When you are getting married, it’s helpful to make a wedding plan. In the wedding plan, you write down when the wedding is, the theme, and one of the most important things, the budget. The wedding plan essentially lists everything you need to organize. So, it’s best to make a script or a list to keep a good overview of your wedding planning.

Picking a date

When you are getting married and making a wedding plan, the first thing you need to do is pick a date. You pick the date first because when you organize everything, you need to specify the date. You need the date so you can see how much time you have to organize everything. How do you pick the date? First, sit down with your partner. Discuss in which season you want to marry, meaning which season you want to get married in. If you are not sure which season you want, it’s best to make a pros and cons list, as this will help you choose the season that suits you both.

Once you’ve chosen the season, pick the month. Afterward, select the best day. Also, think about which day it falls on, is it on the weekend or on a weekday? Remember that it’s more convenient for your guests if you marry on the weekend. Most people are off work then and don’t have to take a day off and can sleep in the next day. This way, your guests will also stay longer at the party and have a drink with you. The only downside to marrying on the weekend is that venues tend to be more expensive than on weekdays.

A special date

You could also choose a date that holds a special memory for you both. For example, it could be the day you first met or the day you became a couple. It’s also lovely to do this, but make sure it’s a practical day to marry. Additionally, you can decorate the day with details from that memory. Print out some nice photos from that day (if you have them). You can also display those photos using a projector.

The wedding theme

What theme will you choose for your wedding? You can already decide which theme you want and find beautiful. You don’t have to know every detail yet, but you can roughly determine the theme so that you can coordinate everything to match it. If you want a theme for your wedding, you can create a mood board to see the vibe you’re going for. If you want to add a theme to your wedding but don’t know how or what, look at your shared interests. Maybe you can incorporate something related to your hobbies or interests. Of course, you don’t have to choose a theme if you don’t want one.

The budget

The budget plays an extremely important role in wedding planning. It is one of the key aspects of the wedding plan. So carefully review the costs you can incur. Discuss with your partner how much you want to spend on the whole wedding. Keep in mind that you still need to manage your everyday expenses. Decide together how much to allocate for each aspect. Then, make a list of all the things you need to pay for and write down what you approximately want to spend. If you’re short on the budget for something, it’s best to see if you can cut costs elsewhere. For example, if you want your wedding dress to cost €1500 but the dream dress ends up being €1000 more expensive, look at what you can save on to afford the dream dress.

The guest list

When you start making the guest list and selecting who will be invited to your wedding, you need to consider a few points. First, think about your budget, meaning how many guests you can invite. Decide who you want to invite for the ceremony and who you want at the party. Don’t feel obligated to invite everyone. Only invite the people you truly want at your wedding, the ones you want to have a great time with.

Inviting

You’ve decided on the guest list, but now you need to invite them. How will you invite your guests? Be sure to send out invitations as soon as possible so that everyone can reserve the date and be present at your wedding. Send an email or a cute card to your guests with a “Save the Date.” This allows them to block the date on their calendars. Later, around two months in advance, send the actual wedding invitations.

Important people

The important people are the witnesses and bridesmaids. You need witnesses at your wedding, which makes them very important. Without witnesses, there is no wedding. Usually, you select people you care about, like a family member or a close friend. Being a witness is often an honor, so you should first ask if they want to be your witness. Bridesmaids are the girls who help with many tasks. For example, they assist in finding the wedding dress, and on the wedding day, they help with getting dressed. Bridesmaids typically wear the same kind of dress or a dress in the same color as the other bridesmaids. So, choose friends or family members you want as bridesmaids.

Legal arrangements

There is also a legal side to getting married. You need to arrange a few legal matters. First, decide whether you want to marry in community property or under a prenuptial agreement. You and your partner decide this together and determine if you want to share all possessions or keep some things separate. You will also choose the last name you will adopt. You can also choose to keep your individual last names. Both you and the witnesses must have valid identification or passports.

Shopping

Once everything is arranged, you can go shopping. Go separately to find your wedding dress and suit. You can also look for a wedding photographer, wedding cake, and flowers. Now you can complete the wedding with all the details you were missing. This part is one of the most fun aspects of organizing and having a wedding.