| Planning a wedding can be a nerve-wracking | | | | church wedding. No matter what location you |
| proposition. Here are a few tips to get the | | | | decide on, you will need to reserve your date well |
| planning started off on the right foot. | | | | in advance. |
| Set your budget. The average wedding and | | | | Plan the reception. You will need to figure out |
| reception costs $23,000. If you do not want to | | | | where you want the reception held sooner rather |
| spend a lot of money, you can still have a very | | | | than later. Start looking for locations as soon as |
| memorable wedding. You will just have to be a | | | | you set the date. Reception halls are often |
| little more creative and be your own wedding | | | | booked a year or more in advance. In addition to |
| planner. | | | | location, you will need to order a cake, arrange |
| Set a date. Try to steer clear of religious holidays | | | | for music/entertainment and decide what food to |
| that may conflict with your wedding or that has | | | | serve. |
| negative situations associated with it. For instance, | | | | Choose the dress, bridesmaid dresses and |
| a wedding on September 11 may not be your | | | | tuxedos. Choosing the wedding attire is possibly |
| best choice. | | | | the most stressful and emotionally-charged part |
| Decide on the theme or color scheme. Do you | | | | of organizing a wedding. Are you the type of |
| want a themed wedding, such as country | | | | person who likes to break the rules? Colored |
| western, goth, or Victorian? More and more | | | | wedding dresses, especially red ones, are |
| brides and grooms are choosing a theme for their | | | | becoming more and more popular. |
| weddings to make it more individual and | | | | Take your wedding planning one step at a time, |
| personalized. Even if you do not want to plan your | | | | plan ahead and try to relax. And remember the |
| wedding around a theme, you will still need to pick | | | | real purpose of a wedding is to celebrate the love |
| out the colors you want to use. | | | | two people share and the commitment they are |
| Decide on the location of the ceremony and | | | | making to one another. Try not to let that get |
| officiator. Do you want to marry in a romantic | | | | overshadowed by logistics of planning your |
| ceremony by the sea at sunset or in a traditional | | | | wedding. |