Before the Wedding
Wedding day is really nice day full of love, happiness and fun. For a guests. For a couple too, but you have to add a lot of stress with preparations and fear that something will go wrong in their big day. Here you will find advices when and what to do.
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Get a wedding diary
Or at least a notepad where you can take notes about everything important - appointments, terms or when to pick up specific things from suppliers. More information about ceremonies and types of marriage here and here.
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Choose a kind of ceremony
You have two options in civil marriage - spiritual ceremony in the church with pastor or civil ceremony in magistrate's office (or in another place which you'll choose) with marriage officer. There is also a customary marriage which follows traditions and customs of community, but this kind is not registered yet and you won't get any marriage certificate.
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Form a wedding budget
Here depends how much money you are able or you want to spend on your wedding.
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Put together a guest list
This point is very important to make it early. Because of this list you will have an image of a wedding's size and also you will need to order certain number of wedding invitations (it's always recommended to order more, just in case) or the amount of food.
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Find and reserve a date and venue for the wedding ceremony
It's very good to do it with a time reserve because nice and popular venues can be taken well in advance. It is also necessary to make at least one visit of place to see if it's good enough for you.
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Find best man and bridesmaids
It is very important to choose them very carefully, especially when you don't have a wedding planner. They should help during the wedding day with amusement, best man also should have a speech and bridesmaid should be available for bride whole wedding day. It's also good when bridesmaid have a WEK (Wedding Emergency Kit), where you can put everything what might be important for bride during the wedding day.
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Find and reserve a place of wedding reception
If you are planning to have it in restaurant, it's better to go there like a guest first. It will give you a chance to taste food and check staff. It's also good to look on internet or ask friends if they have experiences with a certain restaurant /catering company.
Or like a tradition you will have first reception after ceremony at a bride's place, then will go to groom's place. Make sure that you'll have enough food for all people there and in that case hire a catering which lends you tents, outdoor furniture, decorations and prepare food for you.
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Provide accommodation for quests and wedding apartment for newly-weds
As well as for reception and venue you should check the place and services before you will decide which hotel you want. Or guests who need spend the night there will simply sleep at your place.
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Visit bridal boutique to choose wedding dress and suit for a groom
This is one of the pleasant duty for brides. Nowadays, you have basically three main ways how to get a wedding dress. First one is to borrow them (for groom is better to buy suit, because he can use it more times) from a wedding boutique. Second option is to buy them. In this case you will have to count with a higher price but dress will be only yours. Last option is to ask a dressmaker.
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Choose dress for bridesmaids/ mothers/ best man
They should be a bit different from other guests because these people are important. Dress should match with your wedding (decorations, accessories etc.). If is a chance to say to all guest in which colour will be your wedding and ask them to have dresses with that or similar colour, effect is really perfect.
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Choose and order wedding rings
Wedding rings are one of a few things which you will remain as a memory. Nowadays are popular rings from a white gold or combinations of white, yellow and pink gold. Rings from titanium or steel are also becoming more and more popular. They have two main advantages. Price is really low and they are almost indestructible. On the other hand the is one problem with them. When you (and your fingers) lose or gain weight it's not possible to let the ring adjust.
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Choose and order invitations, place cards and other printed material
Once you know place and date of the wedding it's a good time to start with ordering/ printing of invitations (for a wedding ceremony and for a wedding reception. You might also need to print menu overview or wedding newspapers.
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Choose wedding bouquet and wedding (flower) decorations
Here depends mainly on a bride's taste. Flowers make wedding complete and they are a beautiful basis of every ceremony.
It's also important to choose a type of a wedding bouquet that is appropriate for the bride's figure and a style of a wedding dress.
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Order/ borrow wedding decorations
You can order them from internet or buy/borrow them from the the shop. Some agencies also offers lending decorations.
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Order wedding cake
You can make an appointment in bakery where you should tell them what do you expect or you can also ask friends or relatives to bake them if they are skilful. Here you can use your imagination because there are many options how cake can look.
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Order photographer and cameraman
Every bride and groom want to have nice memories from their wedding. That's why is very important to be careful during finding a good photographer/ cameraman. It's always good to see their previous work. Of course wedding is celebration but remember that photographer is paid for his job, not drinking and eating. So when you choose someone, sign a contract and duties and quality of his work. In other case demand your money back.
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Make an appointment with a hairdresser and make-up artist
First visit should be few months before wedding, where you'll agree with a hairdresser on everything what do you need and will set a date when you will come there again to test your chosen hairstyle. You shouldn't forget about your nails and even groom shouldn't miss a manicure. You won't like a picture of hands when his nails look like worker's ones.
You can always ask someone to do it, but why stress yourself and be afraid that it won't be perfect?
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Arrange transport for wedding guests
This depends how far are places of the engaged couple and a church/ location of the ceremony. If it's near you can go by foot but at least for picking up a bride you will need at least one car. Now you have two options. Take your car or borrow it from agency. Don't forget to check the seating order.
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Arrange music production
It's only your decision if it will be live music, DJ or piped music. When you'll choose the last case, make sure that you have fine equipment for playing music and make a CD with the first dance song at least.
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Make a list of wedding gifts
This is very pleasant duty. Create list of everything what would you need or what do you want. If you have a wedding website you can place the list there. Also some websites offer you a choice to create a list on their website and quests can easily reserve the gift so it won't happen that you will get something twice.
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Send wedding announcement and invitations to the reception
And when? Usually they are 2 months before wedding which means that guests will have enough time to respond (on the card should be also written RSVP which is a request for a response).
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Establish seating plan
Seating plan is determined by customs and etiquette. But generally more important people are sitting closer to the couple.
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Create a wedding day itinerary
This is not something that must be strictly adhered to. But it's always better to check printed itinerary then think what to do now.
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Make a stag party
Originally it was supposed to be the night before wedding. But who wants to go on his own wedding with a hangover? So ideal time to organize it is circa 14 days before ceremony. It doesn't have to look like a party with uncontrolled drinking and striptease. It can be a grill party weekend somewhere far from home. It's only up to you.
