Planning a wedding isn't easy. If you and your spouse can sit down and plan the basics of your wedding alone then that's a good thing. You could always sit down with a wedding planner to help hash out the details as well. Getting help is never a bad thing, and we're going to offer some simple guidelines to help you work through the process.

In all areas of life, whether they be social, economic, or spiritual, you must decide as a couple ‘are you the same or are you different?’ Let’s say you’re the groom and you come from the city. You may want a large wedding in a church. However your bride comes from a small town and would feel more comfortable with a backyard wedding. So you compromise with say a bed and breakfast, size depending on the number of guests. Or maybe the groom makes a lot of money and the bride lives a more simple life; you would not want too much extravagance that might make her feel awkward and out of place. In each area, there should be agreement or compromise.

You must take into consideration the religious aspect as well. With mixed faith couples it is wise to research well in advance what is permissible in your respective faiths. Let love do its work, but know this issue has a way of festering and weakening the bond you are creating. Once you get past those hurdles the other four are more practical – theme, budget, size and season.

For some, theme is all important. It can take on any number of variations. It’s all really up to your imagination. Once you’ve decided on a theme you can then research it or have your wedding planner give you suggestions. Themes can range from a medieval castle to a flowery garden to a more conventional chapel and cathedral.

The budget is all important as it will dictate what kind of wedding you have and how big it will be. Will the wedding be large or small? Will there be a five or seven course meal, open bar or limited, quartet or orchestra, lavish dresses or simple? Be realistic and stick to your budget. And by all means, even if you are not the planner, make it known what you are comfortable with. You do not want a bunch of profiteering while you get a wedding that does not suit you.

Now we come to the size of the wedding. Again, it has to be asked ‘what kind of people are you?’ A large wedding can be a memorable experience for a lot of people and start you off with a bang. On the other hand a small wedding provides affordability, intimacy, and more meaningful socializing, not to mention the reduced stress. These can take place in backyards, bed and breakfasts, at the beach, in a boat, a garden, or a chapel to name a few.

Finally you’ll want to plan what season you want to have your wedding: tropical, spring, autumn colors, Easter, Christmas, or wintry. What season do you enjoy the most? Or brings fond memories? When choosing be sure to go over inclement weather plans.

Be sure to enjoy the planning process without being to set on results. Strive to make it an inspiring celebration for all.