A Short Wedding Planning Guide

When you are planning a wedding there can be an overwhelming amount of things to sort out and deal with. Some people can afford to hire a planner but others may need the help of a wedding planning guide. There are many choices that can be made according to your individual style and budget, but there are some things that should not be overlooked no matter what.

The first and most important thing that you should research is the process of getting a marriage license. Each state has different rules regarding marriage. Some states will require you to apply for a marriage license in advance. Once you have purchased your license and fulfilled the necessary identification requirements you will have to get married within a certain time period. It is worth checking out in advance what is required in your state early on so that there are no problems at a later date.

It is a good idea to book your chosen venue as early as possible to avoid it getting booked up at busy periods. You could choose to have a religious service followed by a reception or you may opt for a non religious service and reception all in the same venue. Many different types of places can be used as venues subject to state laws.

Once you have decided on a venue you should consult with them on the best day for your wedding. Summer weddings are popular but as a result the prices tend to be much higher. You can have an equally nice day at other times of the year but if the weather might not be great where you are you will need to plan accordingly for the other aspects of your wedding, for example, clothing, transport and photos.

Once you have your venue secured you can begin consulting with them on choices for food and drink. You could have a formal sit down meal or a help yourself style buffet. You will also need to decide how many drinks you provide your guests with. You could provide an open bar, but if this is too expensive for you, you could provide wine for the meal and champagne for the toasts while the guests pay for any other drinks they would like.

There are plenty of different choices available for your dress depending on the size of your budget. If you have a large budget you could opt for a custom made dress. If money is tight you could buy a dress online or for a compromise you could buy from a shop and have it altered for you. Do not forget to make sure your accessories match.

You will then need to choose the outfits for the other members of the party. Bridesmaids can be coordinated with the bride. There are several different options available for the male members of the party. They could wear simple suits or full morning dress. It is often popular to match the main color from the dresses to a small item of the male clothing, for example, the tie or cummerbund.

After all you have done with the help of this wedding planning guide, you can then concentrate on the smaller details of the wedding like table arrangements and flowers. Make sure you book a honeymoon too for a much needed rest.

To help plan your wedding consider the use of a wedding planner checklist. Using a guide will help you keep track of all the important information needed for the big day.