March 1 – National Wedding Planning Day

National Wedding Planning Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WEDDING PLANNING DAY

•   Visit The Knot for your wedding planning needs.
•   Get a FREE wedding checklist on Zola.
•   Purchase a beautiful wedding planner.
•   Consider hiring a wedding planner.  Find out how here.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM ON NATIONAL WEDDING PLANNING DAY

Embark on a journey of love and meticulous preparations as we celebrate National Wedding Planning Day! This special occasion invites couples, wedding planners, and enthusiasts to embrace the magic of orchestrating the perfect celebration of love. Whether you’re in the early stages of dreaming up your dream day or putting the finishing touches on a carefully curated event, National Wedding Planning Day is a moment to cherish the joy of organizing a union that will be remembered for a lifetime.

NATIONAL WEDDING PLANNING DAY: HISTORY OF WEDDINGS

The earliest recorded wedding ceremonies come from ancient Sumerian times and involve a ritualistic walk of the bride around a fire four times, with the couple facing away from each other for the first three circuits. It was believed that this ceremony would protect their success and fertility in the union. Later on, Ancient Egyptian weddings included processions with music and religious chanting to signify the joining of two people together under ancient gods’ watch.

These ceremonies evolved over thousands of years as societies changed to become more complex and elaborate ways of celebrating nuptials emerged. Today weddings still feature bits and pieces from human history’s great romances, but with an added personal touch to make it unique and special to couples saying “I do”.

NATIONAL WEDDING PLANNING DAY:  10 Cultural Wedding Planning Traditions

1.  Indian Mehndi Ceremony (Henna Night):
2. • In Indian weddings, the Mehndi ceremony involves applying intricate henna designs to the bride’s hands and feet. It’s a festive pre-wedding ritual symbolizing love and good fortune.
3. Japanese San-san-kudo Ceremony:
   • The Japanese san-san-kudo ceremony involves the couple taking three sips each from three different-sized cups. It symbolizes the union of two families and the sharing of joy, sorrow, and life.
4. Mexican Lasso Ceremony (El Lazo):
   • In Mexican weddings, a floral or beaded lasso is placed around the couple’s shoulders in a figure-eight shape, symbolizing their unity and eternal connection.
5. Chinese Tea Ceremony:
   • A traditional Chinese wedding includes a tea ceremony where the bride and groom serve tea to their elders as a sign of respect and gratitude. It symbolizes the joining of two families.
6. Scottish Handfasting:
   • In a Scottish wedding, the couple participates in a handfasting ceremony where their hands are tied together with ribbons or cords, symbolizing their commitment and the binding of their lives.
7. Yoruba Jumping the Broom:
   • In Yoruba culture, couples “jump the broom” as a symbolic act of sweeping away past troubles and stepping into a new life together. It’s common in African American weddings as well.
8. Swedish Wedding Coins:
   • In Sweden, it’s customary for the bride to carry coins in her shoes from her father and mother, symbolizing financial security and the unity of the couple’s families.
9. Korean Pyebaek Ceremony:
   • The Korean pyebaek ceremony involves the newlyweds bowing to their parents and presenting them with offerings. It symbolizes respect, gratitude, and the couple’s commitment to family.
10. Greek Stefana Crowning:
    • In a Greek Orthodox wedding, the couple is crowned with stefana, or wedding crowns, joined by a ribbon. It symbolizes their union and the creation of a new family.
11. Maasai Spitting Ceremony:
    • In Maasai weddings, the father of the bride spits on her head and chest as a blessing for good fortune. It’s believed to bring luck and drive away evil spirits.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WEDDING PLANNING DAY

1. Attend a Wedding Expo: Explore the latest trends and ideas in wedding planning at a local expo.
2. Renew Vows: Host a vow renewal ceremony to celebrate your marriage.
3. Create a Wedding Scrapbook: Compile photos, invitations, and mementos from your wedding day.
4. Host a Wedding Movie Marathon: Watch classic wedding-themed movies with friends and family.
5. Plan a Future Wedding: Help a friend or family member start planning their wedding.
6. Make DIY Wedding Decorations: Craft personalized wedding decorations, such as centerpieces or banners.
7. Visit a Wedding Venue: Tour a local wedding venue to gather inspiration for future events.
8. Have a Tasting Session: Sample cakes, appetizers, and other wedding foods from local vendors.
9. Attend a Bridal Fashion Show: Check out the latest wedding dress designs at a fashion show.
10. Write Love Letters: Write heartfelt letters to your spouse or partner.
11. Create a Wedding Playlist: Compile a list of songs that are meaningful to you and your partner.
12. Take Dance Lessons: Learn a new dance style to perform at your wedding or anniversary celebration.
13. Design Wedding Invitations: Create custom wedding invitations or thank-you cards.
14. Make a Wedding Vision Board: Gather images and ideas to create a vision board for your dream wedding.
15. Host a Bridal Shower: Throw a shower for a friend or family member who is getting married soon.
16. Attend a Wedding Etiquette Class: Learn about wedding etiquette and traditions from an expert.
17. Plan a Honeymoon: Research and plan a romantic honeymoon destination.
18. Create Wedding Favors: Craft unique wedding favors for guests to take home.
19. Organize a Wedding Photoshoot: Have a professional photoshoot in wedding attire to create lasting memories.
20. Write Your Own Vows: Craft personal and meaningful vows to share with your partner.
21. Decorate a Wedding Cake: Practice decorating a wedding cake with intricate designs and toppers.
22. Host a Wedding-themed Dinner Party: Prepare a meal and decorate your home with a wedding theme.
23. Visit a Bridal Salon: Try on wedding dresses and accessories for fun.
24. Plan a Surprise Anniversary Party: Organize a surprise celebration for a couple’s wedding anniversary.
25. Create a Wedding Memory Box: Collect and preserve items from your wedding day in a special memory box.
26. The Shoe Game: The couple sits back-to-back holding one of each other’s shoes, answering questions about their relationship by raising the corresponding shoe.
27. Wedding Bingo: Create bingo cards with wedding-related words or actions, and play during a wedding or bridal shower.
28. Wedding Trivia: Test guests’ knowledge with trivia questions about the couple or famous weddings.
29. Pass the Bouquet: Play a musical chairs-style game with a bouquet; when the music stops, the person holding the bouquet is out.
30. Name That Love Song: Play snippets of love songs, and guests guess the title and artist.
31. He Said, She Said: Guests guess who said specific quotes from the couple, with answers revealed by the couple.
32. Find the Guest: Create a list of unique facts about guests, and have everyone mingle to find who matches each fact.
33. Wedding Mad Libs: Create humorous stories by filling in the blanks of wedding-themed Mad Libs.
34. Bridal Pictionary: Draw and guess wedding-related words or phrases.
35. Memory Lane: Guests share their favorite memories of the couple, with the couple guessing who shared each memory.
36. Couple’s Crossword: Solve a crossword puzzle with clues related to the couple’s life and relationship.
37. Wedding Scavenger Hunt: Find items or complete tasks related to wedding themes around the venue.
38. Wedding Charades: Act out wedding-related activities or phrases without speaking.
39. Love Story Scramble: Unscramble words or phrases related to the couple’s love story.
40. Ring Toss: Set up a ring toss game with a wedding twist, using rings and bottles decorated for the occasion.
41. Who Knows the Couple Best: Guests answer questions about the couple, with a prize for the most correct answers.
42. Kiss the Bride: A blindfolded guest applies lipstick and tries to kiss a poster of the bride as close to the lips as possible.
43. Wedding Wheel of Fortune: Spin a wheel to reveal wedding-related tasks or trivia questions.
44. Couples’ Karaoke: Sing duets of popular love songs.
45. Pin the Boutonniere on the Groom: A wedding-themed version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, with a blindfolded guest trying to pin a boutonniere on a groom’s image.
46. Love Letter Scramble: Unscramble words from a love letter written by the couple.
47. Bride and Groom Facts: Share interesting facts about the bride and groom, with guests guessing which fact belongs to whom.
48. Newlywed Q&A: The couple answers questions about each other, revealing how well they know each other.
49. Wedding Day Drawing: Draw a picture of the wedding day, with the couple choosing their favorite.
50. Bouquet Toss Contest: Compete to catch a bouquet thrown from various distances or angles.
51. Personalized Wedding Invitations: Design and create custom wedding invitations with unique embellishments.
52. Handmade Boutonnieres: Craft beautiful boutonnieres using fresh or faux flowers and greenery.
53. Wedding Day Memory Box: Decorate a keepsake box to store special mementos from the wedding day.
54. Custom Wedding Signs: Paint or stencil signs for various wedding activities and locations.
55. DIY Photo Booth Props: Create fun and themed props for a wedding photo booth.
56. Floral Centerpieces: Arrange flowers and greenery into stunning centerpieces for tables.
57. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint and embellish mason jars to use as vases or candle holders.
58. Handmade Thank You Cards: Design and craft personalized thank you cards for guests.
59. Custom Wedding Programs: Print and assemble wedding programs with a unique design.
60. Bride and Groom Chair Signs: Create signs for the bride and groom’s chairs using wood or cardstock.
61. Personalized Place Cards: Craft place cards with guests’ names and table numbers.
62. DIY Wedding Favors: Make homemade candles, soaps, or other small gifts for guests.
63. Photo Garland: Print and string together photos of the couple for a decorative garland.
64. Wedding Countdown Calendar: Create a calendar to count down the days until the wedding.
65. Customized Ring Pillow: Sew or decorate a pillow for the ring bearer to carry.
66. Decorative Cake Topper: Design and craft a unique topper for the wedding cake.
67. Hand-Painted Table Numbers: Paint and decorate table numbers for the reception tables.
68. Personalized Guest Book: Design a guest book that reflects the couple’s style and theme.
69. DIY Flower Girl Basket: Decorate a basket for the flower girl to carry petals.
70. Wedding Scrapbook: Assemble a scrapbook to document the couple’s journey to the wedding day.
71. Custom Unity Candle: Decorate a unity candle set for the ceremony.
72. Decorative Backdrop: Create a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony or photo booth.
73. Personalized Wine Glasses: Etch or paint wine glasses for the bride and groom.
74. Wedding Day Emergency Kit: Assemble a kit with essentials for the bride and bridal party.
75. DIY Confetti Poppers: Make confetti poppers for guests to use during the celebration.
76. Mini Wedding Cakes: Bake and decorate individual mini wedding cakes for guests.
77. Champagne Cupcakes: Create cupcakes infused with champagne and topped with elegant frosting.
78. Heart-Shaped Cookies: Decorate heart-shaped cookies with icing and sprinkles.
79. Wedding Cake Pops: Make cake pops shaped like a wedding cake, decorated with fondant and pearls.
80. Bride and Groom Strawberries: Dip strawberries in white and dark chocolate to resemble a bride and groom.
81. Macaron Tower: Assemble a tower of delicate macarons in wedding colors.
82. Personalized Sugar Cookies: Decorate sugar cookies with the couple’s initials or wedding date.
83. Mini Quiches: Prepare bite-sized quiches with various fillings.
84. Bridal Shower Punch: Mix a refreshing punch with champagne, fruit juice, and fresh fruit.
85. Rose Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with frosting to look like roses.
86. Gourmet Cheese Platter: Arrange a variety of cheeses, fruits, and nuts on a platter.
87. Wedding Cake Truffles: Make truffles with wedding cake flavors and decorations.
88. Fruit Tartlets: Bake small fruit tartlets with a creamy filling and fresh fruit on top.
89. Monogrammed Brownies: Cut brownies into squares and decorate with the couple’s initials.
90. Savory Canapés: Create elegant canapés with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and dill.
91. Mini Donuts: Fry mini donuts and decorate with glaze and sprinkles in wedding colors.
92. Lemon Bars: Bake lemon bars with a light dusting of powdered sugar.
93. Wedding-Themed Cake: Bake and decorate a cake with fondant and intricate designs.
94. Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon: Wrap slices of melon in prosciutto for a savory-sweet appetizer.
95. Personalized Chocolate Bars: Make or order chocolate bars with personalized wrappers.
96. Berry Parfaits: Layer yogurt, granola, and fresh berries in elegant glasses.
97. Herb-Infused Breadsticks: Bake breadsticks infused with fresh herbs and serve with dipping sauces.
98. Champagne Jello Shots: Create sophisticated jello shots with champagne and fruit.
99. Decorated Petit Fours: Bake and decorate petit fours with fondant and edible flowers.
100. Themed Charcuterie Board: Arrange a charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts, styled in wedding colors.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Wedding Planning Day?  Please share them!