Just got hitched? Or were you just informed that you just got hitched? Freaking out about the shit-ton of things that you have to do before the ceremony? Well, don’t worry! Your friendly neighbourhood candid wedding photographer is here to save the day! Over the last few years, I’ve seen so many weddings and couples, I’ve lost count. Some were clients, and some were close friends, but at one point of time, they all were in the same boat as you are now. And you know what? They all managed to wade through it one way or another. So lay back, relax, sip on your Earl Grey Tea (or Margarita) and read these simple steps to have a stress-free wedding.

Save the Date

This is the most important part of planning your wedding. You need to select a date to give you enough time to prepare, and one that allows all or most of your guests to attend. Selecting a date too close by will have two negative effects. First, it will increase your costs across the board. Second, your preferred vendors might not be available. The same applies when you choose popular days like special “muhurtham” days or National holidays.

Trimming the Guest list

You need to decide how many people will be coming and what ceremonies they’ll be attending. One trend I’ve seen is that all the guests get invited for the reception, but only a selected few for the wedding. You need to juggle your budget to figure out what works. Approximate numbers are enough to decide the size of the venue, the food spread & caterers, and total budget. A plethora of online tools now exist to help you plan your wedding. RSVP lists can be made, sent and tracked online at the click of a few buttons. Some websites you can check out are evite , RSVPify, and freeRSVP . Don’t want to experiment too much? Just use Facebook’s event feature to get a head count (everyone from my grandmother to my great aunt is on Facebook now)!

Venue and Vendors

This is the decision that could make or break your wedding. BUT DON’T WORRY! Everything is so simple now. Websites such as wedmegood  have extensive lists and reviews, making your decision an easy task. For example, you can just see a list of professional photographers in Bangalore with a click. If you and your spouse live busy lives, then you should hire a wedding planner to shoulder all your burdens. Another important decision you will make is the choice of your wedding photographer. Here, it isn’t as simple as going with the highest rated or best candid wedding photographer. You need a photographer who understands you, and is able to bring out your unique stamp in their photographs. You might want to take a look at a series of articles I’ve posted about finding the best wedding photographer and getting the best wedding photographs . You should finalize all your vendors as soon as possible. That includes the florist, caterers, interior decorators, wedding dress makers, et al.

That’s it from your friendly neighbourhood candid wedding photographer for now! Do tune in next week for the conclusion of this two-part series on planning an Indian Wedding. Meanwhile, you can read the rest of my blog or look through my portfolio  to bide the time!