it to immediate family, including grandparents,
aunts and uncles and first cousins. You may also
want to invite close friends. If finances are an issue,
consider a brunch or a cocktail party with passed
appetizers instead of a full sit-down dinner.
2. Set the date: Once you decide you're getting
married, you should consider when you want the
big day to occur. This can depend on what month
of the year you enjoy or when you think you may
have saved enough to cover the cost of the wedding
itself. Prime months include the spring and sum-
mer. If you want to have your wedding relatively
soon, you may find that certain dates are already
booked up for houses of worship and reception
halls. Choose an off-peak time of the year, such as
January, March, November or December, instead.
3. Establish a budget: The scope of your wed-
ding will depend largely upon what you can afford.
Many of today's average weddings range from
$25,000 to $35,000. Make a list of all the costs you
will have: wardrobe, clergy fees, reception hall,
flowers, photography, gifts for wedding party, trans-
portation, honeymoon, etc. Figure that the majori-
ty of the costs will be around $2,000 each (exclud-
ing the reception site, honeymoon and ceremony).
Seeing the end cost will help you develop a plan for
saving. Keep in mind that many of the payments
and deposits are made over time, so you won't have
to come up with the lump sum all at one time.
4. Wedding sites: Once you have a date and
budget, your next step is to make arrangements
with the church, synagogue or other place where
the ceremony will take place. Most houses of wor-
ship prefer you secure the day with them before
booking your reception site. Many places book a
year or more in advance, so it is important to shop
around and secure your locations as soon as possi-
ble. When looking at reception locations, it helps
to have a preliminary idea of how many people
you'll be inviting to the wedding so you can com-
pare costs and decide on room sizes. Certain places
offer lower rates for Friday and Sunday than
Saturday night. This can help to keep your recep-
tion more budget-friendly.
5. Photography, Music, Flowers, Limos,
Hairstylist: Some wedding vendors book up as fast
as reception sites, particularly if they come well
recommended. Secure your date for services with
these people shortly after you reserve your ceremo-
ny and reception site. Vendors will likely require a
deposit and balance paid before the wedding.
6. Wardrobe: The ladies in the wedding will
need to browse for and decide on gowns roughly 6
to 8 months before the wedding. This allows time
for the dresses to be ordered and alterations to be
made. Gentleman can typically shop for tuxedo
rentals a month before the wedding.
7. Registry: If you want to select gifts from a spe-
cific store, register for them as far in advance as
possible. This way if people want to give you gifts
from the registry in advance of the wedding, they'll
know what to choose. Definitely register by 2 to 3
months before the wedding, because this is when
the bridal shower is typically held.
8. Stationery: Order your invitations, save-the-
date cards, etc. 5 to 6 months before the wedding
so you have time to check the proofs and ensure
they're printed correctly. Wedding invitations are
usually mailed out 1 to 2 months prior to the event.
It is customary to stamp the RSVP card so that
guests simply put it in the mail.
9. Religious requirements: Some houses of wor-
ship require classes or retreats before a wedding cer-
emony to prepare the couple for marriage in a reli-
gious sense. Make sure these tasks are completed.
10: Honeymoon: It used to be the groom's task
to book the honeymoon, but most couples do it
together these days. Book the honeymoon and
apply for passports if necessary, several months in
advance.
11. Seating arrangements: This can be one of
4
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