In a world where there is so much to do, it can be difficult to know the next steps when you’re getting married. This checklist will help! This guide includes everything from questions for both partners to ask each other to a list of tasks that need to be completed before your wedding day and even during your honeymoon.
If you follow all of these tips, you can ensure success on your big day. So, go ahead and start planning with this helpful resource.
Planning the Wedding
Plan the venue and decide on a date. Decide on the guest list. Get invitations ready. Find photographers, videographers, florists, and other professionals to help out with your wedding day.
Ask your wedding party to help out with the event. Make sure that everyone in your family knows that they have been invited.
Pick up any marriage licenses or documentation that may be required for you both to get married in the state where you will be having the ceremony.
Buy a House
You may want to buy a house together before the big wedding date to live in while you prepare for your new life as a married couple. You can also use this house as a home base while traveling and hosting guests during your honeymoon and beyond!
Pick out and purchase furniture that will go into the new house. Be sure to take measurements of doors and hallways if you’re buying big items like sectionals. Make sure things fit in well with the décor of the rest of the home.
Choose or make custom curtains, bedding, or other fun household decors such as lamps or rugs. Hire someone to paint any rooms that need freshening up (if needed). Buy dishes, glasses, silverware, pots and pans, and other kitchen supplies.
Don’t Forget the Honeymoon
After your big wedding day, you may want to take another trip before settling into married life at home with the mortgage. You can go on a cruise or travel around Europe or visit family members who live in different states (if they are willing to let you stay with them). Whatever your plans may be, make them happen sooner rather than later so you don’t forget about them.
You’ll also need time to research places that interest you since there are many options. Be sure to look for deals on flights and hotels.
Living Together After Marriage
Move all of your things (clothing, electronics, etc.) into your new shared house after the wedding. Your partner may even want to move in with you before the wedding if that’s something that works for both of your schedules.
If you’re moving into a new home together, then get any house repair projects done right away after the big event so you can enjoy living there! Ask any family or friends who are handy with tools if they could help out by doing some remodeling without charging too much money. Have them do small things like painting, hooking up light fixtures, changing faucets and kitchen appliances, adding curtains, fixing broken doors, and installing blinds on windows. This is a great way to start your life as husband and wife!
Preparing Your Finances Together
Decide on the mortgage payment amount. Find a reliable mortgage loan officer and ask questions about your best options. Open a joint account to deposit money into for mortgage payments, purchases together (furniture, electronics), and household necessities. Make sure that both of your names are on the mortgage loan agreement, so you’re both equally responsible if there is an issue with mortgage payments.
Make big purchases jointly, even furniture! Don’t hide any credit cards or other financial information from each other since it’ll only cause problems in the future when one spouse overspends without telling the other.
Go over each monthly expense together so you can create a budget plan for yourselves as husband and wife living under the same roof! Be open about what you need to cut back on to save more money. Sit down together every week to review mortgage payment status, new expenses, current bank account balance.
Create a separate savings account or get a separate mortgage loan for the wedding or honeymoon fund. Make sure that both of you know the account routing number and where this money will be used when it is given to you by family members or friends after your big day!
Moving in Together Before Marriage
Have one person move into the other’s house temporarily before getting married. This can be fun for a couple who wants to share living space while preparing for their upcoming wedding. You’ll have someone there on hand to help cook dinner or fold laundry instead of having to do these tasks by yourself.
This is a great way to test whether living together as husband and wife will work out for you! It can help you figure out if you’re compatible with each other when it comes to chores, responsibility, or socializing outside of your relationship. You may also want to record how you interact as housemates.
There are many other things to do before and after getting married that aren’t on this list. If you need more ideas, talk to a professional or browse online to learn even more about what you should prepare for.