Step1
Choose a date. New England has wonderful seasons: from the foliage that adorns the trees in autumn, to the plush green days of the summer or even the crisp nights of winter when the ground is covered with beautiful white snow, there really is no wrong time to have a Mystic wedding. However, you will find that prices will be slightly higher from Memorial Day until the fall foliage season is finished, just prior to Thanksgiving. Pick a day before you begin your search for a location, as this may help define what your wedding will be like. (And to be on the safe side, pick 3 potential dates, as locations book up fast!)
Step2
Surf the web. If you are planning from a distance or even if you are in the area, the best place to start planning your Mystic wedding is online. By typing "Mystic Connecticut wedding" into your favorite search engine, you will return a myriad of options of places to hold your wedding in and around Mystic. Everything from the Aquarium to the Seaport to the local "Innes" are all great choices. Get a feel of what you're looking for, and make a list of your favorite 5.
Step3
Contact the venues and schedule a visit. Of course this is double the work if you are being married in a church first and then booking a reception hall. And if you are planning your Mystic wedding from afar, then you might have to settle for a phone conference. But, if you can, it's a great idea to tour the grounds of various locations so you can get a feel for them in person. Topics which should be discussed are available dates, cost of rental space, cost of meals (if they provide catering), how beverages and alcohol are figured, rules and regulations of the grounds and any potential deposit needed.
Step4
Pick your location! Now it's time to make your first big decision. Once you choose your location, you can then move onto the next round of choices which include food, music, colors, bridal party, guest accomodations, hiring an officiant and guest list. But the choice of venue is really what sets up every other decision. You'll find some places in Mystic are all inclusive. This means that you essentially rely on their staff to help you plan the rest of the day. The other venues are truly just a shell into which you must fill the rest of the pieces yourself. There is no wrong way to plan your wedding. It's your day, so it's up to you!
Step5
Visit the Knot! The knot is really the most comprehensive wedding site on the web. Now that you've made your decision for the venue, go to the knot and begin browsing for other choices you need to make. Luckily, Connecticut is so small that most vendors will travel to Mystic to work an event. Repeat the process you did for venues with the photographer, caterer (if needed), videographer, florist, wedding planner and any other vendor you need to hire. At the meetings be sure to talk in specifics about what the day will entail and always get a contract!
Step6
Enjoy it! It's your wedding, so have fun planning it. Otherwise what's the point? And don't fret about decisions; Rome wasn't built in a day and your wedding doesn't have to be planned in one either!
