Your favorite song was playing in the background, candles glowing bright, hand in hand with your better half. Or maybe it was just the two of you in a quiet spot by the river? Or perhaps it happened in front of your family before Christmas dinner? Or was there a flash mob at a shopping mall?
No matter how it happened, you said “yes,” and you are thrilled. But the ‘what’s next’ part can be quite overwhelming as you start planning for your fairytale wedding.
Wedding planning can be a daunting task. There are a lot of things you need to think about and do. But if you organize your tasks and make a checklist, wedding planning can be easy.
Set a Budget and Stick to It
The first step in planning your wedding is the budget. Knowing how much you have to spend on your wedding is the most significant decision you should make. Ask your parents to help you out. Otherwise, if you rest it solely on your shoulders it could prove to be stressful. Having a fixed budget will help you make decisions easily throughout the planning process.
Sit down and put together a guest list but only estimate numbers at this stage. Also, ensure that you overestimate by a handful of guests. You will need the guest list when setting a date, picking a wedding party, and venue. The number of guests you plan on inviting will determine the venue size, how much you spend on catering, among other things.
According to statistics, only 33% of weddings take place in a religious institution, and this number continues to drop. So while there is the option to get married in a religious institution, you can also opt to find a different location to host it. A venue can be costly, so make sure to do your research on what options you have before you visit them.
Once you set the date and choose a venue, you will also need to start planning who you want to cater your wedding as well as looking into hiring a photographer (and possibly a videographer) and what type of music you want (DJ or band). All of these things will need to be taken into consideration when determining your budget.
Make Your Wedding Your Own
The best way to make your wedding your own is to inject it with a shot of personality. Is your wedding day going to be filled with the overused mason jars, the classic rose petal littered aisles, the popular donut bars, or the unique cocktail hour for your fur babies?
At this stage, choose a theme, pick the colors, flowers, and décor that will make your wedding truly stand out. Design and start sending save-the-dates and invites to your big day. Start looking for wedding party outfits, decide whether you want to have a flower girl and ring bearer, and choose the best outfits to fit your wedding theme.
The most important step in planning your wedding is searching for the perfect wedding dress. The search for the perfect wedding dress can take longer than you might anticipate. Thus, it is better to start looking sooner rather than later.
Start trying on a variety of different dress styles and shapes. This will help give you an idea of your preferences as well as what style suits you the best. Remember, it can take up to six months for a dress to be custom made so you might be better off purchasing a dress that is ready to purchase. Then you can have it tailored to fit you.
Get Organized
Now that the major decisions are out of the way, it is time for you to perfect the details. At this stage of planning your wedding, you will hopefully have your guest list confirmed. Now you can start creating a seating chart and make or order customized place cards.
Also, create a website and fill it with your engagement story, wedding logistics, registry, and more. Your wedding website will be the first thing guests would be looking for when you announce your wedding. The site should include all the pertinent information for your wedding guests, including lodging options and if there will be a shuttle to and from the wedding venue.
At this point you should start finalizing your honeymoon plans. If your budget is tight, the easiest way to save money on your honeymoon is to stay at the same destination where you will be tying the knot. You can also head to a nearby city or island to keep things fresh.
Regardless of whether you are staying put or venturing to a faraway place for your honeymoon, make sure you have everything planned and booked now.
Enjoy Yourself
One of the most critical steps in planning a wedding is to remember to relax and have fun. So take some time away from your planning notebook and excel spreadsheets and spend it doing normal stuff like a night on the couch with some coffee and a good book, or a cinema night with your friends.
Lastly, make sure to enjoy every festivity associated with your wedding from the bridal showers, bachelorette party, and the rehearsal dinner.
Wedding Day To-Dos
Your big day has finally arrived. Your guests are here, and the venue is amazing. As everyone’s eating, laughing, dancing, and you looking stunningly fabulous, shake off any remaining stress and worry. Smile, and enjoy yourself!
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