Wedding Planning Basics – What You Need to Know Now

Tying the knot is a very special occasion in any man or woman’s life. Before the wedding occurs there is typically a lot of planning that needs to be done to make the event as memorable and special as possible. With each option that is added to your wedding, is an additional price. It is very important to set a budget before starting the planning so that you do not go over the amount that you are willing to spend.

Who’s Paying for the Wedding?

Different families may have different ways of doing things when it comes to wedding customs. In some instances, the bride’s family will pay for the wedding. Today, many couples choose to pay for their own wedding. The best thing to do is to talk with both the bride and groom’s families to see who would like to pay for what. Try bringing up the conversation in a private setting where you feel most comfortable discussing it. Some points that you may want to bring up include the following.

• Let them know how much you will be able to contribute towards the wedding.
• Ask each set of parents to pay for a specific part of the wedding. One side can pay for the reception while the other side pays for the ceremony.
• Ask each set of parents how much that are able to contribute towards the wedding and add the final contributions together to make your budget.

How Much Money Do You Need?

While you may want to have specific decor at your wedding or a huge ceremony with hundreds of guests, it just may not be an option. The list below will show you an average percentage of what you can expect to spend money on for planning a wedding.

• Reception- About 50% of your budget
• Ceremony- 3%
• Attire- 10%
• Entertainment- 10%
• Rings- 3%
• Miscellaneous, Decor, Etc.- 24%

Creating A Checklist

The easiest way to begin planning a wedding is to create a checklist of things that need to be done before the bid day. Planning a wedding can actually take up to six months so it is a good idea to get started long in advance. On the checklist you may want to include things just us picking a date, booking the ceremony, reserving a location for the reception, choosing food to serve, buying a wedding dress, purchasing decor and much more. There are many things that go into planning a wedding that should not be forgotten.

Creating A Guest List

The bride and groom will need to decide who they are going to be inviting to their wedding. Some couples prefer small and intimate weddings while others prefer huge gatherings of friends, family, co-workers and other acquaintances. Remember that the size of the guest list can greatly effect the overall cost of the wedding. Some even choose to only invite close friends and family to the ceremony while inviting everyone that they know to the reception. This is a personal preference that should be discussed.

Booking The Ceremony and Reception

Depending on the date, day of the week and month that you are planning to have your wedding, some venues can book up very quickly. Always choose a backup date just in case your original planned date is unavailable. The ceremony and reception venues should be booked months in advance to secure a spot. It will also be necessary to find an officiant to perform your ceremony.

Choosing Reception Food and Entertainment

The reception is the after party where you will be celebrating your marriage. Many catering services allow couples to taste their food in advance and select what they would like to have served at their reception. Musicians, DJ’s and other entertainment will also need to be booked in advance.