WE’RE STARTING TO PLAN A WEDDING — or “THE WEDDING IS HAPPENING,” step by step:
The first steps toward your perfect day
Dear brides and grooms, you’ve probably just gotten engaged and you’re looking for something to hold on to as you start planning your wedding.
Because in this case, organization is absolutely key — and let’s be honest, it’s not for everyone. You need a perfect overview of vendors, their services and prices, stay in touch with them, and often even on the wedding day itself. You have to figure out the style of your wedding: what you expect from it, what you want, and what you definitely don’t. You need to set your budget ceiling and the number of guests. If your glasses have just started fogging up and you’ve got goosebumps already, we have good news for you: you’ll manage it in the end. Whether with our help (which you can choose based on what you need) or on your own.
That’s why we’ve written down a few tips and pieces of advice to help you take your first steps from your engagement day — and move one step closer to your wedding day.
Before we dive into the organizational stuff, grab a piece of paper, open a Word document, or even the notes app on your phone. Write down why you want to get married, why you love each other so much, and what matters most to you on your wedding day.
Planning a wedding can be very demanding and stressful when you do it all on your own — especially in the last few days before the wedding. Later, you might be grateful to re-read these thoughts and calm yourself down, remembering why you were putting so much effort into all of it in the first place.
CALENDAR
Write down every appointment you have coming up — and the ones you’ve already had, including who it was with and what it was about. In the whirlwind of tastings, discussions with your photographer about what kinds of photos you want, and chats with your DJ about what music you prefer, it’s easy to lose track of what’s next.
Also, schedule tasks in advance — the things you want or need to do — so you’re not left with too much in the final week before the wedding. Because trust us: even then, there will be plenty. For example, note when you plan to contact each vendor so you don’t forget anyone. The same goes for DIY décor — start that really early.
How to set a wedding budget
You need to know how much you’re willing — or even able — to spend on your wedding. Weddings can cost tens of thousands, but they can also climb into the millions. In recent years, the prices of pretty much all services have risen sharply too. That’s why, for example, a wedding for 80 people that cost 200,000 in 2016 might cost you 400,000+ in 2024 with the same guest count. But there are plenty of variables.
Key areas of a wedding budget
Let’s talk about how to divide your budget into the key categories. If you already know you want to get married at a specific venue, start with the venue price and then add the other items on top of that. The same applies if you already have a dream photographer, dress, or any other vendor that’s non-negotiable for you — the kind where you simply won’t compromise.
Wedding venue (location)
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CZK 0–200,000 (CZK 0 if you’re planning a wedding in your garden or at a friend’s cottage; CZK 150,000–270,000 for more sought-after, premium venues)
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On average, we most often see around CZK 50,000–80,000
Catering (food)
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CZK 800–3,500 per person
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Drinks: approx. 40% of the total food & beverage budget
Flowers
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CZK 5,000–50,000 (richer floral design typically starts at around CZK 20,000) — and can be much more
Photographer
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CZK 10,000–70,000 (average CZK 20,000–25,000)
Videographer
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CZK 20,000–70,000
DJ
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CZK 20,000–35,000
Band
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CZK 15,000–50,000
Cake
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CZK 100–150 per person
You can also split the budget into two parts:
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Fixed costs (venue, flowers, photographer, videographer, DJ, band)
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Variable costs that depend on the number of guests (e.g., catering, drinks, cake, etc.)
In the next part, we’ll focus on how to create a guest list efficiently — and how that helps you get to the final headcount. And if you already know you’re having a wedding but want help with it, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Photo: Veronika Budínová
