I’ve been married for 30 days already and here’s what I learned! Planning a wedding should be one of the most selfish things we do in our lives.
There, I said it!
Your wedding is for you two!
Yes, for you and your partner! It’s not for your guests; it’s not even for your parents. It is for you and your future spouse.
Of course, planning a wedding that’s focused on you and your future husband doesn’t mean you will ignore your guests’ preferences and make it uncomfortable in any way for them. It’s quite the opposite, and you’ll see how.
Make it magical. Make it fabulous. Make it Yours!
In this post, we will talk about all of the steps to plan a wedding that fits your budget, makes your guests happy, and most importantly, is as amazing and unforgettable as you wished.
I will also gift you with the checklist I made for myself for my wedding. I’ve added a few extra steps to it, because not every wedding is the same and you might need those.
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7 Questions and Steps To Planning a Wedding
1. How long does it take to plan a wedding?
It depends on the time of the year you’d want to have the wedding.
If you crave an outdoor wedding, you are looking for late spring, summer, and early fall-time of the year. If an indoor wedding is what you were hoping for, the time really doesn’t matter that much.
Every season has its magic and could bring you the magic you look for on your wedding day.
With that said, it’s really easy to count how long you have left until your “wedding season”. Usually, the perfect planning time for a wedding takes around one year. I did it in 3 months, though. That tells you everything is possible.
However, a year for planning the wedding would guarantee you fairly good prices for the food and the venue, enough time to choose your dress, the decoration, the photographer and videographer, the music and to organize the whole evening with almost no stress (I said “almost!”).
2. What is the very first thing to do to start the process of planning?
I know that planning a wedding happens once in life (usually). That’s why it is entirely normal to have no idea what to do first and where to go next.
And that’s fine! I have 3 suggestions for you that will save you nerves and stress later on.
First: Save the Date
The very first thing I’d recommend for you is to pick the date of the wedding.
Not a venue! Not a dress!
Yes, right after you picked the groom, the next thing should be the date. (All the important decisions in life, huh?)
Why? Because this is the date, you will celebrate every single year from now on. Don’t make the wedding on a convenient for everyone else day. Choose a date you will love to circle on your calendar for the rest of your life.
The next best thing to do?
Second: Get a wedding planner book!
When you don’t want or cannot afford a professional to do most of the job for you, there are many affordable options to help you on the way to the Big Day.
The very first thing you must do is to get on Etsy and chose a wedding planner. Etsy is the best place to get something useful, creative, and beautiful. I love all of the designs there, and I’m obsessed with looking for wedding planners, and everything wedding-related as a matter of fact.
See below my favorite wedding planner I recommend you check:
Wedding Planner | Etsy
This gorgeous wedding planner could be personalized with your names. You get help with choosing the dress, the rings, the flowers, the favors, mailing the wedding invitations, and setting up the tables in the planner. You also get to plan your reception, the ceremony itself and get an extra tip on how to put all that (and everything else) together. It's a must-have for every couple.
Third: Get an Ideas Book/Notebook
Storm all the websites, and every board on Pinterest. Stuff yourself with a solid dosage of inspiration and ideas on planning your wedding. But don’t let them disappear.
Pick an agenda or a simple notebook and write them down. It’s all part of planning a wedding. Print the images from the websites, cut the pages from the magazine and grab the glue. It’s craft time.
3. Should we have an engagement party?
Having an engagement party is a nice part of the process. You invite the closest ones to you and celebrate an amazing event in your life.
However, don’t feel obligated to have an engagement party if you don’t want to, or don’t have the money to pay for it. It is much more fun to have bridal and groom shower parties.
4. When should I book the wedding venue?
As soon as possible actually.
Don’t wait for the last months (we did that and it was beyond stressful). You might have to make more compromises than needed. Also, if you book the venue early enough, it will be cheaper, or at least at an acceptable price.
Important note when choosing your venue: The venue is one of the things that will “make it or break it”. It should reflect the theme of your wedding and also, allow you a certain level of freedom to decorate and move things around.
5. What is the most important thing for the guests at my wedding?
Many things are important to your guests, so let me list them one by one.
Accessibility!
It is crucial that your wedding venue is easy to find and not too far from the hotel most of your guests will stay in. A venue that offers rooms for the night is the ideal option.
Organized wedding!
It’s essential for you to inform your guests about the program on the wedding day. What time is the ceremony? When does the dinner get served? What would the food be? What about the cake cutting? When does the music stop?
I get very upset when I go to a wedding and have no clue what’s next and when things happen. I find myself asking people around and we spread a chain of questions until the moment we all just give up.
To be sure that everyone knows what’s happening, you have the following few options:
- Create the timeline of the wedding day and upload it to your wedding website (if you have such)
- Create the timeline of the wedding day, print it, and distribute it to everyone (alternatively, you could just send it to them as a file, an environment-friendly option)
- Create the timeline of the wedding day and incorporate it as part of the wedding decoration in front of the church and/or the wedding venue.
Clear expectations!
What is the dress code for the evening? Are children allowed? If yes, are there any food options for them? Do you prefer wedding gifts or money? All of these questions need answers many months before your wedding day.
Good food!
One of the highlights of every wedding is the food. People care about the things that affect them personally the most. Yes, every aspect is important, but even the best dress, ceremony, and music won’t be remembered if your guests leave the venue hungry.
You!
Your attention towards your guests makes them feel special. They want to have a few minutes with you so they could congratulate you, take a sip of sparkling wine with you, and feel your gratitude they came to share this day with you. Everyone loves a little bit of appreciation.
Have fun!
After all, this is a party, isn’t it? Make it look like it! A short ceremony, good music that makes you move, cheap drinks if an open bar is not an option, fewer rituals that bore the people, and lots of fun. That’s the secret recipe for the perfect wedding.
6. How could I get the most out of my wedding day without breaking the bank?
Yep, I hear you!
Weddings are an expensive pleasure.
And your wedding will cost you money. In fact, chances are, your wedding will cost you more than you expected.
However, it shouldn’t cost you more than you could afford, right?
So, that’s your starting point. Sit down with your partner and figure out how much you can afford to pay for your wedding.
Don’t think of what you want to do or have to do, but how much you can pay as a total.
Write it down.
Once you have that amount, it will be easier for you to plan a wedding that fits this budget. You could always amend it a little bit but start with a clear vision of your budget.
The wedding day in the US will cost you differently depending on the state you live in. Moreover, the numbers are somewhere between $19 323 and $32 205. Many couples spend as less as $15 000 which I’d say is more than amazing. (Source)
The secret behind all these numbers when you plan a wedding? It’s a well-planned and thought-through process for months before the day.
7. When and how to ask for money instead of presents?
Every couple decides for themselves if they prefer money for their wedding or gifts.
The trend nowadays is to receive money on this day. And honestly, after answering the previous question, is more than clear why.
State in your wedding invitations what you prefer.
In that way, it will be easy for your guests to get you a lovely card and put some cash in the envelope. You could find many cute messages to squeeze on the wedding invitations to make it sound elegant and not cheeky at all.
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Planning a Wedding – Steps, Checklists, and Happy Guests
Blogger, dreamer, procrastinator, and lover of everything soul-touching. My mission is to make you laugh, provoke your thoughts, light up your day and inspire you to fall in love with life and yourself.