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Plan your wedding

Let’s start this process by setting your mind at ease. Aside from getting a legally signed marriage license, everything else is optional. Your wedding is your day and you can make it as simple or elaborate as you like (or as your wallet will allow). Some brides have 12 months to plan (or more), while others have barely 12 days. So, we hope you find this planning guide helpful, but remind you it’s yours to use as you please. Add to it. Drop things that don’t apply. Or get the essentials done in a week, if you can’t wait to get hitched!

Congratulations! If you’ve found this page, more than likely you’re newly engaged and you’ve just embarked on what could very well be the most amazing adventure of your life.

We’ve been helping brides and grooms plan their weddings since 1995 and we hope you find our website full of information that’s helpful in planning yours.

Family wedding shower

Engagement party ideas

Talk with your fiancé about what each of you envision as the perfect wedding. Discuss…

  • Style – formal, semi-formal, casual, specific themes
  • Type of venue – local or destination, church, outdoors, famous landmark, country club or home
  • Size – number of guests, budget
  • Ceremony – long or short, traditional or contemporary, faith-based or civil, family traditions
  • Reception – simple, big blow-out or something in between, sit-down service or buffet, type of food, will alcohol be served, entertainment, dancing, etc.
  • Timing – time of day and possible dates; be prepared with back-up dates in case you need to make adjustments for the venue(s), family or important guests

Share your thoughts with your parents, both his and yours, to flush out any concerns and set expectations up front.

Plan your wedding

Manage wedding stress

If you’ve started the planning process, you probably already have your engagement ring. But you’ll also need to order wedding bands for both bride and groom. It’s good to get an early start if you plan to have them custom designed or engraved.

Not engaged yet, we can help you find the perfect way to say, “Marry me!”

All about the diamond!

Rings 101

For many brides, the first thing they do after getting engaged is to start looking for the perfect dress. After all, your wedding gown is likely to be the most beautiful dress you’ll ever own. We invite you to browse through our photo gallery [link to topic landing page or dream photo page] and get an idea of the styles you like. Choose a few local vendors and let the fitting begin. Don’t be surprised if you feel like a princess when you find the right one.

How to choose a dress

How to measure for your dress

Decide on your attendants early so they can reserve the date. You’ll also want to order bridesmaid’s dresses about the same time you order your gown. Think about what dress styles will flatter their body types. Many brides’ today mix and match styles, so everyone turns heads walking down the aisle.

Dresses for the other gals

Bride and bridesmaid rolls

Choosing the caterer and cake designer can be a lot of fun. Just think about all that tasting! Things to keep in mind…

  • Number of guests and budget
  • Experience handling weddings similar to yours
  • Dietary restrictions and allergies
  • What’s local and fresh
  • Beauty – you want the food to look as good as it tastes
  • Schedules – if you’re getting married at a popular time or around a holiday, you’ll want to get them booked before they’re all booked up

Safeway wedding cakes

When ordering your invitations, think about other printed materials you may need…

  • Save-the-date cards – particularly if your wedding is during a busy time of year or you have guests who need to make travel arrangements
  • Thank you note cards
  • Programs
  • Printed napkins
  • Place cards
  • Personalized tags for favors

Remember to make arrangements to have your photo taken, if you plan to photo personalize your printed items. Some photographers include engagement photos in your wedding package.

Rehearsal dinner invitations

Invitations on a budget

Registering your wedding gift wishes with your favorite shops is not only fun, it’s also a big help to your guests. Everyone loves to give a gift that will be well received. Include information about where you’re registered in your save-the-date announcements and invitations to make it easy for your family and friends.

Wedding gift registry

How to ask for money

Send out-of-town guests a list of local accommodations. To make it easy, include details about quality, pricing, and proximity to venues and the airport. Or you may want to offer to make reservations for them.

Order or begin making your favors. And remember thank you gifts for your attendants and other helpers.

Unique favor ideas

Preserving wedding favors

One week before the wedding, confirm timing and details with the caterer, entertainment, cake designer, florist and any other vendors, unless your coordinator is handling these details for you.

A day or two before the festivities begin, slip away for a massage, manicure and pedicure. Many a bride has run herself ragged, right up to the wedding, and ended up sick for most of the honeymoon. Don’t let that be you.

Check out and reserve the venue (or venues) for the ceremony and reception. This may well determine your wedding date. When making your choice, think about who will be attending…

  • Will there be enough room?
  • Is the available date manageable for out-of-town guests?
  • Will your elderly grandma be able to climb down a hillside?

Think about the setting in terms of photography, lighting, transportation and parking. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, will there be blinding sun or too much wind? Do you have an indoor back-up plan in case bad weather shows up? Find out whether the venue provides a caterer and/or wedding coordinator. This is also a good time to book your officiant, be it your pastor, a judge or other licensed official.

Find your wedding location

Though your invitations don’t need to be mailed until four to six weeks before the wedding, we recommend you prepare the guest list early, because it will influence a number of decisions down the line. You’ll need a rough head count when choosing your venue(s), and for working with the caterer, cake designer and printer. You’ll also need to think about who is coming as you plan the reception, the ceremony, guest accommodations and such.

Be forewarned, drafting the guest list can lead to hurt feelings. You may have to tell grandma she won’t be able to invite her best friend. A little bit of compromise may be needed, but in the end, it’s your wedding and you and your groom should have the final say…subject to budget constraints if someone else is paying.

Who to invite

More thoughts on your guest list

Pictures keep the memory of your wedding alive, and they’re a great way to share your joy with family and friends.

Beyond price and availability, consider experience and style when choosing your photographer and videographer. Talk with several. Review their portfolios. Then decide how you want to capture your day…

  • Color or black & white?
  • Formal, romantic, pensive, or casual & fun?
  • Candid or posed photos? If posed, traditional poses, artistic composition, or unexpected angles?
  • For your video, do you want a complete documentary, a personal story, or a montage of moments?

Gorgeous formal portraits

Wedding photography basics

Think through the details of the reception early in your planning, so you can hire your entertainers – DJ, musicians, emcee – and reserve any necessary equipment, tables, chairs, and such. It will also help when talking to the caterer, beverage provider, florist and printer. About this time, you may decide you can’t live without a wedding coordinator. This is the time to hire one.

Centerpieces 101

Seating chart help

Florists are especially busy around holidays and during the summer “wedding season,” which means they’re pretty much busy all year ‘round. We recommend you book well in advance.

To help you choose a florist, think about the kind of flowers and styles of bouquets you like. Our photo gallery is full of ideas.

Once you have an idea of the type of flowers you want, we can help you find a florist near you. Show them pictures of what you like (you can email directly from WedNet.com) and ask to see pictures of their past work.

Wedding flowers on a budget

Safeway wedding flowers

Reserve the groom’s and groomsmen’s’ formal wear several weeks before the wedding to make sure they have the styles you want and to allow plenty of time for alterations. If you need help deciding on an appropriate style, the shop will be happy to offer recommendations, depending on the time of day and formality of your wedding.

Out of town guests can be sized at any tux shop, which will be happy to send the measurements directly to the shop of your choice.

Don’t wait till the last minute to pick up your tuxes. Allow a few days, in case you need last minute alterations. And, remember to ask one of the groomsmen to return the tuxes. This will be the last thing on your mind during your honeymoon!

Tuxedo - rent or buy?

Simple wedding attire

Honeymoon planning usually falls to the groom…gladly!

By now we hope you know your bride well enough to plan the perfect getaway. Does she like surprises or will she want to know exactly what to pack? Looking for something simple and private, or a lavish escape? We can help you plan the retreat she’ll never forget!

Destination weddings

Some help to plan your honeymoon

Meet with the officiant and your wedding coordinator, if you have one, to talk about your vision for the ceremony. Be sure to touch on the tone and style, music, favorite readings, traditions, the role of family members and friends. If you plan to write your vows, now is a good time to get started.

It’s four to six weeks before the wedding and time to get the invitations in the mail. Hopefully you have friends with elegant handwriting to help. If you’re having a casual wedding, be avant-garde and send an e-vite

Consider electronic wedding invitations

The license is the one essential part of a wedding. It’s the official agreement that makes your marriage legally binding.

You will need to apply for your license in the state, and sometimes the county, where you plan to get married. Other requirements vary by state. In general, you must…

  • Be of legal age (18 years or older)
  • Have a blood test
  • Bring documentation proving your identity and residency
  • Many states have a waiting period of three days, or more

This is what it’s all about. The work is done. It’s time to enjoy. Your day will be magical, even if it isn’t perfect. Take time to savor the moments and the people who came to celebrate with you. Then steal away for your unforgettable honeymoon and happily ever after!