America is known as the melting pot of the world. Of course, Asheville weddings are sure to reflect this reputation. As an experienced wedding planner and floral designer, we know how to offer any bride or groom a perfect wedding experience. Read on to find out what to do the year before a wedding.

Weddings in different cultures and countries:

Weddings around the world can look very different from one another. Even weddings in the same culture can be very contrasting. So what makes these ceremonies and intentions seem so different once compared in Asheville, North Carolina?

Asheville is a little melting pot in itself. There are many couples that have similar style but completely varying desires for their big day. For example, some couples do not wish to wear physical rings. Others may wear inexpensive mood rings because as an intentional decision.

Every event has a beginning and an end. No matter the extent, there is always planning involved. This is even the case for elopements.

Vow renewals and anniversary parties require at least one hour of planning. For a wedding involving vows of all sorts, there must be a venue. That venue can even be as modest as a 400 square feet living room.

However, this modest and simple vow exchange required at least an hour of planning. What is the attire? What time does it start and end? Who is invited?

The point is, plans get very complicated and wedding planners must adapt to fit the needs of each couple. Most couples choose to celebrate with a reception.

A basic reception could be hosted in the next room over, the dining room. There could be little to no food with less than 10 guests. This still counts as a reception and takes some planning along with coordination.

BobbyMark’s wishes to create a dreamy wedding experience for all types of individuals in love. Our luxurious, yet down to earth, wedding planning professionals, Mark Arrington and Bobby Hill, are LGBTQ+ friendly and cater to the Asheville area but are wiling to discuss travel once spoken with.

The year before a wedding:

At the very moment you become engaged, or before, Mark is there to guide you in the entire process of wedding planning. Whether you choose to go with a civil or religious ceremony, it is likely to incorporate some of the same order of events. Today, we are going to review a traditional order of events for the year leading up to the wedding day.

Some of these elements may capture your attention. Others may seem very disposable. Keep track of what means the most to you and your fiancé.

Engagement party:

First off, when a traditional couple gets engaged in the United States, they usually have a engagement party. An engagement party can be a dinner party, a brunch, or a full-on event. Whatever fits your taste, it should be help no later than one to three months after getting engaged.

If the lovebirds wait too long for the engagement party, the wedding could be a few years away. Most couples only wait a year to get married after getting engaged. On average, couples get engaged at 28 or 29 years old. Plus, eighty-four percent of these couples live together before getting married.

Couples should discuss what their wishes are. Engagement party or not, it’s time to consider a bridal shower. A tradition couple will consider a bridal shower. The bridal shower can be planned by the wedding planner, the MOB (mother of the bride), MOG (mother of the groom), or all of the above.

Three months before the big day:

The bridal shower should be held no later than three months before the big day. Scheduling this fun day of showering gifts, love, and support should be exciting. It shouldn’t conflict with her tastings, fittings, and other appointments.

The bride should ask their bridal party to join in as soon as they are engaged. The same goes for the groom. Giving the wedding party enough time to plan is very considerate and in the couple’s best interest. Often times, if you wait until six months before the big day, it is too late for the groomsman or bridesmaid to save money and make plans with work.

Next to do the year before a wedding, the bachelor and bachelorette. The bachelor and bachelorette parties should be held around three to four months before the wedding day. This event is pretty flexible. Do not get carried away and pull a movie stunt. The month of the wedding can pose plenty of threats to the occasion.

Refrain from getting too much sun or partaking in dangerous activities before the big day. After all, most of the wedding elements is non-refundable. For couples needing more financial assistance, many wedding parties throw a Stag and Doe event.

A Stag and Doe event is a fundraiser to raise money for the wedding costs. This event should be thrown at least two months before the big event. The wedding party is in charge of planning this, so they can invite people that are not invited to the wedding. More the merrier!

A welcome party is most often for destination weddings. However, for couples wanting to milk the partying, a welcome party can be thrown before or after the rehearsal dinner. Consider the possibility for hangovers, so plan wisely.

The rehearsal dinner follows the rehearsal the day or night before the wedding ceremony and reception. This is usually very intimate and only includes the wedding party and immediate family members. This is the last formal “thank you” effort for family and the wedding party.

Next time:

We hope this “how to plan for what to do the year before a wedding” article is helpful. Come back next time for more traditional wedding planning information. Follow up next week for how-to’s and guidelines many use for wedding planning inspiration.

Staff Writer