A wedding is a joyous occasion to celebrate your love and commitment with family, friends, and your partner. But it’s also a big responsibility to create a day that honors your loved ones’ unique traditions and values. Whether it’s a customary ritual that’s near and dear to their heart, or an exciting new tradition you and your partner want to start, there are many ways to incorporate meaningful details into your wedding celebration.
To make sure your big day goes off without a hitch, enlist the help of your future spouse and any close family members and friends who’d be willing to pitch in. Organize a meeting with everyone involved and brainstorm what they’re good at, what you can count on them for, and how they can help you throughout the process. You’ll find that it’s much easier to make decisions and work together when everyone is on the same page from the beginning.
Set a budget and stick to it. Once you have a rough idea of how much you want to spend, break down the numbers into categories so that you can figure out what’s a priority and what may need to be sacrificed. It’s smart to include a 10% buffer for unforeseen expenses and unexpected add-ons.
Once you have a solid plan, sit down with your future spouse and decide on the top three things you absolutely can’t live without. Then focus on locking in those items and be prepared to compromise on the rest of the smaller details.
During the ceremony, you and your partner will sign your marriage license, often in front of two witnesses. Then you’ll exchange vows, typically reciting something written or personal to you and your partner. The officiant will then say a few closing remarks.
After the wedding, you and your partner will walk back down the aisle (or be showered with confetti outside) and head off to your reception. It’s usually a good idea to include music or another special element to mark the transition. And if you’re hosting out-of-town guests, consider adding an early-morning brunch the following day to give everyone one more chance to catch up with you and your partner!
Creating a wedding website will help you avoid endless emails and texts from your loved ones asking what time dinner is, how to get to the venue, what to wear, or other important details. You can even list any special accommodations you’re making for out-of-town guests. And if you want, you can create a separate registry for gifts that may be too large or too personal to buy for everyone. Just be sure to communicate the link with your guests so they can access it as needed.