Getting married is one of the most powerful and emotional experiences of your life. When you love someone so much you’re willing to commit your life to them, it’s a big deal. For centuries, weddings have been among the most important events in a person’s life.
It’s vital to make sure your big day is equally amazing as what it represents. Wedding planning has the potential to create a lot of stress, however, so it’s best to follow a wedding guide.
We’re here to make your life easier. Keep reading for our list of the most important wedding essentials you need for an unforgettable event.
Figure Out Your Budget
First, you need to figure out how much the wedding is going to cost. Traditionally, the bride’s parents pay for the wedding. However, that won’t always be the case depending on your circumstances.
Regardless of who’s paying for the wedding, you need to determine your budget. The last thing you want to do is cancel any wedding essentials because you’re coming up short on funding.
Lock Down a Wedding Venue
The wedding venue is one of the most important components of your wedding. Depending on your style and priorities, you may choose to get married in your church. However, many people choose different locations based on the overall theme of the wedding.
For example, rustic weddings are quite trendy right now. However, you and your fiance may choose to get married in a personally meaningful location, outdoors, etc.
Hire a Wedding Planner
Wedding planning is no walk in the park. As noted above, it can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, which is the last thing you want as a bride or groom-to-be.
If planning the wedding day seems like too much for you to handle, hire a wedding planner. Their entire job is to take care of the infinite amount of details so you and your partner don’t have to.
Determine Your Theme
Planning the wedding essentials also means coming up with your theme. Your theme will dictate everything from the venue and decor to the catering.
Think about what you want your wedding to look like. This includes ambiance, color schemes, dress attire, and more.
Create a Guest List and Send Out Invitations
Now you need to start thinking about your guest list. Depending on your budget and the wedding venue you’ve chosen, you may have a maximum capacity for guests.
Regardless, start narrowing down your guest list based on your top priorities. To make things easier, we recommend breaking it down into these categories:
Remember to account for plus-ones when inviting guests. Some people may bring children, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc.
Take Care of the Time-Sensitive Wedding Essentials
One of the most important wedding planning tips is to take care of the time-sensitive wedding essentials months in advance. These are the services that may be limited or in high-demand.
To avoid losing out on the top services you and your significant other desire, book the following several months before the wedding day:
Additionally, make sure you get your wedding license is taken care of so your wedding is legal. Finally, now is the time to start planning your honeymoon. This includes booking airline tickets, reserving hotel rooms, etc.
Choose a Wedding Dress
One of the most important wedding essentials for the bride is finding the perfect dress. This should not be left until the last minute. She will need to pick a dress and then get measured for it.
Then, the bride will need to go in for the first fitting to see how the dress fits. After that, more adjustments may be necessary.
Plan the Decor
Planning the decor is a fun part of wedding planning. As noted above, you probably have a good idea of how you want your wedding to look, especially after locking down a venue.
Think about the color scheme, banners, streamers, balloons, table cloths, types of chairs, tables, and more. Additionally, take a look at the local flower shops to find the best flowers to match your aesthetics.
Choose the Wedding Party Members
On your wedding day, the wedding party is going to be by your side every step of the way. For the groom, this includes his best man and groomsmen. For the bride, this includes the maid of honor and bridesmaids.
These select few should be the people closest to you, such as brothers, sisters, best friends, etc.
Register for Gifts
Another funs set of wedding essentials is registering for gifts. You and your fiance can go to your favorite stores and create a wedding registry. Guests can visit these stores online or in-person to get you and your significant other your desired items.
For newlyweds, this often includes household products like kitchenware, decor, furniture, etc.
Plan the Rehearsal Dinner
A rehearsal dinner is an important event taking place a few days before the wedding to make sure everyone is on the same page. It also serves as a fun, intimate gathering between you and your wedding party.
Take this time to go over the main event and make sure everyone knows what they’re doing. Enjoy this time with your friends and family before you undergo this major life change.
Get Married
Last, but certainly not least, it’s time to get married. The wedding day is a whirlwind of events. However, if everything goes smoothly (and even if it doesn’t), it will be one of the best days of your life.
Congratulations, you made it! All you have to do now is walk down the aisle, say your vows, and seal the whole thing with a kiss.
Looking for More Great Advice?
We hope our list of wedding essentials helps make planning your big day less stressful. Regardless of how overwhelming it may feel at times, remember to enjoy yourself, and enjoy the planning process. This is supposed to be a time of gratitude, joy, and love.
If you’re looking for more great tips or advice, check out the rest of our blog before you go. Our articles cover everything from wedding planning tips and travel advice to business and marketing.
