13 Useful Tips That Can Help You Plan A Wedding

Priority lists, budgets, and backups will be your new best friends in saving your big day.

Reviewed by Roberta Torresan, Wedding Planner & Designer

Roberta Torresan is an award-winning international wedding planner and designer with over 13 years of experience. As someone who specializes in organizing unforgettable events in stunning locations, she deeply understands the significance o... more

Written by Shivani Chandel, MA (English Literature), Certified Relationship Coach Experience: 4 years

Shivani Chandel is a postgraduate in English literature from Panjab University, Chandigarh and a certified relationship coach. She has four years of experience in copy editing and writing about entert... more

Edited by Subhrojyoti Mukherjee, MA (English) Experience: 4 years

Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He has a master’s degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata, and has also done a post-graduate certificate c... more

Fact-checked by Gracia Odile, MA Experience: 3 years

Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology ... more

• Mar 19, 2024

Image: Shutterstock

Your wedding may be the biggest party you will ever throw, and it is essential to figure out all important aspects to get the ceremony of your dreams. A dream wedding is the fruit of hours of planning and days of hard work. Thus, a foolproof plan is essential to turn your vision for your D-Day into reality. We are here to assist you with 13 tips to help you plan your wedding in the best possible way. Keep scrolling!

In This Article

13 Tips On How To Plan A Wedding

1. Make A Budget And Stick To It

Image: Shutterstock

The wedding budget is the driving factor for many decisions, so it should be your topmost priority to set it before starting the rest of the preparations.

A survey of 1,000 American adults was conducted by YouGov in 2023 to find out opinions on wedding planning. 66% of Americans believe that couples today spend excessively on wedding planning, and 38% think they allocate too much time to it. Notably, older Americans, especially those aged 65 and above, express a strong sentiment that couples should reduce both their expenditure (86%) and time spent on wedding planning (48%).

If your family members are pitching in, connect with them and ask how much they can spend comfortably. However, if you are footing the bill yourself, take a hard look at your finances. Once you get the magic number, stick to it no matter what happens. Also, don’t forget to add a 10% splurge cushion for unexpected costs that arise inevitably.

2. Create A List Of Priorities

It is crucial to sit with your partner and discuss the important aspects of your wedding. It can be anything from the venue, live performance, and best wedding photography to theme-based decoration. Figure out how you want to enjoy your day and get ready to compromise on the less important things. Setting your priorities in advance will help you stay within the budget and let you focus on what really counts.

3. Get Organized

Getting organized is one of the major rules to follow when it comes to planning a successful wedding. There is no point in making efforts if your thoughts, budget, and numbers are all over the place.

Use spreadsheets, Notepad, Google Docs, or any other program to save your data in one place. It helps you save a lot of time while ensuring that your efforts are documented securely. A plethora of online apps is available to keep you organized. Saving all information on the cloud ensures that you, your partner, and family members can access and edit things together so that everyone remains on the same page.

Pro Tip

Divide some relatively less important responsibilities among your bridal team to get some burden of marriage preparations off your shoulders.

Additionally, you should also keep the physical receipts, brochures, and other items from the vendors in one place.

4. Find Your Vision And Pick A Venue

Before trying on your wedding gown or adding jewelry to your trousseau, it is essential to look at the big picture and imagine the style and vibe of your dream wedding. What exactly are you looking for? Is it a beautiful evening in a castle? Or a pleasant ceremony on a beach?

Here are some questions you need to answer to picture your perfect wedding. Do you want a big fat wedding or wish to invite your close ones? Where do you want to tie the knot – indoors or outdoors? What kind of vibe are you looking for – modern, classic, vintage, romantic, rustic, or all-out glam?

It is vital to have a clear vision of your wedding day to enjoy it to the hilt. Once you have answered all the above questions, choose the venue that syncs well with your requirements and fits your style.

Do not limit yourself to the obvious sources while picking out the wedding venue. Instead, keep checking the magazines, social media, and real wedding photos to find the appropriate destination to take the vows with your soulmate.

5. Make Your Guest List Thoughtfully

When it comes to planning a wedding, nothing seems more challenging than finalizing a guest list. There are several factors you should keep in mind before inviting people. For instance, if you are planning a destination wedding, you need to limit the number of guests as you cannot afford the accommodation expense of every person you know.

Also, you need to decide if you would rather have quality one-on-one with each guest or throw a once-in-a-lifetime party for all your family and friends. Adding more guests to the list will multiply your budget manifold. So, decide accordingly.

6. Determine Your Style

Determine your signature style for the wedding

Image: Shutterstock

Whether you are the bride or the groom, you must have a signature style that makes you stand out from the crowd on your big day. Take inspiration from Pinterest, magazines, Instagram, or other trustworthy wedding websites.

Having a good sense of style and a clear vision of what you want on your D-Day will surely help once you meet with potential vendors. However, don’t overwhelm yourself with all the wedding inspiration out there and hold your horses to avoid unnecessary splurging.

Stay real, and don’t pretend to be someone else to grab the spotlight. Opt for what you like and not what is in the trend, be it your wedding dress, jewelry, makeup, or anything else. It is your big day, so you should enjoy it your way.

Quick Tip

Start the hunt for your wedding dress around nine months before the wedding day. This would give you enough time for fittings and alterations.

7. Don’t Forget To Involve Your Better Half

It is your wedding, but it is not your wedding solely. So, you cannot make all decisions alone. Consult with your partner and respect their opinions, too. There is no denying that wedding planning is much more fun when you make decisions together. Working towards a common goal binds you and your partner and helps you grow as a couple.

8. Create A Master Checklist

Making a checklist is an integral part of the wedding planning process as it keeps you on track and lets you handle this difficult task like a pro. The master checklist should include everything — accessories, wedding gown, caterers, venue, your bridesmaids’/groomsmen’s names, and everything in between.

Just tick the checkbox whenever you complete a task to avoid the last-minute hassles. This checklist helps you visualize your goals without being overwhelmed with lots of things at once.

9. Select A Theme

Whether you are looking for a simple wedding or a big fat one, selecting a theme is significant. Pick a theme that matches your and your partner’s style and fits your budget.

There are many options, including Bohemian style, pastel wedding, nature-inspired, seasonal, style-inspired, and more. It is important to select a concept that brings together all the elements of the wedding. Once you have an aesthetic in mind, it is easy to make décor decisions that make everything look cohesive.

10. Talk To Couples Who Have Tied The Knot Recently

No matter how much research you do to get an in-depth idea of every aspect of the wedding, you cannot beat the value of real-time experience. If you have recently attended a wedding that you really enjoyed, get some expert tips from the couple to make your wedding ceremony a memorable affair.

They might have some better plans or tricks that they learned while organizing their wedding. Do not hesitate to share your opinions with them, as sometimes, family and friends are the best resources for inspiration.

11. Bring In Backup

When it comes to learning how to plan a wedding, the most important thing you should accept is that a marriage ceremony is a big affair and there are bound to be some slip-ups. There are simply too many details and intricacies. So, don’t be afraid to enlist support or backup whenever you need it.

12. Book Vendors

Booking vendors should be done 12 to 18 months before the wedding. Check out vendors for venue, celebrant, photographer, caterer, florist, photography, and makeup. Research reputable professionals within your budget, check their portfolios and reviews, and schedule consultations to see if they resonate with your vision.

13. Get a Marriage License

Obtaining a marriage license is a legal requirement that is paramount. Couples should ensure all the necessary arrangements are in place for their special day. The process varies by location, timelines, and prerequisites. It generally involves submitting certain necessary documents, so research what they include in your local jurisdiction and factor in processing times to avoid last-minute scrambles.

You can hire a professional wedding planner or coordinator who will manage the tasks. Additionally, you can seek help from your near and dear ones if you don’t have a budget for a planner.

Infographic: The Wedding Checklist

A wedding is one of the most important events in your life. With so many preparations and things to do, it can be quite overwhelming. We have compiled a wedding checklist to help you keep yourself organized and plan the wedding of your dreams stress-free.

Check out the infographic below to know more.

the wedding checklist [infographic] — Image: Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

When armored with great tips that can help you plan a wedding, you can skip the drama and the meltdown and get to business straight away and ace the big day preparations. Budgeting for the wedding is the biggest task and the starting point of the big plan. The idea is to add a 10 percent cushion for sudden splurges and then stick to the outer limit, no matter what. The next steps are to prioritize the aspects of the wedding to be clear on what you can comprise and what you cannot. Figuring out the guest list well in advance, delegating ad organizing tasks, and having a clear vision can help you curtail the stress and better plan for the big day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the woman pay for the wedding?

As per traditional ways, the bride or her family pays for the wedding. However, many modern couples wish to marry on their terms with their own money. Therefore, there is no hard and fast rule that a bride must pay for the wedding, and the couple can decide for themselves.

What’s the most expensive part of a wedding?

Catering is always the most expensive part of a wedding. Even if you wish to have a simple wedding and eliminate the cost of fancy decor, grand venues, expensive outfits, rented limos, etc., you will still have to pay for quality food for your guests. And if you wish to have a grand wedding complete with the most high-end ambiance, stylist expenses, wedding planners, and so on, your food must match up to the grandeur.

What are the most important things at a wedding?

Even for the simplest weddings, selecting a date and venue is important. Book your officiants, and send out invites several weeks in advance. Your officiants will tell you about the legal and ceremonial requirements. You may allocate the rest of the things to your friends and family and stay updated on the progress.

Key Takeaways

The wedding budget is a crucial factor for many decisions, so set it before starting the rest of the preparations and add a 10% cushion to cover unplanned splurges.
Create a list of priorities and decide on the overall theme or vision and vibe of your wedding before looking into the finer details.
If your budget allows for it, get the support of professionals to take care of the nitty gritties or if not, then enlist your trusted friends and relatives to help out.

Simplify wedding planning with this step-by-step video guide. From checklists to valuable tips, stay organized and ensure a seamless and memorable wedding experience. Check out the video below to know more.