Find ideas on how to organize an original and inexpensive wedding! A rather difficult question when it’s your first time planning a wedding. Fortunately, you have this guide on how to organize a wedding in 20 steps. You may not have experience in the field, but you must be able to deliver an evening that meets our expectations. We want everything to be perfect for the big day and for it to be a memorable moment that will forever be etched in the minds of the bride and groom as well as the guests. So many questions to answer, so many little things to remember:
- wedding timeline to create
- guest lists
- those involved in the wedding
- the reception hall
- equipment rental
- decoration
- the wedding dress
- the master of ceremonies
- the meal
- a wedding planner
- audio rental
- entertainment service for the wedding…
Do you know how to prepare a wedding step by step?
Recommended read : How to treat a white tongue?
To prepare well for your wedding step by step, in 4 months, 6 months, and 1 year, and to keep the preparations inexpensive? Yes! You read that right. It is possible to organize an original low-budget wedding even with the help of a wedding planner. You just need to do some research and ask the right questions. The following will surely help you achieve one of the most beautiful days of your life; we have done the research for you!
Wedding Preparation Guide 101
Further reading : How to Use CBD?
How to organize your wedding?
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MONTH 12 — 1
Step 1: Engagement
When you said yes!, the tradition is to celebrate this engagement with your family and friends. It is appropriate to organize a meal or simply an evening to highlight your love and announce the upcoming wedding in the months to come.
Step 2: Think about how to organize your wedding
First, you need to think with your partner about how to organize your wedding step by step. How do you want to experience your wedding? A civil wedding or not? An inexpensive wedding? The theme of your wedding? You need to sit down together to answer a few questions.
- What size do you want your wedding to be?
- What does marriage mean to you?
- What is the planned date of your wedding?
- Where will you celebrate your wedding?
- Cultural wedding or not?
- Who will be the officiant?
- How would you like this day to unfold?
- Are you considering hiring a wedding event planner?
- What tasks will you handle?
- How much time do you have in the coming months to organize your wedding?
- What theme represents you to give a personalized touch to this day?
- Who will the guests be?
- A big wedding or a small wedding?
- Your budget?
- Are you planning an inexpensive wedding? Are you expecting a contribution from your guests?
- Do you want to have an open bar concept?
- Each of you should plan a little surprise during the day that will bring a smile to your life partner.
Once you have answered all these questions, write them down in a binder exclusively dedicated to your wedding. This will be your wedding guide to review your notes and remember all the discoveries you don’t want to forget. You will be able to write down all the personal ideas you have, insert photos, and pieces of magazines with original wedding ideas you have collected. It will also be a good reference tool if you need to share your wishes with a wedding planner you have hired, if applicable. Ladies, be careful not to include images of wedding dresses you love, as that remains a surprise for the gentleman!
Since we are in the technology field, download the social platform Pinterest where there are many interesting ideas on all the topics you need to make your wedding a reality. Be careful, several ideas may increase the estimated costs of your budget. You can always take the idea and simplify it.
You can also get inspired by attending a wedding to give you an overview of trends: wedding sharing, wedding dress and engagement dress, reception hall, wedding entertainment, room decoration, wedding DJ, menu ideas, reception venue, flowers, cameraman, photographer… many ideas can help you answer your questions.
Step 3: Make your guest list
If you are comfortable, use Excel software to create your guest list. This way, it will be easier to track your guests, automatically add the number of guests, and even print labels from the created file to put on your invitations and thank-you cards after your wedding. Guaranteed time-saving!
Think of an important element: children. Do you want your guests to bring their children, or are you planning an adults-only wedding? This is an important question to ask.
Step 4: It’s time to confirm if you need to hire a wedding planner
You need to answer this question quickly. Do you need a wedding planner or do you think you have time to organize everything for the big day? Obviously, hiring a wedding planner is a luxury to afford, but above all, it provides peace of mind during your wedding. If your budget allows for less, make a list of things you are willing and able to do, and at another time, write down what you would like to give to an event organizer. Experienced, they can help you find good ideas to organize your wedding well and also provide you with different offers to fit your wedding budget, such as finding a cheap wedding venue and even guiding you through the to-do list month by month. We have a list of organizers who can help you find the right person.
MONTH 11
Step 5: Find your reception venue and choose the meal concept, the caterer.
With Cité-Fêtes, you can rent everything you need to make your wedding a success: capitals, tables, chairs, dinners, stages, etc. First, you just need to define the place where you want to celebrate your union.
Step 6: Where to celebrate your wedding?
Since you have answered the list of questions above, you can now choose whether you want your wedding to take place near the place of worship, in nature outdoors, or in a reception hall in a neutral establishment such as a hotel. If you rent a community hall, plan to rent all the necessary equipment (tents, banquet chairs, round tables, dishes, glassware, cutlery, etc.). The opportunity to celebrate your wedding at home is interesting if you have a large yard, or even at your cottage if that’s the case. This step is crucial since often the most popular places are booked several months in advance, even years. Act quickly!
Step 7: Choose the caterer
It’s time to choose what you want to offer as a menu to your guests. Be careful, often the most expensive prices are not the most popular menus. If you choose a wedding planner, call them for advice. If you decide to celebrate your wedding in an intimate place, you can hire home chefs. If you need to use the services of the reception hall where your wedding will take place, for a traditional wedding banquet style 5 courses, you can ask them to taste different dishes to make your choice. This turnkey package is often the most economical option.
If you want to save on costs, the buffet option is also very popular. It’s a friendly and simplistic formula. Guests enjoy choosing their favorite dishes, and often, after the celebration during the day, people are very hungry. Service becomes faster, and you get a cheaper solution.
Add a punch during the evening
It has become very popular to add stations during the meal, such as a meat corner, a sautéed vegetable corner, and even a poutine corner, which amuses children… and even adults! If you opt for a traditional 5-course meal, the evening is appreciated by many, especially if they have drunk a lot of alcohol after the meal. A little solid food in the stomach is appreciated.
Why not a candy bar?
During the day, if you have decided to invite your guests’ children, think of an exciting idea for the kids. The candy bar always makes mouths water. You can also provide a play area to entertain the children and give parents a chance to chat with guests.
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MONTH 9
Preparing for the wedding ceremony yourself
Step 8: Prepare the ceremony according to your religious beliefs
Now, you need to choose the official officiant and meet them. The religious ceremony has no cost, but it is important to give a sum of money at your discretion, regardless of the type of wedding. Depending on your culture, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- For a Protestant ceremony, it is necessary to choose the biblical texts as it is based on their reading.
- In a Catholic wedding, there are four values to respect: fidelity, separation is not an option, freedom of commitment, and the commitment to start a family in Christian love.
- The Orthodox wedding takes place in the afternoon, on the Lord’s day, Sunday. The engagement is celebrated on the same day as the wedding.
- A Moroccan wedding lasts 3 days now. On the eve of the ceremony, both families gather at the home of the future bride. The next day is the big wedding day. During the evening, the bride will have to change her outfits seven times. The celebration can last until dawn. On the third day, the families gather at the groom’s parents’ house to share a hearty meal.
- For a Muslim celebration, it is important to submit the civil marriage certificate to the imam at least one month before the wedding.
- A Jewish couple must provide the rabbi with their parents’ marriage certificate, the Ketuba, as proof of religious affiliation.
- A gay couple can marry according to their religion and the state in which they live. Since December 20, 2016, 22 states have legalized civil unions or marriages between same-sex couples. They then have the same rights as a heterosexual couple. You just need to know the legislation of each of the couple’s religions.
Step 9: Find your photographer for original wedding photos and your cameraman if desired.
By saving money, you can find a passionate and talented family photographer to capture your event. You can ask them by saying it will be your wedding gift and that you are making an exchange for simplicity. Otherwise, depending on the packages, prices can range from $500 to $2500, depending on whether you have the option for original wedding photos and include the photo album or wedding photo book.
Most of the time, the bride and groom do not know what they want because they do not know what can be done. That’s why it’s interesting to visit several suppliers and photographers who will give you a better view of what you want and what they can do. They should have a style that represents you and the chemistry should be there to feel comfortable. Natural and non-plastic photos? Black and white photos? Images in the middle of nature? These professionals often know new and paradisiacal places to take beautiful photos in a location that represents you.
About the cameraman
Surely, the living memory of a wedding is sought after by everyone. If you do not have a high budget to afford a cameraman in addition to the photographer that day, look for someone you know, perhaps from afar, like a colleague you didn’t think to invite, who has a good camera and even a tripod preferably, and ask them to come capture your wedding.
Even today, with smart devices and supports, it is possible to create wonders, in addition to free online video editing software such as Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, DaVinci Resolve, Tuto, and Filmora to name a few. The goal is to keep a living memory of your wedding. And why not film everything throughout the year, the good and bad moments that happened, to create your own montage and keep an unforgettable memory of it.
Wedding DJ, entertainer, or master of ceremonies?
It is appropriate to choose the professional who resembles you the most since they are a key player in the atmosphere that will prevail during the evening. You can easily hire a DJ who will entertain the wedding with fun games, throwing the bouquet and garter. When searching, don’t forget to ask for references; it’s always a safe bet.
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MONTH 8
Step 10: The brides and the procession outfit A beautiful bride! A dream prince!
The wedding dress!
The Bride! The most beautiful of the evening! It’s time to shop and choose your wedding dress. If you want to have your dress custom-made, you need to think about it several months in advance. However, if you find the perfect dress in a specialized store, the price will be more affordable… unless your mother or best friend is a seamstress! Try your dress in full light to see its level of transparency.
How to choose your dress based on your silhouette?
Don’t hesitate to ask for advice based on your body shape.
- V-shaped silhouette: You have a good pair of shoulders and less hips, opt for a fitted dress at the bottom and less fabric at the top.
- A-line: You have good hips, good thighs, and a curved abdomen. A fitted dress at the top and flared at the bottom will highlight you.
- For tall women: a princess dress like Cinderella will look wonderful on you.
- Small and slim women: a mermaid-style dress will be perfect for you, like a fish tail.
- For H-shaped silhouette: A body that doesn’t have many curves, a fitted dress from top to bottom to highlight as many shapes as you have.
It goes without saying that a dress is beautiful when worn well. Know how to respect your personality so that your loved ones recognize the person dressed behind that dress. Your partner wants to recognize you that day; it’s the person they fell in love with… not the dress, don’t forget!
How to choose an outfit for the groom?
Much simpler to choose than for the bride, the groom’s outfit is very simple; think “tuxedo” and the trick is done. Just choose the right one based on what you feel comfortable in. The trend today is in the fitted style, which is tighter to the body, both the sleeves and the jacket. Again, it’s best to respect your physique. Such clothing will not enhance you if you are rounder. Here are some suggestions for you gentlemen:
- Tie style: there are two very popular styles: Windsor Knot and Ascot. The former is the rather traditional tie in business style. The latter is also traditional but can be worn with patterned pants.
- Color: Black is a value you won’t go wrong with. Gray, black, and white are traditional, elegant, and prestigious. With these choices, it’s inevitable that you will look good next to the bride and the procession, which can sometimes be very colorful. It’s better to be sober for such an event.
- Buy or rent: As fashion changes often, it’s better to rent. Especially if you’re not the type to wear jackets often, renting will be easier for you. They often even offer shoes in the package and even cleaning!
- Accessories: Go for sober colors, but if you want to stand out, why not opt for a bow tie?
- Shirt collar type: Depending on the tie or bow tie, the regular collar is more popular than the broken collar. Ask for advice.
- Shoes: Rent! Rent! Rent! It’s always nice to wear beautiful, prestigious, clean shoes that match the tuxedo. If you choose your shoes, why not write I love you underneath; you’ll get a good laugh when you kneel during the day!
If your budget is higher and you want something tailored to your needs, deal with a tailor who will certainly advise you.
The procession
Regarding the members of the procession, it’s important to choose the right people. You have the choice to want to admire your bridesmaids in a short dress, long, black or pink. A few points to discuss with them:
- What style of dress do you prefer?
- Are you willing to invest a sum of money on the dress?
- Shall we create a theme so that the dresses complement the decoration well?
If you decide to pay the entire bill, you have full control over the final choice of dresses, whereas if they decide to pay part, they may want the chance to wear the dress on another occasion, so they might opt for a different style. This is to be discussed.
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MONTH 7
Step 11: Make your personalized wedding gift list
Very simple, make a list of things you are missing at home, in your house. Be sure to include several choices at different prices so as not to embarrass less wealthy people. Be broad in your choices, especially since it is not an obligation to give a gift for a wedding. Make a list without waiting to receive and share this list with your entourage and family so they can pass it on to guests if they ask. Several gift boxes exist; do your research.
Step 12: Plan your honeymoon
Once, depending on your budget, choose the honeymoon destination. You can even put a trip on your wedding gift list… in case someone close to the family wants to give you an original and unusual wedding gift. Don’t forget to prepare your passport if you leave your country and also your vaccinations if necessary. Gentlemen, if you want to add a romantic touch, why not take your lady to a bridge where you can hang a “love lock” initialized with your names, to immortalize your love with a gesture. You will surprise your lady!
MONTH 6
Step 13: Choose your wedding vehicle
The vehicle should be related to the theme of your wedding or the style you want to give. Here are some interesting ideas. Before renting it, call your acquaintances to see if any of them have a cool car and would be willing to lend it to you, even if you give them a sum in exchange. So everyone wins.
- Carriage
- Motorcycle
- Convertible
- Old car
- Exotic luxury cars (Porsche, Corvette, Lamborghini…)
- For the more environmentally conscious, why not by bike!
If you can take the time to approach some companies that sell new or used cars, perhaps they would agree to lend you a car in exchange for some visibility. Be creative and dare to ask!
Step 14: Choose your announcements and thank-you cards
About the announcement. It can be created by you, handmade in the style of a scrapbook, if you want an original announcement. This takes a lot of time if you have several guests, but it’s worth it when you want to personalize your wedding. Why not buy cards with a blank frame and put a photo of the two of you, your first love photo, or a photo of your engagement or even when he asked you to marry him. A wedding announcement is always appreciated when it has a personal touch.
Alternatively, you can also do business with a specialized printing box or simply a printing center. They will be able to give you dozens and dozens of choices based on the color you want to give to your wedding.
An even more economical choice is to buy pre-packaged ones; you just need to download the template and import your Excel list that was discussed in step 3, make your guest list.
Even more economical now, thanks to technology, you can send your announcements by email while ensuring you get a read receipt for the email. You can also use a platform that allows you to create the digital announcement. Several free software options can offer you this service online.
Do the same process for the thank-you cards. You can put a photo of your wedding day on the wedding, or send a digital message. If you are dealing with a photographer, ask them if it is possible on the wedding day, with a small printer, to make the cards and give them the same evening to the guests. Another way to save on the postage costs required by the stamp.
MONTH 5
Step 15: Choose the wedding rings
It is appropriate that if the gentleman made his marriage proposal traditionally, he must have bought a ring that he believes his future wife will love. If this is the case, gentlemen, make sure you can return the jewelry to the jeweler for some changes if the lady is not satisfied with your choice. It can be a refund policy or simply an exchange. It is very difficult to choose the exact size of a person’s finger, so the jewelry must at least be exchangeable.
How to choose a wedding ring for the bride?
Previously, the budget for the ring was based on the man’s salary, that is, an amount of one month’s salary. Make sure to deal with a reputable and trustworthy jeweler who will offer you the following essentials:
- Diamond certificate number and registration
- An engraving on the diamond of that registration number
- A guarantee in case of loss of the diamond
- A repair and maintenance plan
You can simplify it by buying sterling silver or stainless steel rings that cost much less. This avenue is possible, but if your philosophy is that the diamond is a symbol of eternal love, then you need a diamond.
How to choose a quality diamond?
There are four representative criteria for a diamond. They come from the English translation of the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Carat, and Clarity. Here they are in French:
- Cut: It is an art to sculpt a diamond. The way it is cut reflects brilliance and shine to the naked eye.
- Color: The whiter the diamond (no color), the rarer and more exceptional it is. Except for colored diamonds, of course!
- Carat: This is the weight of the diamond. The higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond. One carat equals 100 points.
- Clarity: When there are no other foreign bodies in the diamond, it is pure.
Several diamond shapes exist, here they are:
- Emerald
- Oval
- Princess
- Round
- Armorican (only at Birks)
- Pear
- Heart
- Marquise
The engagement ring is a promise of commitment. It is the most important part of the two rings, the one where the diamond is usually found. During the wedding ceremony, the ring is added to solidify the understanding of eternal love.
The band for the gentleman is often more difficult to choose so that he feels comfortable wearing it. Usually, if you want to keep it simple, a traditional ring is always appreciated. You no longer have to choose the same material. If Madame prefers yellow gold and Monsieur white gold, that is now acceptable.
Remember that wearing this ring is a sign of eternal commitment. Know how to choose the right rings that represent you.
Step 16: Submit your marriage application at the town hall
Here are the supporting documents necessary for your marriage:
- Birth certificate (some require the certificate to be less than three months old) issued by the town hall of birth.
- A supporting document
- Two proofs of residence
- The names of the witnesses and their marital status
- A notarized certificate of the marriage contract
- Divorced individuals must present the first marriage certificate
- Individuals with children must present their birth certificate of less than 3 months
It is worth noting that it is possible to submit a copy of supporting documents 2 and 3 under an affidavit.
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MONTH
Step 17: Send wedding announcements4
Four months before the big day, you can send the announcements to your guests. Everything is already prepared; you just need to send them. Don’t forget to include a return ticket for confirmation with a postage stamp already affixed to another small envelope that you will send along with the official invitation. If you decide to send a digital announcement, request a response, whether positive or not. Even easier if you used an invitation software like Event Brite that automatically handles guest confirmations.
MONTH 3
Step 18: Choices to complete the reception and a few points not to forget.
1. The decoration of the
room Pinterest! You will see several decoration ideas for the room or tents if you decide to celebrate outdoors. Add a touch of color that resembles you. Why not print a large sticker that you can put on the floor or
on the wall with your initials and the date of your first meeting? Don’t be afraid to dare. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised.
2. The flowers
Budget! Budget! Flowers can cost you little as they can cover a large part of your budget. Foliage is cheaper than exotic flowers; know how to insert them, they will easily give volume to your bouquet and centerpieces. You can also go with seasonal flowers that are more accessible. Don’t forget to stay within the theme of your wedding and also respect what represents you and your partner.
3. The wedding cake
You can choose a classic or more original cake. If you ask a professional pastry chef, you can even customize what represents you. The tradition is that when the meal is finished, guests make a toast as a love toast, which brings luck to the newlyweds.
If you decide to celebrate your wedding in a hall where there is also catering service, it usually includes dessert in its 5 courses. You can then create an original atmosphere at that moment.
And why not a little fun figurine to personalize everything!
4. Original guest book
Innovate and build your album based on your theme. It’s always fun to insert a few photos; guests will love to write near the page where they meet… and at the same time, you remind them of good memories.
5. The guest gift
Photograph of the lovers, CD with your best songs in memory of your love, create a love jar by taking a Mason jar and inserting all the ingredients of a recipe that resembles you, candles, and for the more humanitarian, you can give the amount allocated for guest donations to a humanitarian cause… it’s up to you to see what will make you happy!
6. The table plan
A site gives good advice to create a perfect atmosphere by seating the right people together and in the right place. As in any family, there are little colds; it’s important to put people who get along well together.
7. The first dance
Perfect songs for the first dance. Of course, you have THE song that reminds you of your union… at least one! That’s the one you want. Make sure the lyrics of the song do not imply a romantic separation or a negative situation; that would be weird.
8. Book the babysitter as
needed Don’t forget this important element if you have children. Plan for a family member to take care of your children or even a babysitter who can be on-site at the wedding to take care of them. This way, you will be free to fully enjoy your princess day!
9. Book hotel rooms for you and your guests
If your reception is in a hotel, you don’t even have to think about it, not even leaving the premises, and you are in your room. Always plan to help your guests arriving from afar find a room in the area. Offer a variety of budgets so they don’t feel uncomfortable.
10. Wedding insurance?
In case your wedding falls through for any reason, it is possible to take out wedding insurance. Inquire. As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure!
11. Try your wedding shoes again
It’s never a bad idea to stretch your shoes, especially for women with high heels. You want to be comfortable on your wedding day and not have trouble walking. Take the time to wear them often to break them in and mold them to your foot. An interesting little trick is to put on a damp nylon stocking and wear them. With the moisture and heat from your foot, they will mold quickly, and you will feel like you’re in your old slippers on your wedding day.
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MONTH 2
Step 19: Refine your beauty!
You need to plan your master hairdresser and makeup artist. Ideally, these professionals should come to prepare you at home. You can also choose a place near your home to reduce the risk of wasting time. If you have properly used your reference book since the first day of the preparations, you have surely added images of hairstyles and makeup examples that you like. It’s time to pull them out to show them.
If you want to go with Plan B, which is cheaper, you can ask a talented person in your circle, you can also do it yourself if you are well experienced; otherwise, there are makeup schools or young certified professionals who can do quality work at a lower cost depending on their experience. It’s a nice avenue; you can even ask them to give you a try to be reassured.
MONTH 1
Step 20: Your bachelor party
A bachelorette or bachelor party is often a day or evening organized by the parents, the best friends of the bride and groom. The goal is to take the whole group out of their comfort zone, especially for the guys. The girls, the sexier and happier they are, the more fun it is. If you have an old-fashioned evening, you’ll opt for beer and strippers. Several original ideas exist. You just need to search the web, and you will discover what represents you. I emphasize that this evening is usually organized by the brides’ parents, often the guys on one side and the girls on the other; it becomes more appropriate for both groups to come together during the evening to finish this moment with the brides’ parents.
Now that you know everything about how to organize your wedding, just wait for the big day and fully enjoy this long-awaited day! Enjoy every moment; the day passes in the blink of an eye!
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