By Babalola Seyi

A wedding is a ceremony and its associated rituals by which two people vow to spend their lives together in marriage. Everyone dream is to plan a wedding and marry their own special person and live happily together.

When it comes to wedding plannings there are so many things to have in mind. It is not a one day task, but about the whole event. This includes everything leading up to it as well as everything that will happen after.

From the day you are engaged to the day you are married, you will be thinking and planning about what you will do and how you will make the day perfect for you and for everyone that will share it with you.

Planning a wedding is not an easy task. Trying to remember all of the fine details and all of the little pieces that need to work together to make the day special can be nerve-wracking. You need to make sure you have a list of what you need to do and then have a list for each item on the list in order to stay organized. Knowing what you need to do and then knowing how you will make it happen will make all of the difference in how great your day will be.

What are the steps to planning a wedding?
To plan a wedding, it’s a good idea to follow a checklist—and tackle the listed steps in order. For example, there’s a reason why you should set a date and book your venue before choosing your attire—to make sure your look is comfortable for your event’s setting and season. And that’s just one example of why following the steps to planning a wedding is so important; you’ll find many more in the list below:

1. Set a Wedding Budget
It’s pivotal that setting your budget should be the first step in planning your wedding. It might not be the most fun part of the process, but it’s a task that really needs to be completed first because it sets the rest of your wedding planning process into motion. The last thing you want is to fall in love with a venue, vendor, dress, etc. and realize it’s completely out of range. So sit down with your parents or other potential contributors to come up with a total budget, and then divide it up by vendor or service accordingly.

2. Get Motivated
One of the most fun parts of planning a wedding step by step is gathering motivation and inspiration. Think about how you want your wedding to look and feel. Are you going for a super-classic and formal vibe? Or perhaps a wedding style that’s more relaxed and rustic? The choice is yours, but it’s a good idea to start perusing Pinterest, Instagram, and the latest wedding trends platform to start considering wedding colors, décor ideas, and more. We recommend starting this process early on, but kicking it into high gear once you’ve selected your venue and set a date.

3. State Your Guest List
While you don’t have to have a final guest list until a bit later, when thinking about how to plan a wedding gradually, coming up with an estimated guest count early on is important. There’s a big difference between a 50-person wedding and a 400-person wedding, particularly when it comes to your venue options. So before you start browsing wedding venues, get an idea of how many guests you’ll host.

4. Dealing with unwanted guests
Weddings are often at risk to be crashed by people who were not even invited. To deal with this problem, you should think of possible solutions. Perhaps you want to celebrate your wedding in a venue that is not so publicly known and attended, or go somewhere out of town for a change (if you and your bridesmaids/groomsmen do not want to be late, you can move into the hotel not far from the location). You can also hire some bouncers which would serve for security purposes and not letting the uninvited guests in.

5.      Keeping the parents informed
This is important especially if you want a small wedding with the closest people, and do not want your parents to protest by making you invite a huge number of guests. You should let both of your families know about your plans and have a talk with them, so it does not come as a surprise later.

6.      Pick Your Wedding Party
Now that you’ve got your guest list, and also gotten the total number of people you will be expecting, it’s time to choose the people who will stand beside you on your big day—your wedding party. So go ahead and select your bridesmaids, groomsmen, grooms ladies or bridesmen (or anyone else you want in your bridal party) and ask them to take on this important role. Check out our favorite bridesmaid proposal ideas to get started.

Read Also: 5 Reasons Why You May Consider Having A Court Wedding in Nigeria

7.      Purchasing wedding rings
What is a wedding ceremony without rings? They are a symbol of union between two loving hearts. You can find and order the wedding rings that suit your preferences on the internet jewelry websites or go to the local store. Make sure to discuss this with your groom/bride, because you both will need to wear these rings for a long time, and you need them to be beautiful, practical and comfortable.

8.      Finalize Your Guest List
If you haven’t already, it’s time to create your final wedding guest list. Remember that if your parents are contributing financially to your big day, they’ll get a say in who’s invited. Be sure to keep your venue’s capacity in mind as well, and don’t invite more people than the space can handle. Even though you’ll likely receive regrets from some guests, you don’t want to risk it.

9.      Get Your Wedding Dress and Other Attire
Makeup time to find the perfect outfit for your wedding day. Especially when it comes to wedding dresses, it can take months from the time you purchase your attire until it’s properly tailored and ready to go, so don’t wait until the last minute.

10.    Send the Dates to your guests
It’s time for your guests to mark their calendars! The dates should be sent as far in advance as possible to ensure that your loved ones can plan accordingly.

11.    Buy Wedding Bands
An important symbol of marriage, be sure to browse and purchase your wedding rings a few months before your nuptials. Pick a wedding band that matches your engagement ring, is comfortable (you’ll be wearing it pretty much all the time!) and suits your personal style.

12. Get Married!
The big day is finally here! You, your partner, your families, and your vendors have worked hard to follow all the steps to planning a wedding—so enjoy every minute! (want a step-by-step guide for planning the big day? We’ve got you covered with our wedding day timeline).

Honestly, there’s no hard and fast rule, as you can really mold the steps above to your own timeline — slowing down or speeding up. Now you know the most important steps that you should complete if you want an unforgettable wedding.

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