This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

Your wedding will be an unforgettable and magical experience because of the significance behind the event; you’re marrying the one you love. But that doesn’t mean the finer details of the big day are inconsequential. Yes, getting married is obviously the most important part of the day, but the little details that contribute to creating a special day still count too. Here’s how to nail every last part of your wedding.

1. The venue

Let’s start off with the venue, since it's often the piece that kicks off the entire planning process. You can’t be sure of a date until you reserve your venue, after all. As soon as you get engaged, start looking at venues and find out what their availability is for the season you want to get married. Your perfect venue might only have one Saturday left that's available next summer, so that might just determine your wedding date.

2. The rings

Your wedding rings are more of a symbolic token for you and your partner than an aspect of the wedding that impacts all of your guests, but they still matter on the big day--and they still use up some of your budget, so don't forget about them. Your wedding ring could match the engagement ring, but it doesn't have to. In this modern age, it's easy to look online and find inspiration photos you love. Nowadays, there are more options for mens' rings too...you can go simple and classic with a plain gold band, or more unique with diamonds, different metals, or a hammered pattern.

3. The memories

I think a good way to narrow down the rest of the decisions is to think about the memories you want to make. What experiences have you loved at other people's weddings? What's the overall vibe you want to have? For a casual summer wedding, you might choose wildflowers in mason jars, food trucks, and an ice cream bar. You might have a horseshoes station, bocce ball, and other lawn games. An elegant indoor affair will lead to totally different choices. Maybe you'll have white peonies, crystal chandeliers, and a tower of macarons for dessert. Maybe you could set up a pretty backdrop for guests to take photos at (like at prom, haha). No matter what your style is, think about how to make your wedding memorable and fun for your guests of all ages.

4. The photos

Speaking of memories, another important expense is photography (and maybe videography too). Capturing all the special moments of your wedding is something you can't DIY...and trust me, you will treasure the photos. One day, you'll show them to your kids, and on anniversaries you can reminisce and remember every last detail. A professional wedding photographer (like Vittore Buzzi photographer) is ideal: someone with a portfolio of high-quality, gorgeous photos. But if budget is tight, you can also look for photographers who are looking to break into the wedding industry--just make sure they're not brand new to photography itself. Perhaps they have experience with another type of photography like senior photos or family photos. These days, it's also popular to have friends and family post their photos on social media with a specific hashtag, so you can easily gather more photos from your special day.

5. The food

Food is undeniably important. If you want your wedding to be unforgettable for positive reasons, then you need to feed your guests well! Get creative and think outside the "wedding food" box. What about a giant charcuterie board that spans a whole dining table? Or teriyaki chicken and rice? Maybe you could custom-design your cake to showcase your interests--like if you're both hikers, the cake could be decorated with trees. Think about what food you actually like, and don't just go with the traditional recommendations. Your wedding should be a reflection of your tastes!

6. The personal touches

Every part of your wedding will be personalized in some way, but you can think of additional ideas that’ll set your day apart. The small details really make a difference when it comes to creating a memorable day for you, your spouse, and all your guests. Maybe you end the evening with a sparkler send-off. Maybe you have a station for the kids with coloring pages and crayons (bonus points if the coloring page is an illustration of you two!). Maybe you create a custom stamp of your initials that you use as a signature piece of branding across the invitations and decor. Maybe you have a slideshow with photos of you both from childhood til now, or you bring out freshly baked cookies at the end of the evening. There are tons of possibilities...it's really up to you!

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