How to Plan a Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide

Planning begins with a conversation. Talk with each other about what matters most, what kind of celebration you imagine, what your priorities are, and how family and friends will be involved.

You'll make dozens of decisions during wedding planning. Agreeing early on how you'll set priorities, handle differences, listen to one another, and make choices together can make the entire process easier.

Before committing to major expenses, determine what you can comfortably spend, who will contribute and which parts of the wedding matter most to you.

Consider how much of the planning you want to handle yourselves and whether a wedding planner, designer or coordinator could help. The right level of professional assistance depends on your wedding, budget and how much time you have.

Apps and online tools can help with budgets, timelines, guest lists and other details, but you don't need to use every tool available. Choose a planning system that makes the process simpler rather than more complicated.

Your guest list affects your venue, catering and budget, so establish it relatively early. Decide together who you want to include and how you'll handle family expectations and difficult choices.

Decide whether you'll use printed invitations, electronic invitations or a combination. Establish a system for addresses, responses and other guest information so you don't have to reconstruct it later.

Your officiant does much more than stand at the front of the ceremony. Choose someone who understands the kind of ceremony you want, can help you create it and meets the legal requirements for officiating where you will be married.

Now you can begin deciding what will actually happen during the ceremony, from the opening words and vows to the exchange of rings and pronouncement. Make the ceremony reflect your relationship, beliefs and personalities.

As the wedding approaches, determine whether you need a rehearsal and who should attend. If you're having a rehearsal dinner or gathering, decide on the location, timing, food and who will host.

Check the legal requirements where you will be married, including identification, application procedures, waiting periods and expiration dates. Requirements vary by location, so don't leave this until the last minute.

You've planned, made decisions and handled countless details. When the wedding day arrives, allow yourself to experience it rather than trying to manage every detail. Something unexpected may happen. That's okay. The goal isn't a technically perfect wedding; it's celebrating your commitment with the people you've chosen to have around you.

After the photographs have been taken, the celebration has ended and the thank-you notes have been sent, you get to begin the part that matters most: your marriage. Carry forward some of the things that helped you plan the wedding together: talking, listening, making decisions together, expressing gratitude and remembering what matters most to both of you.