Hi, I’m Diane, the owner of All4One Farms. With seven years of experience and having hosted hundreds of weddings, I’ve seen firsthand the excitement, joy, and sometimes, the overwhelming feeling that comes after saying “yes!” You’re engaged—congratulations! This is one of the most exciting times in your life. But soon after the champagne is popped, the question sinks in: “Now what?” Starting the wedding planning process can feel like a monumental task, but I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. The very first steps are often the most important, and they set the tone for your entire journey. As you begin to dream about your perfect day, consider what a beautiful celebration at a Jax wedding venue could look like. If you’re ready to take that first, exciting step, I invite you to schedule a tour of our farm and see the possibilities for yourself.
The first big decision you’ll make as an engaged couple is choosing your wedding venue, and it’s a choice that influences everything else, from your guest list to your decor. An outdoor wedding venue like All4One Farms provides a stunning natural canvas that you can truly make your own. I believe that your wedding day should be a reflection of your unique love story, and our sprawling acres, majestic oak trees, and rustic elegant barn offer the perfect setting to tell it. Before you dive into florists, caterers, or color palettes, finding the right space is key. This is the foundation upon which you’ll build your dream day, and taking the time to find a venue that feels right is the best way to start your wedding planning journey on a positive and confident note.
Your First 5 Steps in Wedding Planning
Before we jump into the steps, let’s look at some helpful local information. The average Jacksonville wedding hosts between 100 and 150 guests, striking a wonderful balance between intimate and lively. When it comes to budgeting, couples typically spend around $25,000–$35,000 for a wedding in the Jacksonville area. The breakdown can vary depending on your unique vision, but here are typical costs for some of the main vendors:
- Venue (including ceremony & reception): $7,000 – $11,000
- Catering (per person): $40 – $100
- Photography/Videography: $2,500 – $6,000
- Florals: $1,500 – $3,500
- DJ or Live Band: $1,200 – $4,000
- Planner/Coordinator: $1,500 – $3,000
- Cake: $400 – $900
Having these figures in mind will help you set clear priorities and allocate your budget as you move forward with planning.
That “just engaged” bliss is incredible, but it’s easy to get lost in a sea of Pinterest boards and bridal magazines. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it’s best to start with a clear, focused plan. Here are the first five steps you should take to kick off your wedding planning process smoothly.
1. Dream and Discuss with Your Partner
Before you do anything else, sit down with your fiancé. This is the most important conversation you’ll have. What do you both envision for your wedding day? Is it a huge party with everyone you know, or an intimate gathering with just your closest family and friends? Do you dream of a formal, black-tie affair or a relaxed, barefoot-on-the-grass kind of day? Talk about your priorities. Is amazing food the most important thing? Or is it all about the music and dancing? This is the time to get on the same page about the overall vibe, size, and feel of your wedding. This shared vision will be your North Star throughout the entire planning process, guiding every decision you make.
2. Set a Realistic Budget
This is often the least romantic part of planning, but it is absolutely essential. You cannot move forward without knowing what you can afford to spend. Have an open and honest conversation about your finances. Who is contributing to the wedding? Are your parents helping? What are you comfortable spending as a couple? Create a spreadsheet and start researching the average cost of wedding services in your area. Typically, your venue and catering will be the largest portion of your budget (around 50%), so understanding your total number will help you determine what you can allocate for your venue. This financial framework will prevent stress down the road and empower you to make smart choices.
3. Draft Your Guest List
Your guest count will impact nearly every aspect of your wedding, especially your budget and your choice of venue. You don’t need a finalized list right away, but you should create a draft. A good way to start is by creating a few categories: A-list (must-haves), B-list (would love to have), and C-list (if space and budget allow). This will give you a target number to work with when you start looking at venues. Remember, every guest adds to the cost of catering, seating, invitations, and more. Keeping this number in mind is crucial for finding a space that can comfortably accommodate your celebration.
4. Choose Your Wedding Season and Potential Dates
You don’t need to land on an exact date just yet, but narrowing it down to a season or month is incredibly helpful. Do you envision a spring wedding with blooming flowers, a vibrant fall celebration with crisp air, or a cozy winter event? In Florida, fall, winter, and spring are prime wedding seasons due to the milder weather. Think about any major holidays, family events, or work conflicts that might affect your timing. Having a few potential dates or a preferred month will make your venue search much more efficient. For a little inspiration on planning around the seasons, check out our post on planning a wedding around Thanksgiving.
5. Research and Tour Wedding Venues
Now for the fun part! With your vision, budget, guest count, and timeline in mind, you can begin the search for your perfect venue. This is arguably the most important decision you’ll make. The venue sets the scene for your entire day. Start by researching venues online that fit your style and capacity needs. Look at photos, read reviews, and see what’s included in their packages. Once you have a shortlist of 3-5 venues, it’s time to schedule tours. This is where the magic happens.
So, why is it so crucial to schedule a tour of a wedding venue in Jacksonville? A tour is the only way to truly know if a venue is the one for you. Photos and videos can be beautiful, but they can’t capture the atmosphere, the scale, or the feeling you get when you’re actually standing in the space. When you visit All4One Farms, you’ll be able to walk under our ancient mossy oaks, feel the breeze across the open fields, and see the way the light filters into our elegant barn. You can physically stand in the spot where you might say “I do” and picture your loved ones celebrating with you. It’s a sensory experience that no website can replicate.
A tour is also your opportunity to connect with the people behind the venue. For me, this is personal. I want to meet you, hear your love story, and understand what you’re dreaming of for your wedding day. During a tour, you can ask me anything—from logistics and vendor policies to where the best photo spots are. It’s a relaxed, no-pressure conversation designed to give you all the information you need to make a confident decision. My seven years in this business have taught me that a strong, trusting relationship between a couple and their venue owner is the foundation for a seamless and joyful wedding day. So come on out, let’s take a walk, and let’s start turning your wedding dreams into a reality.
Happy planning!
Diane
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Did you know…when you choose a locally owned wedding venue you are helping to develop and improve the local economy? It’s true, your locally owned wedding venues are small business owners who not only create hundreds of jobs for the local wedding industry every year, we actively support our local economy. Please consider a locally owned venue, you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.
Shout out to other locally owned wedding venues across the country:
- Prosperity Mansion
- Kinsey Events
- The Barn at Ballard Creek
- Leeric Lodge
- Cabins on Strawberry Hill
- The Vintage Rose Barn
- The Cellar at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard
- Chanting Oak Ridge
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Meta Title: How to Start Wedding Planning | All4One Farms
Meta Description: Feeling overwhelmed? Our guide on how to start the wedding planning process gives you the first 5 steps. Find your perfect Jax wedding venue with us
