From small to large.
Books have been written on Wedding planning, there are movies about it, and everybody embarking on this journey pretty much knows that it can range between eloping to a foreign country and the biggest party you've ever organized.
Since weddings are very emotional and loaded on different levels, it's advisable to plan in detail in order to acknowledge the wishes and dreams of all stakeholders (Family, In-laws, and of course the future spouse).
The most important aspect here is to be clear of who is in charge of what, particularly the parents’ role, and who gets the last word. If you're really concerned about insurmountable obstacles, find a referee all parties can agree on before issues even occur.
Define clearly what kind of party you're planning:
- Guests (How Many? Who to Invite? - Be rational!)
- Traditions/religions
- Location
- Season
- Ceremony
- Reception
Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to splitting the expenses and the tasks allocated to them. This is obviously not possible without a good list - constantly check ‘to do list’ as it is very easy to misunderstand things.
Budget for the Wedding
- Break Down Expenses - Define every expense (from the rings to the honeymoon) to your wedding and allocate an estimated amount, then add an unforeseen of at least 10% to extras.
- Wedding Planner - Depending on the scope of your wedding and constraints, yes! Hire a planner(if there is the budget)
- Contracts - Find out when to sign off contracts and how much will have to be paid in advance as well as the final payment date. Negotiate!
- Benefits - If you're spending a large amount of money, consider benefiting from incentives credit cards offer. Who knows? Maybe the points will pay for the honeymoon.
- Downsizing - If costs are too high at this point, think about downsizing (guests, location, food, drink etc.). Be rational and try to stick to the budget.
Time and Organization
- Support Team & Logistics - The bigger the wedding the more logistics to work through, make sure you organize tasks and have support from others.
- Check List & Delegating - Define planning steps, time and people allocated to them (use a to-do list). Note that the average wedding takes about a year to plan and several hundred hours of people’s time. Avoid stress, don't do it alone.
- Check, Check, Check - double and triple check all steps to avoid stressful moments. Don’t leave things until the last moment
- Communicate - Have a central system to keep everyone updated.
Keep in Mind
Try to remember that during all of the planning this is supposed to be part of engagement – a happy time in the couple’s life.
Don’t forget that it is your choice for the kind of wedding you want. You can choose from eloping, having a small wedding or having a grand wedding.
+++link to our Wedding Savings Planner+++ - should this be here???