What You Need to Know Before Planning Your Wedding
Planning a wedding is a huge project, and there are some things you need to know before you even begin. The following is a guide of things to keep in mind before you start making any big decisions.
Are You Ready?
You may feel you’re about as ready to get married as you can be if you’ve said yes to the proposal, but you and your partner should make absolutely sure that you are emotionally ready to make this lifetime commitment, whether or not any doubts linger in the back of your minds. One way to do this is to seek out marital counseling so any issues can be addressed before it’s too late. If the two of you make sure to have open communication right at the start, you’re more likely to avoid the “wedding jitters” and “cold feet” that plague so many others.
Religious or Secular?
Do you want to have your wedding in a church, or in a secular location like a hotel or garden? What does your partner want, and will your families want a say? Many people take weddings very seriously for religious reasons, so you will want to avoid offending your loved ones if at all possible. Ultimately, the decision is up to the two of you as a couple, but hear your families out if they feel strongly one way or another, especially if they are helping to fund the wedding. Some couples have their wedding at a church, and a secular reception at a different location. Compromise may be the best way to ensure everyone’s happiness.
Not Everything Will Be Perfect
When you picture your dream wedding, you’re probably imagining that every detail will fall perfectly into place: smooth planning and a joyful day surrounded by loved ones, after which you will be whisked away to your dream honeymoon. Know this, though: even with the most careful planning, things can and likely will go wrong. You should prepare for the potential of vendors making mistakes, members of your bridal party not being able to make it to the wedding, or other unexpected bumps along the road. This doesn’t mean everything will be ruined; you just need to be resilient and recover with a backup plan.
Keep these tips in mind and you will be more ready than ever to plan your big day!