After you pop the big question, and your special somebody says yes, the next step you need to take is planning your wedding. This takes a lot of thought and planning, so be sure to allow you and your bride-to-be plenty of time to get things in order. About a year to a year and a half would be sufficient time.
When you go to plan your wedding or union, here are some things you want to keep in mind if you are planning a formal ceremony. The first thing you will want to do is determine what your budget will be.
The total price will add up quickly, so don’t be afraid to set limitations. Also, you want to choose a location for your ceremony, as well as the reception. Visiting different places, like chapels, or outdoor venues, and talking to a celebrant (the person who performs the wedding ceremony), as well as a wedding planner are good ideas. A wedding planner will help you choose color schemes, decorations, and floral arrangements.
Once you decide on a place to have your wedding or union, you want to decide on a date. Talk to your fiancée first, and then talk to friends and family to help determine the date that best suits everybody. Afterwards, it would be a good idea to get your invitation list in order. When making your invitation list, you want to keep in mind the cost of food, because most caterers will charge you based on the amount of people showing up or the amount of plates being served.
Next on the list is attire. Before you decide on a dress or tuxedo, it may be a good idea to go to bridal shows to get an idea of what you like or don’t like, and to get an idea on how much to spend. A bride’s dress is something special, and unique to the bride’s personality, so it should be the bride who has the final say. For a tuxedo, the groom should consult a tailor. Both the bride and groom should allow themselves ample time to get fitted and for any adjustments that may be necessary. The same applies for bridesmaid’s dresses and the best man/men’s tuxedo(s). Choose color schemes and styles, and then have those you select for the positions to come and be fitted.
Another good idea is to get a bridal registry at your favorite department store or website. What a bridal registry does is help the guests choose gifts. You and your special somebody make up a wish list using items in the store or on the website, and the store/website then shares the list with the guests. This helps to prevent somebody gifting the same item as somebody else, or something that the bride or groom may not want. It also helps to make returns easier since receipts generally aren’t given with the gifts.
Once all that is done, you will want to shop around for a photographer/videographer. After all, your wedding day is most likely the most important day of your life, aside from the birth of your children, so you will want something to help you remember that special moment. Also, you may want to find some entertainment, whether it be a live band, a DJ (Disc Jockey), or even karaoke. A wedding isn’t complete until the groom leads his new bride around the dance floor to his/her favorite song.
Lastly, you want to talk with your special somebody to decide on where you want to have your honeymoon (unless you plan to make it a surprise, of course!). This will be the place where the magic happens, so make sure it is a desirable place to go. If it is out of the country, be sure to order your passports and make travel arrangements well ahead of time. It’s best to use a travel agency because you can get special deals, and in case something happens, it can make cancellations easier and less costly.
Some other things you may want to consider when it gets closer to the big day is finalizing your invitation list so that you can relay it to your caterer, making sure your wedding license is in order, and making arrangements for out of town guests. Make sure you have the rings, and that your guests have directions to where the ceremony is, as well as the reception. Confirm the date with your entertainment and other professionals you hire, as well as finalizing travel dates. Make yourself presentable by visiting a salon and getting your nails and hair done. Most importantly, remember to relax, smile, have fun, and say “I do”!