Step-by-step guide to planning your wedding

After the butterflies in the stomach that accompany the long-awaited proposal, there is not a bride or groom who, from time to time, does not find themselves dreaming of the famous moment of yes, with the honeymoon trip, with the new house. , with the children and with everything that a new couple is entitled to.

All this is natural and happens because marriage is one of the most important rites of passage in society, an institution that survives the passage of time and adapts to modernity.

Along with marital status, relationships and obligations change and, in times of social networks, changing status acquires an even broader connotation.

For all of this to be as beautiful in practice as it is in your dreams, it is important to keep in mind that the perfect wedding requires a lot of planning, organization and work. It was with this in mind that we prepared a small guide that will help couples in all the necessary steps to reach the altar triumphant.

the choice of date

This may be the couple’s first dilemma. Some prefer to choose a date with symbolic meaning, others seek to adapt to the needs, reconciling, for example, with the date on which the house will be assembled. There are also couples who choose the date thinking about their honeymoon trip.

Whatever the modality you fit into, the ideal is to choose the date in common agreement and with great affection, after all, it will be celebrated for many years to come.

Plan and book the date in advance. So you can choose the church, the salon and the professionals you want, dodging the competition that is great, especially on special dates like the month of May, known for being the month of brides.

Anticipating is also essential to be able to pay in installments in a greater number of times, since most services require full payment by the date of the event. The greater the number of installments, the easier it is to adapt them to the budget.

Also take into account the possibility of counting on the presence of the most important people for the couple and, after setting the date, just inform the closest guests informally and start thinking about the save the date, or in Portuguese, book that date .

When you have set the date, remember to schedule a vacation or leave from work to avoid unwanted inconvenience.

type of marriage

The couple must decide how they want the marriage to take place. Will the ceremony be civil only? Will it be civil and religious on the same day or on separate days? Will the reception be formal or informal? Will the party take place during the day or night? Will it be an event for many or few people?

It is essential that these points are defined so that they can move forward aligning the other items.

church choice

By planning in advance, you can book your ceremony in the church of your dreams, but always check the regulation that sets out rules regarding schedules, preparatory course for newlyweds, tolerance for delays, number of godparents who can stay at the altar, the order of entry of the pages and even the style of music.

Depending on the church you choose, you will have to hire music, decoration and ceremony from the church itself, but there are those that offer complete freedom of choice.

Budgets and hiring of professionals and services

The list of professionals hired for a wedding party is long. Some companies offer closed packages, but some couples prefer to search further to find more affordable prices.

Before choosing the space where the reception will take place, it is essential that you pay a visit, if possible on a day when a party is happening. Clear all your doubts and observe all the details. Check the kitchen, cooling system, bathrooms, parking space (if any).

To hire buffet services, happily married, sweets, cake and drinks, one or more tasting sessions are recommended. Food and drinks are one of the points that draw the most attention at a reception and, if they are poorly chosen, they can ruin everything. For example, while the scenographic cake must be visually appealing, the cake to be served must be flavorful to match the beauty of the scenographic cake.

Many beauty salons offer the bride’s day and also the groom’s, but to avoid unpleasant surprises, consider the possibility of producing yourself with the help of a professional you already know.

If your salon doesn’t offer this service, feel free to do makeup, hair and nail tests at another salon. Also book beauty treatments such as skin cleansing and waxing for the days before the wedding, they are great for you to arrive with flawless skin.

You should also know the work of photographers, videographers, lighting, music and decorators in advance so you can be sure that everything will work out at the long-awaited time.

As every bride has a favorite flower, it is necessary to pay attention to an important detail: the flower season varies and, perhaps, your wedding date does not coincide with the flower harvest time, both for the making of the arrangements and for the bouquet. of the bride and the bridesmaid, which should match the decor.

If your buffet and lounge don’t offer it, you’ll also have to hire waiters, security guards and valets.

Counting on the help of a marriage advisor can be a hand in the wheel. They are specialized in organizing events and, in addition to being able to indicate professional partners, increasing your savings, these professionals are essential to take care of all the details, not letting anything go unnoticed and, above all, so that on your wedding day you have the tranquility to just enjoy the big moment.

They are the ones who make contact with suppliers, receive and label gifts that are taken to the salon, guide the bride and groom on the party’s itinerary, that is, time for the dance, time for the retrospective. If your aide doesn’t offer it, ask him or her to bring a first-aid kit, with pain relievers, new tights, bobby pins, thread, needle, nail polish, and things you or your guests might need at the last minute.

If the bride and groom’s family has a significant number of children, hiring child monitors can be a good choice to distract the kids.

Costs, budgets and contracts

Once you start planning, create a spreadsheet. When knowing each type of service, write down the costs. Always have everything at the tip of the pencil so you don’t lose track and exceed your budget and also to compare.

Whenever you hire a company or service, demand and keep the contract and pay attention to payment due dates.

Guest list

Godfathers and godmothers, both civil and religious, must be invited in advance and in person. If they live far away, contact can be by phone, but with the same advance notice. That way they will have time to plan, choose the gift and, if necessary, book a hotel and buy tickets.

The other guests should be noted on a list that should be reviewed a few times so as not to run the risk of forgetting anyone. Likewise, if the number of guests is beyond the possibilities of the bride and groom, the solution is to eliminate the less intimate people and give priority to those who are part of the conviviality and close family members.

Honeymoon

Oh, the honeymoon. Some couples wait longer for this moment than for the wedding itself. And it could be, it’s a magical trip that, even if it’s on the beach and it’s cold every day, it will be unforgettable. It’s time for the couple to recover their energies and prepare to actually start their life together.

Visit travel agencies in advance and find out about the routes offered. If the trip is international, pay attention to the need to update your passport, as well as obtain visas and be vaccinated.

If the trip is not scheduled to follow the party, book a hotel suite for a romantic wedding night.

Discover the 10 most desired international honeymoon destinations:

costumes

The bride’s dress is a separate chapter. The bride herself is the center of attention of any wedding ceremony. Everyone wants to feel beautiful, splendid and everyone is looking forward to discovering the chosen model, a secret that is traditionally kept under lock and key. Choose the model that favors her body type and makes her comfortable. At the time of the tests, take the shoes that will be used and in the last tests, take all the accessories to ensure success. And don’t forget the intimate honeymoon attire, which may or may not be white depending on the bride’s style.

For brides who do not give up having fun at the party, the trend is to change dresses, using a more discreet one at the ceremony and another, usually shorter, during the party. Thus, the bride enjoys all the pomp and circumstance of the church, while enjoying the hype.

It is up to the bride and groom to choose, together with godparents and godmothers, the models and colors of the clothes, standardizing or not. The groom’s outfit must stand out among the groomsmen’s outfits and that of the pages must be defined in the company of the children’s parents. Fathers and mothers of the bride and groom deserve special attention when choosing the tones used. The idea is that they stand out without taking the attention of the bride and groom.

alliances

Surprising and showing the ring to the bride only at the time of the ceremony is a charm, but if you intend to do so, make sure the ring is the right size. If you are going to use the same engagement rings, do not forget to take them to be polished so that they are as good as new at the wedding.

Wedding Invitation

The wedding invitation can be simple or personalized according to the personality of the bride and groom. Delivery must be made at least two months in advance. Confirm all addresses and, if necessary, hire a calligrapher. Your advisor can take care of the RSVP service, which is the confirmation of presence of the guests.

Gifts list

If the bride and groom need it, they can count on the help of their mothers to define the items needed to make the gift list. Any experience at this time is welcome to choose really useful things. Try to choose more than one store to give guests more choice.

Another option is the travel list, most used by newlyweds who already have everything the house needs. Each guest buys a quota for the trip or tours that will be enjoyed on the couple’s honeymoon.

Trousseau and bridal shower

Some basic items the bride should buy little by little, such as bed, table and bath items that form the trousseau. Kitchen utensils, on the other hand, usually win in the bridal shower, which can be exclusive to women or in the tea-bar model, where women give away kitchen items and men give drinks.

Details that make all the difference

In addition to everything that has already been presented, don’t forget the details of the party: happily married, souvenirs for guests and godparents, personalized or traditional cake topper, frog or Saint Anthony to play with the bouquet, prom paraphernalia, thank you cards by the presence, the vehicle that…