A wedding is an important milestone in the life of two people who love each other. It is a ceremony or ritual that marks the start of their marriage and often involves a big party. Wedding can be as simple as a civil ceremony at City Hall or an elaborate event that lasts several days and involves religious rituals, hundreds of guests, and a lot of food and drink. In addition, the word can also be used as an adjective to describe the wedding dress or cake or any other decorations and details that might be part of a wedding celebration.
Many couples are overwhelmed by the prospect of planning a wedding. Some have a clear vision of what their dream wedding looks like, while others aren’t sure where to begin. Whether you’re an experienced bride or groom or just starting out, it’s helpful to have some guidelines in place to help make your planning process easier. This article will discuss some of the most important steps you’ll need to take when planning your wedding and point out some of the best tools that can ease the stress and make your special day even more memorable.
The first step is determining your budget. Whether you’re paying for the whole thing yourself, splitting it with your fiancé, or asking your parents to foot the bill, setting a realistic number from the get-go will save you so much headache down the road. Once you’ve determined your budget, it’s essential to stick to it and make tough decisions about what can and cannot be included in your celebration.
Next, you’ll want to book your venue and reception dates. It’s generally a good idea to be flexible with your date(s) so that other to-be-weds don’t choose the same time frame, and to account for seasonal fluctuations in prices.
Once you’ve booked your venue, it’s a good idea to send out your save-the-dates 6-8 weeks in advance of your wedding. Around the same time, you’ll need to start thinking about your seating plan and ordering any additional wedding decor, if needed.
Another important step is creating a registry. You’ll likely want to give your guests the option of purchasing a traditional gift or contributing money directly towards something that is more meaningful for you and your fiancé, like a honeymoon or down payment on a new home. Using an online tool like MyRegistry or Zola is convenient and makes the entire process very easy for your guests.
You’ll need to purchase a marriage license before you can say “I do!” This can be done through your local government or courthouse, and the specific requirements may vary slightly between states. In general, you’ll need to bring official identification and proof of age. Some cities require you to attend an appointment at the courthouse, while others allow walk-ins.