Planning a wedding involves numerous components, but at its core, a few essential elements make up the structure of most wedding celebrations.
Here are five main things you need for a wedding:
- Venue: You need a place to get married. This can be a traditional venue like a church, hotel, reception hall, or something less conventional, like a beach, a park, or a family member’s backyard. The venue often sets the tone for the rest of the wedding.
- Officiant: Someone needs to officiate the wedding legally. This person’s role guides the ceremony and usually pronounces you married. Depending on your beliefs and local laws, this might be a religious figure, a civil officiant, or even a friend or family member ordained for the occasion.
- Marriage License: In most locations, you need a marriage license to validate your marriage legally. The process to obtain this varies by location, so be sure to research your area’s requirements well before your wedding date.
- Rings: While not legally required, wedding rings are a traditional symbol of marriage and are usually exchanged during the ceremony. Depending on your style and budget, they can be simple or elaborate.
- Witnesses: Most places require that you have at least two witnesses present to sign the marriage license. Often, these are members of the wedding party, but they could be any two adults present at the ceremony.
Beyond these essentials, other common elements of a wedding might include attire (like a wedding dress or suit), food and drink, music, flowers, photography, and a guest list. Every wedding is unique; plan a day that feels true to you and your partner, whatever that may include.