Getting married is an important milestone in one’s life. It’s about showing commitment to a person you love with all your heart, so no wonder every bride wants her wedding day to be absolutely perfect. But more often than not – planning a wedding drives huge amounts of stress to us. Once you’re done making your guest list, it’s time to book a photographer, choose the perfect dress, pick the decorations and decide on the overall wedding style, hire the right catering, etc. There truly is a number of things to think about, but it helps if you break them in bigger chunks. Breathe deeply and relax: here’s the checklist for your dream wedding. 
Have an Honest Conversation With Your Future Spouse
You know the famous “expectation vs. reality” reference? Once you and your partner put all your ideas on paper, it’s time for a reality check. According to The Knot’s research, the average cost of a wedding is $35.329. Now, that isn’t a figure you can disregard easily. After you put down everything on paper, get mentally prepared to kick some things out of your list. Before starting to plan your wedding, have a genuine talk with your future spouse and acknowledge their vision of the wedding.
Deciding on the Menu
When thinking about food options, try avoiding the following three mistakes: don’t offer too many food options, don’t be too sensitive about everybody’s preferences, and don’t let other people make the choice for you by convincing you into choosing what they think is right. Food is an important part of the wholesome experience you want to create for your guests, so if you don’t want to risk it, consider catering for weddings and leave it to the professionals. Basically, you need to take three main things in mind: the number of people, possible dietary restrictions or allergies, and of course – the number and type of courses.
Picking the Right Dress
This might be the most stressful part of the wedding planning. But the key is finding a fit that suits your figure. Brides tend to find a stunning dress in a catalogue and they decide on it, but once they put it on – they get very disappointed. Focus on the flattering parts of your body and try to enhance them with the right choice of materials and details. For example, if you have a pear figure, you would look lovely in ball gowns or A-line dresses, while those with an hourglass figure will look dazzling in mermaid dresses. 
Finding the Perfect Venue
The venue should fulfil two main requirements: it should be in line with your overall wedding style and big enough to accommodate all your guests. For the sake of the budget, try thinking out of the box. You can always turn a not-so-impressive venue into something extraordinary with a little bit of creativity and savvy decorating. Offbeat weddings can be interesting because of their authenticity, so you don’t have to be a slave to the traditional wedding forms. That’s where some fine tuning steps such as minding the style of invitations, place cards, and other details can truly wow your guests and create a long-lasting impression.
Hiring the Right Staff
Every wedding needs a photographer and a band (or a DJ), but hiring the right ones can be a bit tricky. Logically, you should ask for a portfolio and definitely listen to the several different music performances before deciding. Be explicit about the budget and don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to pay for hidden costs. Make sure to read through the contract carefully and prevent any possible malversations. It’s always advisable to hire someone through recommendation. 
Having a checklist is useful as writing things down makes any task easier and less scary. Use this checklist as a starting point for further planning, and all the pieces of the puzzle will naturally come together. Calmly organize yourself and remember – you’re stepping in holy matrimony and nothing should spoil that. Not even if the flowers arrive in the wrong colour.
