By Sarah Elazar

A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of having a vision when working toward a long-term goal. I’m happy to report that since then, my husband and I have made substantial progress towards our vision: a wedding! We’ve sent out our save-the-dates; booked the venue, caterer, DJ, and photographer; and, most importantly, I found my wedding dress!

As someone who was initially reluctant to plan a big wedding, I’m surprised to share that it’s been a lot more fun than expected. Establishing a vision was the first step, but what’s gotten us from that vision into the throes of wedding planning has been resources. Here are the ones that’ve been particularly helpful for us:

• Experts. In our case, we’ve relied heavily on the expertise of the wedding planning team at our venue, who provided us with a list of their preferred vendors. This has been an incredibly helpful resource in streamlining the process of researching and booking vendors. Rather than searching through hundreds of vendors online, it’s been far easier to start with the ones our venue recommends. If you’re in the midst of a long-term project and need advice, consider which experts might be able to consolidate and curate information for you!
• Friends. Luckily, I have a handful of friends (and wonderful coworkers!) who are on the other side of wedding planning. Their advice has been invaluable because they’re regular people, not professionals who host weddings every other weekend. For example, one friend told me to keep the momentum going and line up other vendors right after booking the venue. Without that nugget of wisdom, we wouldn’t have nearly as many boxes checked off as we do now. If you have a friend or family member who’s recently reached a goal you’re working toward, pick their brain for advice!
• Reviews. Before booking a vendor, we always read their reviews, even if our venue recommended them. Seeing a plethora of recent five-star reviews never failed to provide us with a sense of relief and comfort. That said, we also read the negative reviews to see whether any of the complaints gave us pause. Interestingly, we found that four-star reviews tended to give us the most nuanced perspective. Though reading reviews can be time-consuming, it’s a crucial step to take before booking a service or making a purchase.

There’s still plenty left on our to-do list (e.g., the dreaded seating chart), but I’m feeling more confident and excited with every box we check off. No matter what your long-term goal is, don’t be afraid to utilize the resources around you. Teamwork makes the dream work!