The wedding is a special event that celebrates the joining of two people in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, races, religions, denominations, countries, social classes, and sexual orientations. However, there are some common elements such as an exchange of vows and rings, a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or celebrant, and a wedding reception. The celebrations can last for a day or a week and are often very expensive.
The first step is usually to decide on a date. Popular venues book up fast, especially on weekends, so if you know who your must-have guests are and have a good idea of who else wants to attend, choose a date as soon as possible.
Once you have a date and some vendors lined up, it’s time to start planning the details of your big day. This can involve a lot of back and forth with must-have family and friends as you hash out plans that work for everyone. If you’re having a religious wedding, you’ll probably have to assign readings for the Liturgy of the Word (one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament as well as the responsorial psalm).
This is when you really get to hammer out all of the details, like your guest list, timeline of events, what you want to include in your ceremony, how much you can spend on everything, and any other details that are important to you. A good way to get a realistic picture of your budget is to create a spreadsheet that lists every service, fee, and potential expense. It can be a time-consuming task, but it’s an essential part of the wedding planning process to minimize surprises.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds will typically make their toasts while a few of their closest family members and friends take to the mic. Then comes the first dance. It can be nerve-wracking for the couple, but they’ll likely be too busy gazing at each other to notice the gawking crowd.
After a long night of dancing, drinking, and celebrating, it’s likely that you’ll both be exhausted by the end of your wedding day. You’ll need to be careful about how much you drink, especially if it’s a booze-infused event, as excessive drinking can impair judgment and lead to bad decisions. It’s also a good idea to set aside a quiet morning after your wedding to reflect on the event and spend some quality time together before you head home for a well-deserved rest.