10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning Your Wedding

That precious moment when you say yes marks the start of your happy ever after. Gratitude, love and excitement fill your heart. However, you can feel lost and overwhelmed once the wedding planning starts. Your wedding will be one of the most important days of your life. There are too many factors and people to consider. Before you start looking for vendors or enlisting the help of a coordinator, here are some questions to ask when planning a wedding. These questions will help you better visualize what you want for your big day. 

1. What is Your Budget?

The first and most important factor you need to consider when wedding planning is your budget. Almost every aspect of your wedding will depend on how much you can spend on it. If you don’t know where to start, consider how much weddings usually cost. The average wedding cost in 2023 is $30,000, which is a little more than the previous year. You can use that amount as a benchmark, but you can definitely go below or beyond it. 

2. Who Will Shoulder the Expenses?

Every couple is different. A lot of couples nowadays split wedding costs 50/50. However, many also split it unevenly or ask the help of their parents to pay for wedding expenses. Before setting your budget, you should communicate with your fiance and respective families about who will contribute to the costs. If you’re going to bring the subject up for the first time, just speak gently and tactfully. There should be clarity and mutual respect between all parties to avoid future tensions. 

3. How Many Guests Do You Want to Invite?

Determining the number of guests isn’t just about setting the budget. It’s also about selecting the right wedding environment for you and your future spouse. Would the two of you like a big, festive wedding, or would you rather have an intimate one? At the start of your planning process, you don’t need to come up with a specific guest list yet. However, you can create a basic estimate and a general idea of your preferred wedding size. When you do so, you can better assess what kind of venue you will need and how much you will spend.

4. What Do You Want Your Wedding to Look Like?

Picture your perfect wedding. What do you see? What colors and themes does your wedding have? The look of your wedding is one of the first things you need to pin down. Once you do, you can easily decide on other details. Ideally, your wedding will have elements you and your partner love. 

Take some time to sit with your fiance. Think about your preferred color palette and theme. Once you have those down, consider what visual qualities you want your wedding to have. Do you want it to be warm, elegant or eclectic? Write down your preferences. Then, find some inspiration online based on what you’ve written.

5. Where Do You Want to Get Married?

Location is a critical factor to consider when planning your wedding. Do you want to get married at a beloved local venue, or do you want to travel to a faraway destination? If you’re one of those couples who like to keep it close to home, logistics will not be much of an issue. 

However, you must also consider logistics if you want to travel for your wedding. You will have to ask your guests to travel, and you will have to coordinate with local suppliers. It will be more of a challenge, which will all be worth it once you see your dream wedding come to life.

Another important thing you need to consider is the type of venue you want. Do you want an outdoor or indoor venue? Do you want to get married at a beach or a nearby gorgeous resort? 

6. In What Season Do You Want to Get Married?

Have you always wanted a summer wedding, or are you more of a fall enthusiast? Figuring out what time of year you want your wedding to be can help you with the early planning stages. You can determine so many details of the wedding. The location, venue, theme, design elements and even wedding time are all factors you can decide on after choosing what season you prefer.

7. What Time of Day Do You Want to Get Married?

The time of your wedding matters, too. Do you want a morning wedding, or would you prefer to get married before a golden sunset? Your choice will influence the decor, lighting, temperature control and other logistical decisions. For instance, if you get married outdoors during the day, you must consider providing cooling and shade to your guests. 

8. How Formal Do You Want Your Big Day to Be?

One factor that will tie in with your theme and location will be the dress code. How you and your guests dress will determine the vibe you want for your wedding. A more elegant venue and location might require a formal or black-tie dress code. Meanwhile, a farm wedding might suit a more casual dress code. The dress code will also determine what activities you can add to your celebration. For example, if you ask your guests to dress to the nines, having them play rowdy games may not be appropriate.

9. What Traditions Are You Following and Forgoing?

To some couples, tradition is very important. However, to some, self-expression is much more crucial. How traditional do you want your wedding to be? Do you want to follow your cultural or religious customs, or do you want to go against the grain? 

Think about certain traditions that are present in the weddings you have attended. Do you see yourself adding them to yours? For instance, many people have left behind the garter toss tradition and incorporated other symbols of commitment in its place. Some have also modified the walk down the aisle to include both bride’s parents instead of just the father.

10. What are Your Priorities?

This question should guide all other decisions you make about your wedding. What is most important to you? Some couples put greater emphasis on photos and videos. Some like to focus on the food and atmosphere. Meanwhile, other couples love to party it up and put a lot of importance on the music and drinks. 

Talk to your partner and decide what really matters to the two of you. What do you want to highlight the most in your wedding? What lasting feeling or memory do you want to impart to your guests?

Asking the Right Questions

When planning your wedding, it’s normal not to know what to do. Start asking yourself the right questions to help you deal with the overwhelming process. Talk to your fiance and write down everything you want. When you start contacting vendors, you will have a clear vision of what kind of day your wedding will be.