Relax! Take a deep breath. There. Better?
Wedding day planning can seem daunting – especially if you have never had to plan a big event before. Here we give you a quick overview of the main elements involved in planning a wedding. In subsequent articles we will go in-depth with all of the essentials surrounding your big day that you will have to think about and plan as well.
Money, money, money, mo-ney!
The very first thing you and your fiancé should do it sit down and establish a budget for planning the wedding day. Find out if your parents or future in-laws are planning to help financially so that you can have a clear idea of what kind of dollars you will be playing with. Unless you know how much you can spend, you can very quickly spend far more than you ever thought possible and find yourselves starting your new lives together in the red – which is definitely a situation to avoid.
The right date for your big day
Once you have your budget, the next thing to do is choose a wedding date – or, actually, you should choose several suitable dates for your wedding. Why? Because there is no guarantee that your date and time will be available at the religious and/or civic institution at which you want your ceremony held or that the celebrant you hoped would officiate will be free. By choosing several dates/times you are making it easier to book something you want instead of settling with whatever is available. Depending on how far in advance you are planning your wedding you might have to be very flexible with your dates. In some cities, weddings are planned up to 18 months in advance while in other places three months is plenty. Once you have narrowed down your dates – call to book your spot! Do not wait. The quicker you have your date nailed down, the easier it will be to start planning the actual day itself.
The more the merrier – but not always!
After the date has been booked, the next element that will influence your decisions will be your guest list. The number of people you invite will play a big role in determining how much you can spend on other elements of your wedding including floral arrangements, transportation, your dress, music, wedding favors, invitations and decorations. The larger your guest list, the more you will have to spend on your reception and the catering, leaving less for the peripherals. So, determining your guest list should be done very early on in the planning process.
The attendants
The wedding party consists of your bridesmaids and the groomsmen – the attendants who will be responsible for helping you plan your wedding, throw you a bridal shower and/or bachelorette and host a bachelor party for your fiancé. So, when putting together your list of attendants choose people who you know are up to the task – or else, the burden will fall completely on your shoulders.
The nitty-gritty
With your budget set, your date booked, your guest list sorted and your bridal party in place, it is time for the really fun part to begin – choosing the music, the catering, the flowers, the transportation, the invitations, the decorations and, yes – your dress!
The above is a quick over-view of the major elements you will have to think about when planning your wedding day. We will explore each element more closely in future articles, so check back regularly for more in-sight into planning your perfect day!
