A wedding is a celebration of two people in love making a permanent commitment to each other. There are many different ways to celebrate a wedding, depending on the couple and their families’ religion, traditions and cultural values. A wedding is also a wonderful excuse to bring together loved ones for a special weekend or day.
A few months out from your big day, you should start to create a master guest list that includes everyone you’ll be inviting to the ceremony and reception. This will give you a firm number to work with when ordering invitations and other supplies, and help you avoid overspending later on in the process.
Next, meet with your registrar to set up your date, time and venue. They will be able to tell you how many guests the venue can accommodate, which will help you divvy out your invites. You’ll also want to decide if you’ll be having a dinner reception afterward, and if so, how much that will cost.
After choosing a few dates, pick one and stick to it! This will make it easier for your friends and family to plan travel and other activities, and it’ll also allow you to book vendors earlier. It’s important to be flexible, however, as some dates might be more popular than others, leading to less availability and higher prices.
Before the ceremony begins, designate an MC (master of ceremonies) or DJ to take care of all the formalities. This person will announce the wedding party and bridal party, welcome guests, and keep the timeline on track. If you’re having a live band, their lead singer can often act as the MC too.
The couple will then recite their vows, either in their own words or using traditional phrasing. They may then exchange rings, which is considered to be the symbolic seal of their marriage. Finally, the bride and groom will kiss each other, which is always a crowd-pleaser.
Afterwards, the couple will usually head to the dance floor for some serious dancing and fun! Before you hit the floor, have your maid of honor or a trusted friend check that the veil is lifted correctly. Then, strut your stuff! And don’t forget to get plenty of beauty sleep.
It’s customary to tip vendors who are providing a service on your wedding day, like musicians, DJs, hair stylists, makeup artists and drivers. However, be sure to read the fine print on their contracts or talk to them in-person before agreeing to any amount of tipping. This way, you’ll be clear on what they expect from you and how much to tip them.