Planning from afar!

Jaemi1123

So my FI and I are getting married up in NH, but we live in VA.  I grew up going to the area every summer so I am familiar but I am stressing out (already) how to get everything done while I am down here in VA and everything and everyone else is up there.  Any tips on how to make sure things are getting done and get done without breaking the bank traveling back and forth.

Ashly018

I would suggest getting a wedding planner that is there, and that you can communicate well with.  The whole point of a wedding planner is to take care of what you can't.  Just make sure they have a clear understanding of what you want.

mynameskatie

My fiance and I are from Maryland but we've been living in Idaho for the past 2.5 years so I am planning our Maryland wedding from Idaho and we only visit twice a year.  I haven't found having a wedding planner necessary but if its in your budget I'm sure it would help. A lot of venues provide coordinators to help you get organized. 

I think one thing that has helped is having a longer engagement. When we first got engaged I researched any venues, photographers, and other vendors we would be interested in. Then when we went home for a visit I went around the time of a bridal show to get even more ideas. Then we visited the top venues on our list after I had narrowed them down by price, distance, etc. This was also important because things in our area book very far out. Try to pick vendors who are willing to work with your situation and can answer questions via email. 

I've found that by making decisions earlier on we will be set up to figure out smaller details over time and we can handle any things we have to do in person (i.e. our engagement session) when we are visiting. 

aerinpegadrak

We live about four hours from our wedding destination.  It hasn't been terribly difficult, really.  We've researched every vendor out there extensively before booking, and I've been pretty heavily dependent on the recommendations of my local board.  We're doing a lot of DIY and bringing the photographer and videographer with us (they're both friends), so there honestly isn't even that much we need to get done in Vegas.

The key to planning a wedding from a distance is that you may have to relinquish some control.  You can't, say, pop into the florist's shop for an update, so you just have to do your research, hire a professional with good experience, and trust that they'll deliver something that you're satisfied with.  I haven't even seen my venue in person yet, only in pictures, and I probably won't until the day before the wedding.  It's a little stressful, sure, but it just means being more flexible. 

You'll probably want to do at least one scouting trip, but to make that easier, do your research beforehand and narrow it down to only your final vendors.  So rather than spending an entire trip trying to find a reception venue, you can just visit your top three, so you still have time to visit all your other finalists.  Trust me, the internet makes it pretty much irrelevant where you're planning from

MollySm

We are living in San Diego, and getting married in Maine!  About as far as you can be in the continental US.  I agree that it's super stressful thinking about how it's all going to work out.  We don't have money in the budget for a coordinator, so I am lucky to have a sister living in Maine (my MOH) who I can rely on heavily.  She's happy to go meet with people and check things out for me.  I trust her opinions and don't know how I'd manage without her!