Wedding Planning Basics

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Planning a wedding is a very exciting and fun thing to do, especially for brides to be. When you think of a wedding, you think of the beautiful gowns and dresses and all the pretty flowers, and it makes you feel happy.

But mind you, it’s also a very serious business, and can be really stressful once you start making plans and you get into all the details. You’ll discover the many shades of white that you never knew existed, and things can get pretty overwhelming. Here are a few tips we’d like to share to help make your wedding planning easier and more enjoyable.

First things first; you and your partner should agree on the basics. Talk about what you both want, discuss the basic idea of what you want to happen. Don’t forget that although the bride is the usual star of the wedding, the groom is part of the occasion too, so his opinion must be considered.

Decide if you both want a civil wedding or a church wedding. Do you want it grand or simple? Do you want a big wedding, or an intimate one with just a few of your close friends and family?

You should agree on these things first, and discuss the other details later on once you’ve made up your mind, and then you can begin with the planning. It will help a lot to set a budget, agree on the amount you’re willing to spend for the entire wedding including the reception, and as much as possible try to stick to it.

Once you’ve agreed on what kind of wedding you want, you have to agree on the date. This will help you with the planning, so you’ll know when and what to pay attention to first. You don’t need to have a specific date yet, maybe just a target month at least.

Set the date and don’t forget to send out invitations to your friends and family at least a month before the wedding day. If you’re having an entourage, don’t forget to inform them earlier than your other guests, so that they can prepare and make sure that they’re available for your wedding.

Once you’ve decided on how and when you want to get married, you can start working on the requirements. This means paperwork, lots of paperwork. You’ll need to secure a marriage license before you can get married. It’s a document that proves that you and your partner are legally allowed to marry. Being prepared is the key; it will save you time, money and effort if you prepare your requirements ahead of time.

Do some research on the requirements, as they may vary depending on which state in which the wedding will take place. You may be asked to submit documents like your birth certificate, proof of identity, and proof of residency, so it’s best if you prepare these beforehand.

Take note of the validity of the marriage license as well. They’re usually valid for 30 to 60 days, so you have to remember this so that you don’t acquire it so early that it expires before your wedding, or so late that it’s already your wedding date and the license hasn’t been released yet. Research also on the requirements for a church wedding, as they may differ from a civil wedding, and make sure to submit them on time.

Look for a venue for the wedding ceremony and for the reception, and then look for a solemnizing officer that will officiate your wedding. Look for designers and tailors for your gowns, look for a makeup artist, for suppliers of the flowers, the decorations, the souvenirs, for caterers, for transportation and for photographers. Make arrangements with them so they can also take care of your wedding reception.

Try to stick to the budget you set before you began planning, but also be prepared for additional expenses that may arise. You can also hire a wedding coordinator for the wedding day itself.

You have to decide also on the entertainment you want to have for your wedding reception, so that your wedding will be fun. You need a host for the event, so you can hire a professional or maybe just ask your friends to do it.

For the music you can have a live band perform, or you can hire a DJ service to perform at your reception. Most couples choose to hire a DJ service nowadays, because they’re more adaptable, they can easily adjust the music to match the mood of the crowd, and make the event more lively and fun.

Planning your dream wedding can be enjoyable, especially if you share it with your friends and family, so don’t hesitate to ask them for help. The most important advice is to always plan ahead of time. It’s never too early to start planning you wedding, because you’ll be surprised at how fast time flies, and before you know it your big day is already near.

Even if you plan on having a long engagement and your wedding will be a year away, you can start browsing for ideas and getting inspiration, and then narrow it down as the day draws closer. It’s a once in a lifetime event, so you’ll want to make it memorable and special. Good luck with the wedding… and Congratulations!