedra Beach or Amelia Island, these 12 tips will help you get organized and start planning your happily ever after.
So pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, turn on your favorite holiday playlist, and let’s get planning!
🎁 Day 1: One Beautiful Vision — Dream Before You Plan!
Before you start booking vendors or buying decorations, take a little time to dream together.
What do you want your wedding day to look and feel like?
Are you imagining a romantic garden ceremony, a glamorous black-tie celebration, a beautiful beachfront wedding, or an intimate gathering with your closest family and friends?
Maybe you’re envisioning a wedding filled with timeless traditions.
Or perhaps you want something completely unexpected!
Start by discussing your priorities as a couple.
What matters most to each of you?
Is it the venue? The food? The photography? The music? Having all your favorite people together?
Create a shared inspiration board with colors, flowers, wedding fashion, and design ideas you both love.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Make a date night out of it! Grab your favorite holiday treats, light a candle, and spend an evening dreaming about your wedding together.
Your wedding should be a reflection of your relationship, not a checklist of things you think you’re supposed to do.
🎄 Day 2: Two Hearts, One Budget — Talk About the Money!
Nothing takes the sparkle out of wedding planning faster than unexpected expenses!
Before you start signing contracts, have an open conversation about your wedding budget.
Determine how much you’re comfortable spending and whether anyone else plans to contribute.
And remember, a wedding budget is about more than the venue and catering.
You’ll also need to consider photography, videography, flowers, entertainment, attire, invitations, transportation, beauty services, and other details.
Once you have a realistic total, identify the areas where you’re most excited to invest.
If amazing wedding photography is your top priority, allocate more of your budget there.
If you’re dreaming of an unforgettable reception with incredible entertainment, make room for that.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: While you’re reviewing your holiday spending, start a separate wedding savings account. Even small, consistent contributions can help you prepare for upcoming wedding expenses.
And don’t forget to include a contingency fund for unexpected costs!
❄️ Day 3: Three Venue Must-Haves — Find Your Perfect Setting!
Your wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
It influences your wedding date, guest count, overall style, and budget.
Luckily, Northeast Florida offers an incredible variety of wedding venues!
From historic St. Augustine landmarks and beautiful Jacksonville ballrooms to romantic countryside estates and oceanfront resorts, there’s something for nearly every wedding vision.
Before scheduling tours, identify your three biggest venue priorities.
Maybe they’re:
- Enough space for your guest list.
- A beautiful ceremony and reception setting.
- A location that fits your overall budget.
Or perhaps your priorities are outdoor space, guest accommodations, or an amazing rain backup plan.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: If you’re visiting family during the holidays, consider using some of your time together to discuss possible wedding locations and guest travel needs.
And remember, popular wedding venues can book well in advance!
🎅 Day 4: Four Wedding Seasons — Choose Your Perfect Date!
Spring, summer, fall, or winter?
Every season offers something beautiful for a Northeast Florida wedding.
Spring: Gorgeous flowers, mild temperatures, and romantic outdoor celebrations.
Summer: Long days, coastal inspiration, and beautiful evening receptions.
Fall: Warm color palettes, comfortable temperatures, and stunning outdoor settings.
Winter: Elegant celebrations, rich colors, candlelight, and festive holiday inspiration.
When choosing your date, think about the weather, your preferred venue, guest travel schedules, and any major holidays or local events.
And if you’re dreaming of a December wedding, don’t forget that holiday travel and celebrations can affect guest availability and vendor schedules.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Before choosing a holiday weekend, check with your closest family members and wedding party about travel plans.
The perfect wedding date is one that works for your priorities and the people you most want beside you.
🎁 Day 5: Five Golden Rings — Build Your Wedding Dream Team!
Okay, maybe you don’t need five golden rings just yet…
But you DO need an amazing team of wedding professionals!
Your wedding vendors are the people who will help transform your ideas into an unforgettable celebration.
And choosing the right team can make the entire planning process more enjoyable.
Start by researching the professionals who are most important to your wedding vision.
These often include your wedding planner, photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, and entertainment team.
As you meet potential vendors, pay attention to more than their portfolios.
Do they communicate clearly?
Do they understand your vision?
Do you feel comfortable asking questions?
And do their services fit your budget?
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Put a Premier Bride Expo on your calendar! It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet local wedding professionals, discover new ideas, and compare services in person.
Visit premierbride904.com for upcoming expos and wedding planning resources.
🌟 Day 6: Six Steps to the Guest List — Check It Twice!
Making your wedding guest list can be one of the trickiest parts of planning.
And the holidays are a great time to begin thinking about who you’d love to celebrate with!
Start with your immediate family and closest friends.
Then work outward to extended family, additional friends, and other important people in your lives.
Before finalizing the list, consider your venue capacity and catering budget.
Remember, your guest count affects far more than the number of chairs you’ll need.
It can influence food and beverage costs, invitations, rentals, transportation, favors, and even the size of your venue.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Holiday gatherings are a wonderful reminder of the people who make your life special. But don’t feel pressured to invite everyone you see during the season!
Your wedding guest list should reflect your relationships, priorities, and budget.
And yes, it’s okay to keep your celebration intimate!
🎀 Day 7: Seven Style Inspirations — Create Your Wedding Look!
Now for one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning…
THE DESIGN!
From flowers and linens to lighting and wedding attire, this is where your personalities can really shine.
Start by exploring colors, textures, and design details that reflect the atmosphere you want to create.
For a romantic wedding, you might love soft florals, candlelight, and delicate fabrics.
For a modern celebration, consider dramatic colors, sleek tablescapes, and statement lighting.
For a coastal wedding, natural textures, elegant neutrals, and ocean-inspired colors can create a beautiful atmosphere.
And if you’re planning a holiday-season wedding, think about incorporating rich greenery, velvet, metallic accents, and romantic candlelight.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Pay attention to the decorations and color combinations you love during the holidays. You might discover inspiration for your wedding design!
Just remember, your wedding doesn’t have to look like Christmas simply because you’re planning it during Christmas.
Choose a style you’ll love in every season.
🔔 Day 8: Eight Months of Organization — Create Your Planning Timeline!
One of the best gifts you can give yourself during wedding planning is ORGANIZATION!
Whether your wedding is eight months away or eighteen months away, having a clear planning timeline can help reduce stress.
Create a checklist of important decisions, appointments, and deadlines.
Include tasks like booking vendors, ordering attire, scheduling fittings, mailing invitations, and finalizing the ceremony.
Keep important contracts, receipts, and vendor contact information in one organized location.
And don’t forget to schedule time for wedding planning conversations with your partner.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Add wedding planning deadlines to your calendar before the new year begins.
Think of it as your wedding planning resolution!
A little organization now can help make the months ahead feel much more manageable.
🕯️ Day 9: Nine Meaningful Moments — Personalize Your Ceremony!
Your wedding ceremony is the HEART of your celebration.
It’s the moment when you make your promises, exchange vows, and officially begin your marriage.
And it should feel like YOU!
Think about the meaningful details you might want to incorporate.
Perhaps you’ll write personal vows, include a favorite reading, or honor a family tradition.
Maybe you’ll involve your children, recognize loved ones, or choose a special song that represents your relationship.
And don’t forget about your officiant!
Finding someone whose personality and ceremony style align with your vision can make a tremendous difference.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: As you gather with loved ones this season, ask about meaningful family wedding traditions.
You might discover a beautiful idea to incorporate into your own ceremony.
The most memorable ceremonies are often the ones that feel authentic and personal.
🍪 Day 10: Ten Delicious Decisions — Plan an Unforgettable Menu!
Let’s talk about one of our FAVORITE parts of wedding planning…
THE FOOD!
Your wedding menu is an opportunity to create an experience your guests will remember.
From cocktail-hour appetizers and signature drinks to delicious dinners and beautiful desserts, there are so many ways to personalize your celebration.
Start by considering your wedding style.
Are you envisioning an elegant plated dinner?
A relaxed buffet?
Creative food stations?
Or a reception filled with unique culinary experiences?
Don’t forget about dietary restrictions and the overall flow of your celebration.
And of course, there’s the wedding cake!
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: The holidays are filled with amazing flavors. If you love peppermint, cinnamon, cranberry, gingerbread, or other seasonal treats, consider whether those flavors could inspire a dessert or signature cocktail at a winter wedding.
Food is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding, so have fun creating a menu that reflects your tastes!
🎶 Day 11: Eleven Songs to Remember — Plan Your Wedding Soundtrack!
Music has the power to transport us right back to a special moment.
And your wedding day will be filled with moments that deserve the perfect soundtrack!
Start making a list of songs that mean something to you as a couple.
Think about your ceremony processional, recessional, grand entrance, first dance, parent dances, and final song of the evening.
And don’t forget about your guests!
A great wedding reception includes music that brings people together and creates an unforgettable celebration.
Whether you choose a live band, DJ, ceremony musicians, or a combination of entertainment, music helps set the tone for the entire wedding.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Create a wedding playlist while you’re traveling or relaxing during the holidays.
It’s a fun way to discover songs you love together!
And if you have a meaningful song that isn’t traditionally romantic, don’t be afraid to use it.
Your wedding soundtrack should reflect YOUR story.
💍 Day 12: Twelve Months of Memories — Remember What Really Matters!
You’ve made your lists.
You’ve booked your vendors.
You’ve chosen the flowers, the music, the menu, and the perfect wedding attire.
But here’s the most important wedding planning tip of all…
Don’t forget to enjoy being engaged!
It’s easy to get so caught up in planning the perfect wedding that you forget to enjoy the experience of getting married.
Make time for date nights that have absolutely nothing to do with wedding planning.
Celebrate little milestones along the way.
Take engagement photos.
Create new traditions together.
And remember that your wedding day isn’t about impressing everyone else.
It’s about celebrating the love you share and the future you’re building.
Premier Bride Holiday Tip: Start a holiday tradition as an engaged couple.
Maybe it’s exchanging a special ornament, taking a holiday photo together, or writing a letter to open on your first married Christmas.
Those little moments will become part of your love story.
Because long after the wedding decorations are packed away, the cake has been eaten, and the music has stopped…
Your marriage is just beginning!
🎄 Bonus Holiday Wedding Planning Advice: Enjoy the Engagement Season!
If you recently got engaged during the holidays, congratulations!
Holiday engagements are especially exciting because they often happen while families and friends are already gathered together.
But remember, you don’t have to plan your entire wedding before the decorations come down.
Take time to celebrate!
Share your exciting news.
Enjoy the congratulations.
And when you’re ready, start making decisions one step at a time.
Wedding planning should be exciting, not overwhelming.
And with the right resources and wedding professionals by your side, you can create a celebration that reflects your relationship and the memories you want to make.
Find Your Wedding Dream Team at a Premier Bride Expo!
Ready to turn your wedding dreams into reality?
One of the best ways to begin planning is by meeting talented local wedding professionals in person!
At a Premier Bride Expo, you’ll have the opportunity to explore wedding inspiration, meet vendors from a variety of categories, and discover ideas for your celebration.
From wedding venues and planners to photographers, florists, caterers, entertainment, and so much more, it’s a wonderful way to make progress on your wedding planning checklist.
And you might just discover something you didn’t even know you wanted for your wedding!
Premier Bride Magazine & Expos has been helping Northeast Florida couples connect with local wedding professionals since 2000.
We’re proud to be part of so many love stories throughout Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Amelia Island, and the surrounding 904 communities.
Explore local wedding vendors, discover wedding planning inspiration, and find upcoming expo dates at:
Wishing You Love, Laughter & a Little Holiday Magic!
Whether you’re newly engaged, counting down to your wedding, or just beginning to dream about your big day, we hope this holiday season is filled with love and excitement.
Remember, the most beautiful weddings aren’t necessarily the biggest or most expensive.
They’re the ones that reflect the people getting married.
So enjoy the planning process, celebrate the little moments, and create a wedding that feels like YOU.
From all of us at Premier Bride Magazine & Expos of the 904…
Happy Holidays, Happy Planning, and Congratulations on Your Engagement!
Think Pink… Think Premier! 💕
Lets get in the holiday spirit with “I Do Weddings by Cindy!” Cindy created the 12 days of Wedding Planning and we wanted to share them with you! Cindy is a seasoned wedding planner in the Jacksonville area and she has some wonderful tips! To learn more about Cindy check out her information here
