If you have recently become engaged then you may be busy planning your wedding. It is not as simple as walking down the aisle and being married. There are lots of tiny details that you need to think about when you begin planning your wedding. Take a look below to find out how you can plan the ultimate wedding down to every last detail.
Dates
One of the very first things you have to think about with your partner is when you want to get married. Having dates in mind will make it easier for you when you take a look around different venues. Venues will ask you for your dates when you ring or email to enquire about availability. You can always see what type of availability your dream venue has and set your wedding date from that. However, you could always base your dates on a particular season that you would like to get married in, summer is always a popular one. You will also need to make sure all the other people helping with your wedding are free on the dates chosen. This includes your wedding photographer and the caterers.
Venue
Once you have decided on your dates then it is time to look around some venues. Be aware that it may be necessary to have some flexibility with your dates when it comes to venue availability. If for example, you want to get married on a Saturday but the venue you love only has availability on a Friday then you may have to change the original date. It is essential you don’t send out wedding invites to your guest without confirming and finalizing the dates and venue. Take your time deciding which venue to hold your wedding, there may be a few choices you have on your list. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as you are being shown the venue, you want to make sure that you are making the right choice.
Guests
So, you have sorted the dates and the venue out. Now it’s time to sit down together and work out who is getting an invitation. This can be one the most stressful parts of planning a wedding as it could be a case of not everybody you know gets on. The last thing you want is for the cousins to start arguing with the parents and for it all to go awry. It will take some time to write everyone down and not just that, you will also need to figure out a seating plan. Most venues will give you the layout and size of the tables so you can plan your seating arrangement around this.
Invites
Once everything is sorted with regards to the guest list, it is time to send out the invites. There are certain things that are required on your wedding invites, these consist of the date, time, venue, and where to RSVP to. It is a good plan to give your wedding guests plenty of notice when it comes to sending out invites. This is in case they need to book time off work to attend your special day. Typically you will have more guests attending your wedding if it is on the weekend when they don’t have to ask for time off. You will also need to specify on your invites if your guests are invited to the whole event or just the evening ceremony.
Dress
Time to focus on one of the main events of the wedding, the dress! Shopping for the dress is one of the most exciting times when it comes to the wedding. You can get your girlfriends together and make a day of it. The most important thing to remember is to say yes to the dress that you envision yourself walking down the aisle in. You may have had the perfect vision of the ideal wedding dress for you, this can all change when you try them on in the store. Alternatively, if you are wanting to do a wedding on a budget then you can shop online for wedding dresses.
Bridesmaids
Who are your bridesmaids going to be? If you wish to have bridesmaids then you need to decide who you are going to ask. This can cause an immense level of stress as you may be worried about the implications on your other friends. If you only have two or three close friends then that is sorted, you could ask all of them. Something else that should be on your consideration list is bridesmaids’ dresses. Are these going to be paid for out of your wedding budget or are you going to ask your bridesmaids to cover their own dresses? Also, are you wanting them to wear matching dresses or dresses of the same color? These are all things you need to think about before consulting with them.
Catering
Food! Something that everyone remembers when they go to a party of any kind is the food. If you have good food or bad food, it will be the talk of the town amongst your close friends and family. There are a few different options when it comes to food for your wedding. You could have a buffet-style layout where people can pick and graze as and when they wish. You could also make use of the catering offered by the venue if this is applicable or you could hire your own catering company. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you find out if your guests have any allergies and send them out menus so they know what to expect.
Open Bar
Finally, what are you going to do about drinks at your wedding? A lot of people decide that their guests can have one glass of champagne on arrival to toast the happy couple. After that, guests are expected to buy their own drinks from the bar. There is always the option of an open bar and this can be capped at any limit or amount so your guests don’t go overboard.
We hope you found this article helpful and it gives you lots of useful tips and tricks on how to organize your big day.
