Love is in the air. Your fiancé and you have finally decided on the wedding date. This is no doubt the happiest moment of your life- something that you had been waiting for a long time. A new life awaits you shortly. You realize that in these moments of excitement, joy, and laughter, there is a lot to achieve in a relatively short amount of time and you are not sure where to begin. Yes, planning a wedding can be stressful but it doesn't have to be. Here are our tips for helping you plan the perfect (or near perfect!) wedding:
Identify your key stakeholders
It is a big moment for you and everyone close to you (your parents, siblings, friends, and fiancée) wants it to be special. While they are all excited and want to help you out, your job is to make sure that their energy and enthusiasm is channelized in the right direction. As you plan for the event, allow your parents, groom, friends have their say in the wedding day preparations as they care about you. Even if you don't totally agree with their inputs, just remember it is an important day for all of you, especially your partner. If you are not the kind of person with strong organization skills, you will need their help for sure.
Figure out the budget
Budgeting can be a boring exercise but it is an important one, especially for a wedding. It is the process of creating a plan to spend your money. Creating this spending plan allows you to determine in advance whether you will have enough money to do the things you need to do for your wedding. If you are having trouble budgeting your wedding activities, consult a wedding planner for advice.
Finalize the venue and the menu
Assuming that the dates for the wedding has been finalized, decide on the size, formality and setting of your wedding. Would you want to have a wedding with long rituals spanning over days or a simple short one? The decision for this will impact all your key stakeholders. So, do think about the options and the impact. In North America, June through October is the most popular wedding season. Getting a location of your choice can be tough. So plan early and make a reservation regarding the location. Once the venue is finalized, decide on the menu and the options available.
Finalize the guest list
This is perhaps the most stressful part! How do you decide who needs to be invited? Especially, if it is a South Asian wedding where the culture prompts for a big guest list. We recommend that you start with the people closest to you (family members) and then work outwards. As you create the initial list, do not worry about the actual number of people but make an exhaustive list of everyone you think need to be invited. Once you think you have the exhaustive list, start crossing people off or at least categorizing guests for your wedding, reception and mehendi. As you finalize the list with your folks, be prepared to accommodate the inputs of your folks but make the final list keeping the budget in mind. Once the final list is ready, send out your invites a minimum of 8 weeks before your wedding.
Chose a ring to remember for life time
Now that you have set a date, finalized the venue and allocated your budgets, you can really begin to spend! All girls have always dreamt of the exquisite piece of jewellery on their finger. So, spend a few days with your fiancé looking for that piece of jewelry that works the best for the two of you. An important tip here is to shop for wedding rings through a reputable source and most importantly, shop around after doing homework. If you can be patient, it will ultimately pay off.
Dress to impress
Choosing the dress is one of the most fun and exciting parts of the whole wedding preparation process.
It does not matter what shape or size you are but your wedding dress should be such that it should make you feel the center of attention. Whether you want a designer outfit, a made-to-measure gown or a vintage-style dress, take your time to decide on the dress of your dreams.
Capture the magic moments
Throughout your wedding day, you will experience so many wonderful moments that you will want to remember forever. Make sure that you book a good photographer to capture your favorite moments. Deciding on a wedding photographer is largely a matter of faith. Hence, do your homework –
Research online, visit bridal shows, read local phone books, or go by the recommendations of friends.
Plan for the honeymoon
You have already spent endless amounts of time planning your wedding, now you have to plan your honeymoon? Relax. Your honeymoon is normally your first few weeks alone with your new partner, so it will be very exciting. Visit your local travel agent and let the agent take the load off your mind. The agent can provide you some great suggestions on the best location for the couple based on your budget.
Enjoy your Bachelorette Party
This is the party that makes the transition for you from a single independent lifestyle into the commitments of married life. This is your chance to really go wild and forget the stress. The maid of honor is usually responsible for planning a bachelorette party. As you enjoy the party, make sure that the party is not the night before the wedding. Of course, you and the groom want to be at their best for the big day.
The final rehearsal
Now that you are a couple of days away from the big day in your life, you'd want to go through the final rehearsal. Meet up with the key suppliers- final meeting with the florist, reception hall/caterer, baker for that cake. Make sure that the wedding gown fits your right. A final meeting with photographer will allow you to talk about the specific pictures you want, choose album style and color.
Relax and let it all sink in!
The most important thing is get adequate amount of rest. Make sure that you sleep for 8 hours a day.. Remember, a good diet makes your skin glow and look healthy. Do not hesitate to go for facials before your wedding, as it is certain to give a radiant glow and shine to your face. Pamper yourself with the manicures and pedicures and get your groom to have these treatments too. Don't stress yourself too much about the little things. You won't remember them in the long run.
After the Wedding
Once you are back from your honeymoon and getting used to your new life, send out your thank-you notes. Do send a thank-you letter to suppliers and attendants and if they have done a good job, let them know that you will recommend them to others. Arrange for cleaning and preservation of your gown.
Often people get caught up in the actual wedding day and forget that it is really an event marking the transition into a lifelong commitment. So, while you prepare for your wedding day and want it to be perfect, don't sweat the small stuff. Your wedding will be perfect no matter which way it is done!
By: SMRUTI DAS
Source: wedding.theknot.com and summeriseasy.com