You said yes!
Congratulations 🙂
And now you have to start planning your wedding.
It’s never easy planning for what’s going to be, one of the key milestones of your life. We all want it to be perfect and that alone gives couples a lot of stress.
So here are 7 considerations that you should note.
“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” – Charles Kettering
#1 – Expectations
The highlight of your wedding will and should definitely be you and your fiance. Before you start planning your wedding, discuss your ideal wedding ceremony with your other half to ensure that both of you want the same thing.
During this process, you will be able to understand your partner’s ideal wedding scene. There may be a need for compromise, but you should be able to identify key features that both you and your fiance would want in your wedding. This is also a good time for the both of you to identify things that are important to you, vs things that are not essential for your wedding. Examples include Wedding photos, food, wedding favors for your guests, etc.
Knowing these would ease your decision-making process when planning your wedding budget.
Beyond that, do keep the expectations of your immediate family and in-laws in mind. (Especially in Asia) Don’t forget the wedding rituals that may be expected of you: Chinese, Malay, Hindu
There may be traditional practices or customs that your family members would love for you to follow. It is good to talk to the family of both you and your fiance to understand what they expect at your wedding.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
#2 – Wedding Day Schedule
During the actual wedding day, you may need to partake in various ‘standard’ wedding practices (such as paying respects and asking for blessings from your elders, your solemnisation, etc). These practices may not be carried out at the location of your wedding ceremony.
Hence, before deciding on the style of your wedding ceremony, you would first need to understand what needs to be done during the day of your wedding and plan your wedding day schedule.
Knowing this allows you to make better decisions when selecting the services for your wedding;
- Would you need a hotel room (sometimes included in a hotel wedding package) the night before your wedding?
- How many locations would your photographer need to cover on the wedding day?
- What time would you need the buffet and mobile coffee bar to be set up on your wedding day?
- etc
“Surround yourself with good people who encourage and love you. There are always ups and downs, no matter how successful you are.” – Liana Liberato
#3 – Guest List (Who)
How many people do you expect at your wedding?
Would you like a simple wedding surrounded by close relatives or a bigger party with many more friends?
With your partner, you should be able to pinpoint several key guests that you would love at your wedding as well.
Knowing these will give you an idea of how much food you’d need to cater, the types of activities you’d probably want at your wedding, etc.
Have a quick discussion with your fiance to get an estimate of the number of guests that you will be expecting at your wedding.
And, this indirectly ties in with the next point.
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
#4 – Location (Where)
What is your dream wedding like?
When planning your wedding, give yourself room to indulge in your dreams.
Where would your ideal wedding be held?
- Would you like a simple wedding in a cosy event hall located in your neighbourhood?
- Would you prefer a grand ceremony or banquet held in a hotel?
- Do you dream of an outdoor wedding with a garden setting?
- Do you yearn to say your vows on the calm seas while facing the never ending horizon?
Your choice of wedding location comes with varying cost.
Most venues or facilities require pre-booking, some years in advance. It is important to explore your options before choosing one that both you and your fiance love.
“I drink to the general joy o’ the whole table.” – Macbeth
#5 – Setting (What)
Now that you know where you’d like your wedding to be held and have a rough idea of who you’d be inviting, consider the setting of your wedding.
Some questions to ask when thinking about your wedding setting:
- Would it be a ‘seat-down’ event where guests have their meal served to them at their table?
- Would it be a buffet style wedding where guests can help themselves to the food?
- Would your guests be allocated to a specific seat or would it be a ‘free and easy’ wedding where your guests can either choose their seats or roam around the wedding venue at their whim?
- Would you want to be able to interact with all your guests?
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
#6 – Time (When)
When would your wedding ceremony be? Would it be a luncheon or a dinner? And how long would it last?
Having a clear idea of your wedding day schedule would help at this point.
“Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” – Joe Biden
#7 – Price (How)
Now that you know what you’d want in your wedding, it’s time to discuss with your partner and decide on a budget for your wedding.
Some couples prefer a simple wedding while allocating more funds to their honeymoon while others prefer to throw a party with their friends and loved ones. Your budget should suit your expectations and wants and also be in line with your financial beliefs.
You would want to be able to enjoy your wedding ceremony without having to worry about incurring any debt or eat up a huge chunk of your savings.
Conclusion
We’d all have the dream wedding in mind. However, we may have to deal with constraints in the form of the 7 considerations mentioned in this post.
There will be decisions to be made and compromises that have to be given. When planning your wedding, always look for alternative ways to work around your situations.
P.S. Want to keep your guests caffeinated and happy during your wedding ceremony? We provide mobile coffee carts serving specialty coffee and traditional kopi live stations too, contact us for a no-obligations quote now.
