How to Stay on Top of Wedding Planning as a Busy Bride | Wedding Planning Tips

Many of our brides are very busy people. Between their jobs, wedding-related festivities, friends’ weddings, and life obligations in general, they find it incredibly difficult to find the time to dedicate to planning what is ultimately the biggest, most fabulous party you will ever throw. So we thought we would put together some tips for those brides who are working that 9-5 and need a little bit of help getting their heads together!

Create a wedding planning calendar with important deadlines noted.

We have found it can be helpful to create an entire calendar dedicated to all things wedding. Utilizing either GoogleCal (with wedding events in its own special color) or a paper planner with highlighted wedding appointments mark important appointments and deadlines. You should include details such as menu tastings, registry appointments and deadlines for things like ordering your wedding dress or vaccinations for honeymoons. This will help keep your mind at ease, knowing that you will not miss any important details.

Try to make multiple appointments in a day.

When our clients live out of town, we try to schedule as many appointments while they’re in town as possible. This may mean starting your day at our office for a paperie meeting, followed by a walk-through at the venue with the catering staff. It helps to try and be as efficient with your time as possible!

Hire professionals

Sometimes brides get excited about the idea of taking on projects with their loved ones in order to add a personal touch to their special day (and save some money!). However we have found that sometimes those labors of love end up causing a lot of stress on our clients. Do not try to do your hair and makeup yourself, or bake 12 dozen cupcakes for your guests’ dessert. DO hire a planner to help you oversee these details and recommend the appropriate vendors to bring these ideas to life.

Stay Organized

A tip that we use ourselves is that we keep separate binders for each of our clients’ weddings. Within these binders we keep vendor contact information, contracts, floorplan drafts, proposals from vendors, inspiration packets, and day of timeline information. That way everything you need to access is all in one place. We also keep each wedding separated in our email inbox and suggest brides do that as well! File away each of your wedding-related emails into separate categories.

Plan Ahead

The month before your wedding is going to be filled with last minute errands and tasks that need to be done. Beauty appointments, marriage licenses, honeymoon reservations, etc. So be sure to plan ahead and get a majority of the details for the wedding itself done way beforehand. No last minute decision making means a much more enjoyable celebration for all!

Best Wedding Venues in Augusta, Georgia

Several times a month we are the recipient of phone calls asking "Are you a wedding venue?", "Do you know of any wedding venues?", "What venue do you recommend for my wedding?", and one of our most-asked questions on social media, "Where is that pond-house ceremony and can I rent it for my wedding?" (Sorry to say, no! It's a private estate!)

This spring wedding season we worked at a few venues that are new-to-us or that we have not worked at in a few years. It was a fun experience designing in new spaces, faced with new creative ideas (and challenges sometimes too!), and being able to work with new venue teams. 

When we work with our full-service clients, we walk them through the different venues we love to work at to try and find the best venue suited for their specific needs. This may mean going and walking through several options before settling on the right one for our couples' special day!

We thought it would be helpful for those newly-engaged Augusta brides if we put together a list of some of our favorite Augusta wedding venues (by no means is this all of the venues in town!) to help guide them in the very beginnings of their planning process!

The Old Medical College

One of our favorite venues in town, the Old Medical College, is a great fit for those couples who are having a food station/heavy appetizer reception for a large guest count, or a seated dinner for a smaller guest count. New rules dictate that you must put the dance floor and band downstairs in the Solarium, but the room is so beautiful that it is really the perfect place for them! We, fittingly, have had many medical student graduates come back to Augusta and host their weddings here. Images below by Ashley Seawell Photography, Leigh & Becca, & Mark Williams Studio.

Image by Ashley Seawell Photography

Image by Leigh & Becca

Ashley Seawell Photography

Mark Williams Studio

The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation

A new-to-us venue this year, The Reserve Club at Woodside is technically not in Augusta. It is located in the beautiful town of Aiken, South Carolina, but that 30 minute drive is worth it once you see how beautiful this (public!) country club is. Recently renovated (by our bride & her mother!), the Reserve Club is the perfect mix of traditional with a fresh twist. The grounds lend themselves to many different options for layout and event flow, a beautiful ballroom perfect for a seated dinner, and onsite bridal and groom suites, which is always a bonus! Images below by Lauren Carnes Photography.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center

For the couples who want that "wow" factor effect out of their venue, Sacred Heart is always a beautiful option. Once an operating Catholic church-this cultural center is always booked up for weddings and events. We have done everything from ceremony, to reception, to fundraisers, and even a fashion show in this space! The towering cathedral dome glows beautifully at night, truly a sight to be seen! Images below by Lauren Carnes Photography & Amy Noon Free.

Amy Noon Free Photography

Lauren Carnes Photography

Amy Noon Free Photography

Champions Retreat

Champions Retreat is located just outside of the heart of Augusta, in Evans, Georgia. What we love about it is that it truly does feel like a retreat. The event space, called the Party Barn, is so well-designed, beautiful, and with the ability to rent the cottages onsite for your friends and family, you can really make a weekend out of your time out there. Champions is the perfect fit for those clients looking for a bit more of a rustic venue, but with elevated service and expectations. Images below by Rachel Tesch & Andrew Donnan.

Rachel Tesch Photography

Enterprise Mill

Enterprise Mill is one of those venues that makes it really easy on couples, they have a lot of the things you need already to go there, catering, rentals, etc. A once-mill-turned event center we like Enterprise Mill not only for wedding receptions, but especially for rehearsal dinners and other private events. With two events spaces, a nice outdoor area, and a gazebo for the perfect outdoor ceremony it is a great option for clients who love that rustic-meets-modern event space style. Images below by Amy J Owen Photography.

The River Room at St. Paul's

Another beautiful option for guests who are looking for a great space for a seated rehearsal dinner or heavy appetizer/dancing reception is the River Room at St. Paul's Church. Looking out over the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, the River Room is a light-filled venue with pretty details. We love tenting the outside area to extend the space a bit more, allowing guests to soak up the beauty of the Savannah River. Images by Mark Williams Studio & Ashley Seawell Photography.

Mark Williams Studio

Ashley Seawell Photography

Ashley Seawell Photography

Mark Williams Studio

West Lake Country Club

One often overlooked option for weddings and events is the West Lake Country Club. You do not have to be a member here to host an event, and it really is a wonderful option for clients who are looking for an indoor/outdoor event space. The ballroom has lots of light and is a good size for a seated dinner or dancing reception. Our clients held the ceremony outside under towering pines and afterwards took a golf cart ride out to the 16th fairway for some beautiful portraits pond-side. Images below by Ashley Seawell Photography.

Augusta Country Club

Now this list would not be complete without mentioning the gorgeous Augusta Country Club. Unfortunately you have to be a member (or close friends with one!) to be able to host your wedding or event here. If you are so lucky though, your guests are treated to beautiful views of their fairways, exceptional service, and a beautiful entertainment space. We have been a part of many weddings and events here, so the most difficult challenge here is making each one different! Images below by Lauren Carnes and Ashley Seawell Photography.

Lauren Carnes Photography

Ashley Seawell Photography

Ashley Seawell Photography

Jesslynn + Scott, River Room at St. Paul's | Augusta, GA

As wedding planners, it is always fun when we get to do something a little bit different from the norm. This wedding season has been filled with clients who are asking for something different, unique, and reflective of them as a couple. Jesslynn and Scott came to us knowing that they wanted to do a full Catholic mass ceremony at St. Mary's on the Hill, followed by a brunch reception somewhere light-filled and beautiful. 

After considering a couple of options, we settled on The River Room at St. Paul's. Hidden in plain site, the venue sits right on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta and is filled with gorgeous, natural light. We tented the patio along the Riverwalk to add some shade for guests to enjoy the absolutely stunning weather that is April in Augusta, Georgia.

It was there under the tent that we staged a DIY mimosa and Bloody Mary bar, because what is a brunch wedding without that? To accompany the tasty drinks, we brought in Jennifer Shuford of Tastefully Yours Catering, to provide the most delicious brunch menu. It included variations of Eggs Benedict, classically Southern shrimp n'grits, and of course her signature charcuterie display. 

Scott knew one of his must-haves was some fun music, so we unlisted the help of Carl Purdy to put together a bluegrass ensemble that added the perfect background while guests mingled. One of our favorite details were the sweet trio of cakes by our friend Lila Greene, as you can see below it was one of our groom's favorite details as well!

Scroll down to enjoy the gorgeous images captured by Ashley Seawell Photography. Thank you to Jesslynn, Scott, and both of their families for entrusting us with your big day, it was such a pleasure to be a part of!

Event Design and Coordination: Greg Boulus Events | Florals & Paper Goods: Charleston Street | Photography: Ashley Seawell Photography | Catering: Jennifer Shuford of Tastefully Yours | Venue: River Room at St. Paul's | Cake: Lila Greene | String Quartet & Bluegrass Ensemble: Carl Purdy | Hair & Make-up: Cucumber & Mint | Bridal Gown: Romona Keveza | Ceremony Venue: St. Mary's on the Hill Catholic Church