After getting engaged, the next course of action is planning the wedding of your dreams. Whether you choose to have a big, formal wedding or a small ceremony in your backyard, several decisions must be made about all aspects of the wedding.
A lot of people and resources are involved in crafting a successful wedding, and the process of making these variables work in a way that you have envisioned can be very overwhelming and strenuous.
Here are seven steps that can guide you on your wedding planning journey.
Pick a date or season for your wedding
The first course of action is to determine how long your engagement will be by setting a date or picking a season if a specific date can not be narrowed down.
Knowing the exact period of your engagement will let you decide on how much time you have to plan the wedding. The proposed date or season of your wedding will also influence other, more pertinent decisions like the wedding venue, budget and flower arrangements, among others.
Settle your finances
This is the moment that you and your intending spouse should have a sitdown and talk about your finances and how much you can afford to spend on the wedding.
Seeing as weddings can cost a small fortune nowadays, failure to set a budget and tailor your expenses according to it can lead to money problems.
Decide on the amount you wish to spend, ask your parents or relatives about their willingness to contribute and pool these resources together to form your wedding budget.
It is not advisable to finance a wedding with a loan as debt tends to drive a wedge between couples, especially newly-weds. Enjoy your wedding without having to think about the money you will have to repay in the months to come.
Create a guest list
Your guest list usually determines the overall cost of your wedding and the kind of venue you can use. Your budget should serve as a basis for determining the number of guests you can invite to the ceremony.
Choose a wedding venue
Now that you have a timeframe, a budget and a guest list, you can quickly narrow down the wedding venue options that are better suited to your plans.
Seeing as most venues are usually booked months or even years in advance, it is a good idea to book a place very early so as not to be disappointed.
Having a venue in place will help you to pinpoint and confirm the exact date of your wedding and also make it easier to move forward with other aspects of your wedding planning.
Create a wedding checklist
Planning a wedding involves several big and little details that all affect the success of your wedding. Therefore, the wedding checklist is a formidable tool that will give you a better handle on the situation.
It is advisable to create a series of checklists based on different parts of the ceremony rather than having one primary list for the whole wedding.
The reason being that you won’t be overwhelmed by the sheer mass of tasks and get lost in the details. Consider delegating tasks to family or friends to share the load.
Choose your wedding party
Being a member of a wedding party is a massive commitment so you should let your chosen people know well in advance.
Whether just 2 or 20, the people you choose to stand beside you can help your ceremony go smoothly.
Not only will the bridesmaids and groomsmen be available to help whenever needed, but they would also offer much-needed support when you get overwhelmed with the wedding planning.
Send invitations
It is advisable to send invitations at least 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding day.
This will give your guests time to send a response, allowing you to tailor your seating chart, tables and catering better to suit the guests who will be present.
Wedding planning can be a time consuming process, and not everyone can undergo this daunting task.
It might be best to hire a wedding planner to take care of the entire process if you do not have time to devote to the planning.
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