The First Step To Your Wedding Planning: Defining the “Feel”

Get to Know Your Vision Trio: The Blueprint for Your Wedding Planning

At Bridal Connects, we guide our couples to create their Vision Trio—three essential words that define the feel, look, and formality of their wedding. This serves as a guiding framework to keep your planning focused and cohesive. The first and most important part of your Vision Trio is the feel, the emotional tone that sets the stage for your entire day and lingers with your guests. Choosing one word to represent this feeling helps guide every decision and provides a clear point of reference when planning becomes stressful.

To illustrate how powerful the ‘feel’ aspect of your Vision Trio can be, imagine a couple who chose the word ‘joyful’ as their guiding emotion:

During our wedding planning journey, the ‘feel’ aspect of our Vision Trio became our saving grace. We chose the word ‘joyful’ as our guiding emotion, wanting our day to feel light, warm, and full of laughter. About three months before the wedding, we found ourselves caught up in a debate over whether to switch to a more formal caterer that promised a fancier menu but felt too rigid and serious for our taste. We were stressed, second-guessing our original choice.

That’s when we remembered our Vision Trio and that single word—’joyful.’ It reminded us that our priority was for everyone, including ourselves, to feel relaxed and happy, not stiff or overly formal. We chose to stick with our initial caterer, who offered a fun and friendly approach with crowd-pleasing dishes. On the day of the wedding, the laughter, shared stories, and joy we hoped for filled the room, and we knew we’d made the right decision. The Vision Trio kept us grounded and true to what really mattered.

Why is “The Feel” Important in Wedding Planning?

The feel sets the emotional tone of the wedding and is the aspect guests will remember most. Think about weddings you’ve attended—do you remember every detail of the decor, or do you remember the warmth, joy, or excitement you felt? Start here to ensure your wedding resonates in the way you dream it will.

Set the Tone: How to Choose the ‘Feel’ for Your Wedding Planning:

Step 1: Reflect on Your Values

• Sit down with your partner in a comfortable, quiet space and discuss which emotions matter most to you both. Is it love, warmth, joy, elegance, or fun?
• Write down specific moments in your life that brought you genuine joy and reflect on what those moments had in common. Did they evoke feelings of togetherness, celebration, or peace?
• Identify which emotions resonate most deeply with both of you as a couple.

Step 2: Visualize the Day

• Close your eyes and picture your wedding day from start to finish. What are guests doing? Are they laughing, dancing, or sharing heartfelt moments?
• Focus on the sounds around you. Do you hear the warm hum of conversation, bursts of laughter, or the clinking of glasses?
• Pay attention to how you feel during these moments. Are you filled with warmth, joy, or excitement?
• Let these images and feelings guide you and note down the emotions they evoke.

Step 3: Think Outside the Box

• Remember, your wedding doesn’t need to follow the traditional format of ceremony, cocktail hour, speeches, dinner, and dancing. Consider what best represents you as a couple.
• Imagine unique scenarios, like starting with bagels and coffee after a sunrise hike to your ceremony location or creating an intimate gathering centered around your favorite activities.
• Keep in mind that focusing on the ‘feel’ allows you to design an experience that’s authentically yours.

Step 4: Note Your Ideas

• Write down any descriptive words that came to mind during your visualization and discussions. Create a list of potential words to use as your guiding ‘feel’ word.

Step 5: Narrow Down Your Options

• Review your list together and identify which words feel most authentic to who you are as a couple.
• Discuss and reflect until you both agree on the one word that perfectly embodies how you want your wedding day to feel.

Step 6: Confirm Your Choice

• Say the chosen word out loud and imagine using it as a touchstone whenever planning becomes stressful or overwhelming. Does it bring a sense of comfort and excitement?
• If it feels right, this is your word. Share it with everyone helping you plan your wedding so they understand what to prioritize and stay aligned with your vision.

Examples of “Feel” Words:

• Joyful
• Intimate
• Romantic
• Whimsical
• Elegant
• Festive

To Wrap It Up…

Determining your one-word feel is crucial as it becomes your wedding’s emotional anchor. This word will guide you through planning decisions and keep you centered on what truly matters. Make sure you share it with your support team to maintain alignment and clear expectations.