Whether you want a brilliant wedding with the best-dressed guests in the biggest ballroom, or a small, romantic affair in an outdoor garden, begin your Pittsburgh wedding planning with the big picture and work your way down to the details.
Announce Your Engagement
You're engaged and you want the whole world to know! Rather than just shouting it from rooftops, here are some more effective ways to announce your engagement, and the etiquette of whom to tell first.Tips for Letting the World Know
Choose a Date
You've just said "yes" it's time to select the big day. This is one of the most important decisions you will make as you plan your wedding. Not only will it be the first question everyone will ask you, but you'd be surprised how difficult it will be to make any progress on planning your wedding without knowing the date. Just make sure you think twice before selecting a holiday weekend.Wedding Dates to Avoid
Set a Budget
OK This isn't exactly the fun part of planning a wedding. But it will help you figure out what type of wedding you can afford, and who will be paying for what. Since married people fight about money more than anything else, you don't want to start your marriage with a huge wedding debt.Easy Wedding Budget Worksheet
The Setting
Your wedding venue will set the scene. When choosing the location for your Pittsburgh wedding and reception consider the type of wedding you want, including your personal style, budget, and the size of your guest list. Beautiful settings around the greater Pittsburgh area include historic estates, Victorian mansions, elegant clubs, grand ballrooms, and charming gazebo gardens. A number of more unique settings are available too, from riverboats and museums, to historic train stations and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Keep in mind that many popular reception sites book up a year or more in advance so don't wait!Pittsburgh Wedding & Reception Sites
The Ceremony
Whether you want a religious ceremony in a church, or to be married more informally in a garden or other setting, you need to start by choosing your officiant. They can help you with specific rules and procedures that need to be followed. You also need to get a marriage license, plan your vows, select your rings, and create a program. Here's everything you need to know about planning your wedding ceremony from processional to recessional.Planning the Wedding Ceremony
