Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Whether you want a large or small wedding, a lot of planning goes into your big day. Before you say “I do,” discuss these four areas to ensure all goes smoothly when you tie the knot.
1. Rings
One of the first items to tackle is picking out the wedding rings. If no rings were involved in the proposal, the first step is to get an engagement ring. Most jewelers offer a variety of gorgeous engagement rings; they have pre-made designs or you can customize everything for a one-of-a-kind look.
After picking one out, the next step is choosing wedding bands. Both the bride and the groom get a band. The jeweler may offer a discount if you purchase the two wedding bands from them in addition to the engagement ring. While the groom’s band is pretty straightforward, the bride’s band can be a bit trickier to pick out as it needs to match the engagement ring. Ask the jeweler for advice if you are struggling to narrow down designs.
2. Wedding Party
Once you have said “yes” to your forever love, next is asking your friends to say “yes” to standing at your side. Sit down with your fiance and discuss your wedding party. While you may want 10 friends walking down the aisle with you, your significant other may only want five people to stand with him or her. Make sure you finalize how many people will be in the wedding party before asking your friends.
A popular tradition is presenting your bridesmaids and groomsmen with a gift when asking them to be in your wedding. While it is not required, it is a fun way to ask them if you have the budget. Gifts usually are wedding-themed, such as a custom bridesmaid wine glass or an engraved groomsmen flask.
3. Guest List
After determining your wedding party, put together a guest list. It is hard to plan wedding specifics unless you have an idea of how many people will attend, so do this before booking anything. Make a list of who you want to invite and get a list from your significant other. Determine if you want to allow single attendees to bring a date or if you want to limit your guests to just those you know.
Additionally, reach out to your parents and future in-laws for their guest list. They likely have friends and family to invite who did not make it on your list. If you are worried their lists may get too long, limit how many people they can invite.
4. Venue
Once you know the size of your wedding, start looking at venues. This is one of the most expensive pieces of the wedding, so make sure you are 100% committed before signing on the dotted line.
Each venue’s offerings vary, so have a clear understanding of what each package includes. Some venues only include the space. Others include only the space and seating. These options are great if you want to bring in special seats or if you intend to use a catering company for the food and drinks.
To streamline the process, pick a venue that offers a complete package, including the space, seating, waitstaff, clean up, food and drinks. There are different food and drink packages, so get the details of each package before choosing one. Do you want a plated meal or buffet style? Do you want a dry wedding or a bar? Do you want an open bar with top-shelf liquor or just beer and wine? The option you pick affects the total cost of the venue.
No matter what wedding style you have in mind, the big day should be everything you imagined it would be. When planning your nuptials, start with these four areas to help your wedding dreams become a reality.
