There are so many variables to consider when preparing a wedding. That being said, every wedding is different. Some people prefer small and intimate affairs, but other people might prefer a huge destination wedding with dozens of friends and family members. Whatever kind of wedding you have in mind, however, there are key aspects that remain the same for all couples. These are the three things to get right when planning a wedding.
The budget.
For starters, you need to know how much you’re willing to spend. This is crucial if you want to avoid disappointment. You’ll be frustrated if you make plans for the incredible things you want to do at your wedding and then calculate the costs to find out it’ll be over budget. Instead, you need to know how much you can afford before you start planning. You might even have friends and family members who are willing to help you out. But even if not, the key is to know how much money is going to go into your wedding. That way, you’ll be able to consider expenses a little more carefully throughout the planning process.
Do some research on the costs of different things you might want. This will help to give you an idea of the overall expenditure you’re going to face. Some of the costs are obvious; a wedding dress, a nice venue, and food for the guests are all expensive things (we’ll discuss the latter two in this article). But you might also want to look into the hidden costs when planning a wedding. Have you thought about the cost of the concierge, drivers, caterers, and so on? You might have an idea of the big picture, but you also have to think of the labor expenses you’ll face. Weddings are even more expensive than many people appreciate.
The venue.
You need to pick the right venue, obviously. Every wedding needs a venue, even if it’s something as simple as a friend’s back yard. If you want to get this right, then you need to sit down with your partner and talk about the kind of setting you want for your wedding. Maybe you want a traditional wedding in a church. Maybe you want a beach wedding. Whatever the case, this is the first thing you should plan for your wedding. It determines the date you pick – many venues might be booked up for months or years, so you should look as soon as possible to get the date you want. Think about whether the venue is appropriate for all of the little details you want to add. Additions such as candles and fairy lights might help to bring the whole thing together. You need a plan of action with regards to the way in which you’ll want to decorate your venue.
The food and drink.
If you want to keep your guests happy, then you need to get the food and drink right when planning a wedding. You might want to suggest that guests BYOB. Not only will it save money for people to bring their own drinks but it’ll keep them happy because they’ll have the beverages they really want. You can have a bar, too, but you don’t want people to be disappointed if the drinks run out partway through the night. As for food, you should ask guests to get back to you with any dietary requirements or requests; that way, everybody will be happy with the meal they get at the wedding reception.
