Individuals who deem planning a wedding simple are either disillusioned, or lying to themselves. Planning any sort of event is time consuming and demanding. However, the anxiety level involved with planning the nuptials between two lovers give a new meaning to stress. Weddings are stressful to plan because they consist of many large and small details. In order for the day to run smoothly, all details must be completely handled. A minor glitch or overlooking a vital element can create chaos. Several hire a wedding planner to arrange the details of the wedding. This removes a lot of pressure from the couple. Unfortunately, coordinators are not cheap. Thus, many couples opt to plan their own nuptials with the help of friends and family.

Six Month Countdown

Planning a nice wedding ceremony does not have to be a headache. The key is being organized and preparing early. Experts in the wedding industry recommend that couples allow at least six months planning a wedding. Of course, some couples are in a hurry to tie the knot for various reasons, thus they marry within a few short months, or weeks, of their engagement. This may be ideal for those planning a very small event such as a backyard barbecue. However, couples who have a large ceremony in mind should allow enough time to plan. Rushing the planning process may result in many missed details.

Set a Date

The first detail that needs to be decided when planning a wedding is the date. Flexible couples may randomly choose a date six months in the future. On the other hand, couples who are planning a long honeymoon may need to schedule the wedding around their vacation time or holidays. Scheduling holiday weddings are also perfect for couples who have family living in distant areas. Holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving offer long weekends. Thus, family members may not have to concern themselves with taking unpaid time off from work. In addition, woman should be conscious of their menstrual cycle when planning nuptials. Granted, it is difficult for some to predict their monthly cycle in advanced. However, woman with regular, consistent cycles may be able to accurately estimate when their period is expected.

Establish a Realistic Budget

Once a couple has agreed upon a date, the next step is figuring a budget. Prior to making any wedding plans couples should have an accurate picture of available funds. If the bride's parents are paying for the entire wedding, the couple should consult with them to receive an ideal of how much they can spend. In cases where the bride's parents are unable to pay for the nuptials, the groom's parents may offer to assist. Of course, with the cost of formal weddings skyrocketing, single families are often unable to cover the entire cost of a wedding. Instead of a bride's parents going into severe debt, the parties involve may decide on a three-way split. This involves the couple, bride's parents, and the groom's parents splitting the cost of the wedding evenly.

Select Location

After a date and budget have been established, the couple can begin securing a location for the wedding and reception. It is essential that couples reserve a location early. In larger cities, many couples have had to postpone or sacrifice having a wedding reception due to reception halls having limited availabilities. In fact, some reception halls have a two-year wait list. Those who live in smaller or rural cities may not have this problem; still, it is important to begin searching early.

Several couples are choosing to have their ceremony and reception in one location. This eliminates guest having to travel to two locations. However, those who have decided on a church wedding should secure a church well in advance. If the bride or groom is a member of a church they may be able to secure this location without paying a fee. Couples are able to reserve a church in which neither are a member. However, they will likely have to pay a small rental fee. Officiates who perform the marriage vows may also charge a small fee.

Bridal Party

Selecting a bridal party is likely the easiest wedding task. In most cases, couples already know who will join their wedding party. Traditional bridal parties include a maid or matron of honor, a best man, bridesmaids, ushers, flower girl, ring bearer, the brides' parents, and the groom's parents. Couples who are close to many individuals may have a difficult time selecting a wedding party. For example, if the bride has three sisters she may be torn as to who will be her maid or matron of honor. The groom may encounter a similar situation. However, there is no rule that states how many attendees can be apart of the wedding party. Thus, a groom may choose to have two best men.

Wedding Attire

The attire for the wedding is based on whether the event will be formal or semi-formal. Couples who choose a formal wedding may decide on a long white or ivory wedding gown with an elaborate train. The bride may also wear a veil, gloves, sparkling jewelry, and make-up. The groom's attire could consist of a black/white/ grey tuxedo, vest, dress shoes, and tie. The bridal party should also be dressed in formal attire that is representative of the wedding colors. Wedding attire for a semi-formal wedding may include the women wearing simple dresses, and males wearing dark suits.

Caterer, Florist, Photographer

Important wedding details that are often overlooked include hiring a caterer, florist, photographer, and entertainment. For the most part, reception halls provide catering, thus the couple are only responsible for selecting items from the menu. However, reception halls will not provide wedding cakes; therefore, couples should consult with an experienced wedding cake decorator. If the reception hall does not provide catering, couples need to hire a catering company and establish a menu. Prior to selecting a photographer or florist, couples should review a portfolio and contact references. This is the only way to ensure that the work will be excellent and acceptable. Entertainment is also vital at weddings. Boring weddings are not fun, and may cause the guest to leave early. Hiring a band or disc jockey is perfect for creating a relaxed or party atmosphere.

Couples should assign a relative or friend as the ceremony coordinator and reception coordinator. These persons will be responsible for ensuring that both sites are decorated. The ceremony coordinators are also responsible for outlining the processional and recessional line, and arranging the wedding rehearsal. Meanwhile the reception coordinators handle pertinent details such as seating arrangement, guest books, and timeline for reception activities such as toast, first dance, cake cutting, throwing the bouquet, and so forth. Individuals assigned to this task should be experienced.

Final Details

As the date for the wedding moves closer, couples should begin narrowing down final details. These include finalizing guest lists, ordering invitations, gift registry, planning honeymoon, and applying for a marriage license. On average, wedding invitations are sent two months before the wedding. This allows ample time for knowing who will or will not be attending. If would be wise for couples to register their gifts prior to sending out invitations. Many couples are including small cards with invitations informing guests of their registry location. The final step in planning a wedding is receiving a marriage license from the city's County Clerk's Office. Marriage licenses must be applied for no more than thirty days prior to the ceremony.