How to Plan Your Wedding
A wedding is an occasion to celebrate love, family and an eternal bond between two people.
The problem with weddings is that with all the stress, you never have a second to relax and enjoy this time of your life.
In order to not have your wedding planning fly by in a haze of stress and fear, you need to be well prepared and have a plan of action.
This plan of action needs to cover five very important areas of your wedding:
- The Budget
- The Guests
- The Venue
- The Gift Registry
- The Honeymoon
1. The Budget
The first thing that you and your partner need to think about is the wedding budget. Traditionally the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding, while the groom would pay for the flowers and honeymoon. However, in modern times – and especially since the recession – more and more couples are deciding to split the costs three ways: the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents and between themselves.
Splitting the costs three ways ensures that no party overspends and that the pool of money is sufficient to cover all the necessary expenses.
2. The Venue
Once you have a budget, your next step is to find the right venue. Before you set out on a wild goose chase, be sure you know what type of venue you are looking for. The venue should be a reflection of who you are as a couple, so ideally it should be a place that both the bride and groom enjoy. For instance: if you both enjoy picnics and wine tasting, having a wedding on a wine farm is the ideal solution.
3. The Guests
The third thing to think about is your guests. Who do you want to invite? In order to answer this question you need to refer to your budget. How many people can your budget accommodate and how many people do you want at your big day? Remember, while inviting your friend’s cousin’s aunty is a nice thing to do, you are not obliged to do so.
4. The Gift Registry
Having a gift registry is the ideal way to help friends and family share in your special day. This will also ensure that you do not get stuck with twenty salad bowls, fifteen bottle openers and no crockery. Ensure that you compile a list of items that is affordable and something that you really want. Ideal items to place on your gift registry are homeware furnishing goods like towels, cutlery, cushions, blankets and other useful items.
5. The Honeymoon
The honeymoon is another very important part of the wedding, so be sure to find a location that pleases both parties. For instance: if you both love the sea, visit the beaches in France, Italy and Spain. Remember to factor the honeymoon into the budget, as you only get to do it once in your lifetime.
Ensure that you factor in these five things into your wedding plans and leave yourself enough time to plan the occasion properly. A last thing to note: set deadlines and ensure that you keep track of your spending.
Now all that is left to do is enjoy your special day.