How to Plan an Out-of-State Wedding

Planning your perfect day doesn't mean planning to have it in the state where you live. Maybe you live in Indiana and your dream venue is in Oklahoma, with no worries. With a little patience and guidance, it will be the perfect day no matter where you have it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. If you have picked the state but aren't sure of the venue, start doing some research. Get plenty of contact info for places in which you are very interested. Get to know those people on a first-name basis.
2. Consult a friend or relative who may live in that area. They can offer ideas of their own and help bridge some gaps caused by long distance planning.
3. Send "save the date" cards to everyone because this wedding will be out of state for almost all of your guests.
4. Consult bridal magazines for wedding venues outside your state. You may get lucky and find a few locations that didn't pop up in your previous research.
5. Get things in writing. Whether you're emailing your contacts or just requesting invoices and contracts, make and keep copies of all of these things.
6. Try to set aside a week or so a few months before your wedding to meet with your contacts and finalize things early. Try to do the same the week before your wedding, to tie up any loose ends.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're on a tight budget, keep track of your expenses with a journal or handy notebook. Out-of-state weddings can rack up expenses in no time.
• Be willing to be a little flexible. It will be harder to plan a wedding out of state, so try to have a bit more of an open mind when it comes to how you want things done.

Who Can Help:

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