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wedding planning from a man's perspective


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wedding planning from a man's perspective

As a man, I know next to nothing about planning a wedding. My fiancée and I agreed that we would work together to plan our wedding. She provided me with a long list of things that I was to do independently, a list that she was going to take care of, and a list that we would work on together. The minute she handed me these three sheets of paper, I knew that we were in for a long six months. That was when I started talking to her about hiring someone to help us with the planning of our wedding. Visit our blog to find out how we worked together with a planner to make our day the best it could be.

Deciding To Elope: Consider These Don'ts Before You Say "I Do"

The decision to elope can be very freeing and exhilarating. Instead of spending months or even longer planning a large wedding, complete with a fancy reception for your family and friends, you can choose to start your marriage with a ceremony for just you and your spouse. Sometimes obstacles come up during the elopement process that take couples by surprise. Be prepared for what your decision has in store for you be checking out this list of things that you should not do.

1. Don't depend on a positive response from everyone.

It can definitely hurt if your closest family members and friends are less than thrilled with your decision to run off to get married, whether you do it locally or far away from home. Prepare for this in advance by being aware of the possibility that your announcement might be met with silence or shock, rather than joy and good wishes. Of course, the initial sting should wear off at some point in the near future; at this point, you should expect support and happiness, in most cases.

2. Don't forget to look into the legalities of eloping in your destination state or country.

In most cases, you cannot simply show up at your venue of choice on a whim and be married. Some states require blood tests or a waiting period. If you want to get married in Las Vegas, a popular destination for couples wanting to elope, you need to go to the courthouse with appropriate identification in advance of your wedding. 

3. Don't neglect to arrange for photos.

Even if you are purposely being spontaneous, you are absolutely going to want to look back at photos sometime in the future, plus your friends and family will want to see them. Many wedding chapels will handle this for you, so be sure to ask. If not, ask around to find a local photographer who is available for your wedding. Another option is to ask a friend or witness to take photos for you. Whatever you do, be sure to commemorate the occasion with photos.

4. Don't announce your elopement on social media before you let the important people know.

Your parents, siblings and best friends do not want to read about your huge news on your social media pages. Plan how and when you plan to break the news. Some couples choose to call right before saying, "I do," while others will phone home or text photos immediately after. Either way, don't make the mistake of letting word get around via the Internet before you get the chance to tell your close family and friends yourself.

5. Don't be shy about throwing yourself a post-wedding bash.

If you had gotten married in a church or at a reception hall, you would most likely have a reception of some sort. If you want to celebrate with a crowd, go ahead and book yourself a party! If you would rather have a nice dinner with the people closest to you or a cookout in your backyard, those are perfectly fine options, too. Your friends and family will be looking forward to congratulating you and spending time with the two of you as a married couple, so go ahead and do it your way.

Choosing to elope does take some planning, so don't be caught off guard by the need to fill out paperwork and avoid hurt feelings. Knowing what to expect in advance can make your day as stress-free as possible, which is usually the point of eloping in the first place!

Visit this site to learn more about planning an elopement.