Wedding planning 101
Your complete guide to wedding planning from start to finish. Get practical advice and insider tips for planning your dream wedding from staying within your budget to creating your gift registry to all the little details in between saying "Yes!" and "I do". Find answers to all your wedding planning questions here.
Real weddings
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The Best Parts of Wedding Planning, According to Real Couples
List
Planning a wedding can feel like a rollercoaster, so we asked 2023 engaged couples to share the best parts of making it to the big day
We spent $60K on our San Jose, CA wedding
Inspiration
A couple from Fremont, CA shares how they nearly doubled their original budget for their $60,000 wedding.
How we saved on a $10k, 200-guest wedding in Nebraska
Inspiration
A couple from Nebraska shares how they pulled off their $10k wedding.
How we planned a $265k Greek wedding in Chicago, IL
Inspiration
A couple from Chicago shares how they pulled off their $265k traditional wedding with support from loved ones.
How we pulled off our $25k Morrisville, PA Wedding
Inspiration
A couple from Morrisville, PA share how they pulled off their $25k wedding.
How we saved on our $31K wedding in Livermore, CA
Inspiration
A couple from Santa Clara, CA shares how they planned their $31K wedding in California wine country.
Creating a budget
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How Much Do Wedding Coordinators Cost (& Wedding Planners, Too!)?
Advice
Everything you need to know about the cost of a wedding planner, including the different types of coordinators, their average rates, and factors that can affect the cost.
How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost in 2024?
Advice
Stay within your wedding budget! See average wedding cost breakdowns by state, guest size, and vendor service, plus money-saving tips from the experts.
What Does The Groom’s Family Pay For? + Duties List
How-To
Learn about the different father of the groom duties with this helpful guide. Read on to discover more.
How Much Does a Rehearsal Dinner Cost?
Advice
A successful wedding means smart budgeting. Here’s what a rehearsal dinner costs according to Zola, the wedding experts!
How to Set Your Wedding Budget Step by Step
How-To
While it may not be the most exciting item on your to-do list, setting your wedding budget is essential. We’ll break down the typical expenses, guide you through the entire process from start to finish, and tell you where you can save money.
How Much Does a Wedding Officiant Cost? [2023 Rates]
wedding officiant cost
The average wedding officiant cost is around $200-$450 with all fees included. Learn more about how this cost is calculated, as well as tips to pick an officiant!
Wedding websites
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5 Creative “Our Story” Wedding Website Examples
Inspiration
Take a trip down memory lane together and read through our wedding website About Us examples to help guide and inspire you as you tell your own love story as you plan for your special day.
5 Lovely Wedding Website Bio Examples
Inspiration
Let your guests get to know your bridal party by sharing their bios on your wedding website. Read on for examples, tips, and ideas to help you get started!
How to Share Your Wedding Website
How To
Wedding websites allow you to communicate all of the details about your big day in one place. Wondering how to share your wedding website? Read ahead.
Wedding Website URL Ideas
Inspiration
Wedding websites are the preferred way for couples to organize and distribute information for their big day. Need some wedding website URL ideas?
How to Include Your Wedding Website on Your Invitation
How-To
Wondering how to share your wedding website with guests? Explore etiquette tips for how to share your wedding website on an invitation.
24 Wedding Website Examples: Themes and Designs
How-To
Need some wedding website inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite wedding website templates. Read more here.
Legal
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How to Change Your Name After the Wedding: 2025 Guide
How To
Navigate the name-changing process after marriage seamlessly. Our comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions for a smooth transition.
A Guide to Marriage Licenses
Inspiration
Your marriage license isn’t the most exciting task on your road to married life, but it is a requirement for your union to be deemed legal. So how do you go about getting a marriage license? Our guide covers it all.
What to Look For in Wedding Planner Contracts
List
Everything you need to know before signing your wedding planner contract.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage
How To
Thinking about changing your last name? Here's everything you need to know when considering a name change after marriage. Learn more.
Illinois Marriage Laws
How-To
Illinois marriage laws can be tricky, but Zola has everything you need to say “I do” in the Land of Lincoln.
How to Get a Marriage License in Ohio
How-To
Before you walk down the aisle in the Buckeye State, check out Zola’s guide to marriage licenses in Ohio.
Wedding planning tools
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6 Months Til Your Wedding? Here's Your To-Do List
List
Even when you still have six months to go until your wedding, it’s important to have a game plan. Here's our checklist of the main to-dos to focus on.
The Ultimate Wedding Weekend Timeline + 5 Sample Schedules
How-To
When it comes to making sure your wedding goes off without a hitch, creating a detailed wedding weekend timeline is key. Here’s how to do it!
25 Small Wedding Details You Don't Want to Forget
Inspiration
A lot of details go into a wedding. Don't forget the small wedding details! Add these often overlooked (but essential) items to your to-do list and check it twice.
Gender-Neutral Wedding Terms—And Where to Use Them
List
Switching out traditionally gendered terms can actually be a fun and validating part of wedding planning! From save the dates to seating charts, here are all the gender-neutral terms and tips you can use at every stage of the planning process.
The Small Wedding Checklist You Need
Inspiration
There are many benefits to having a small wedding. To get you started, here's our wedding planning checklist and things to consider.
Wedding planning questions
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How Many People Should I Invite to My Wedding?
Advice
What's the average wedding size? How do you decide who to invite? Here's everything you need to know about guest lists and who to invite.
The Bridesmaid Duties: A Full Breakdown
Inspiration
Being a bridesmaid means agreeing to a fairly long list of responsibilities. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of bridesmaid duties.
Period Coming On Your Wedding Day? Here's What to Do
How-To
Periods happen—even on your wedding day. Here's expert advice on how to manage your period on your wedding day and how to keep calm about the situation.
How to Choose The Best Wedding Month
Getting Started
Choosing your wedding month and date is a crucial first step in the wedding planning process. Here's how to decide on the best time of the year to get married.
How Much To Tip Wedding Vendors
Inspiration
Confused on how much to tip wedding vendors, which vendors to tip, and when to distribute tips? Fear not: explore our guide for tipping wedding vendors.
Bridal Party vs. Wedding Party: What's the Difference?
Inspiration
What's the difference between a wedding party & a bridal party? Learn more & get expert planning tips to help you prepare for the big day.
Not Inviting Family to Your Wedding: Do's and Don'ts
How-To
When creating your wedding guest list, you have to decide what family members to invite to your special day.
How Many Guests Should I Expect to Come to My Wedding?
Advice
There are many factors that determine the average wedding size. One of the biggest ones? The percentage of invited guests that actually attend.
Wedding decorations
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Average Cost of Wedding Decorations
Advice
Wedding decoration costs can include everything from flowers, to string lights and tablecloths. Read on to find out the average cost of wedding decorations.
75 Wedding Themes to Inspire Every Type of Couple
Wedding Style
Looking for wedding themes to suit your personality and style? Zola has you covered with 75 of the best wedding theme ideas from classic to artsy to seriously unique.
DIY Mason Jar Cocktail Kits Your Guests Will Adore
Food + Drink
Putting together party favors for your wedding or bachelorette party can quickly get overwhelming. These mason jar cocktail kits are the perfect solution to showing you care without too much fuss.
10 Non-traditional Second Wedding Ideas
Inspiration
Looking for some non-traditional second wedding ideas? You’ve come to the right place.
How to Create a Wedding Vision Board for Your Big Day
How To
We’ve outlined how to create a vision board and included helpful templates and printables so you can conceptualize your big day and turn it into a reality!
The Pros and Cons of a Potluck Wedding
Wedding Traditions
The concept of a potluck wedding is gaining traction—and there’s good reason why. Couples choose to have a potluck wedding in order to save costs, include more friends and family in their day-of activities, offer a wider variety of dishes to their hungry guests, and create a shared sense of community.
Wedding day
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8 Wedding Ceremony Scripts to Borrow & Printables
How-To
Find beautiful wedding ceremony scripts ranging from unique to traditional. Print and borrow them, or get inspiration to write your own!
12 Tips on What to Put in Your Wedding Welcome Bags
Inspiration
Greet your guests with thoughtfully curated wedding welcome bags. Find perfect favors & essentials to delight your guests as they join your celebration.
10 Tips on How to Walk Down the Aisle
How-To
Learn how to walk down the aisle with confidence on your wedding day. Practice these tips and to shake wedding nerves and look incredible in your photos.
56 Unique Wedding Memorial Ideas to Honor Loved Ones
How-To
Honor cherished memories at your wedding with thoughtful memorial ideas. Create a meaningful tribute to late loved ones on your special day.
A Guide to the Ideal Wedding Photography Timeline
Advice
Your wedding photos are an important part of your big day. Learn more about how to plan a timeline that ensures you will have plenty of time to get the photos you want.
Affordable Rehearsal Dinner Ideas
List
A rehearsal dinner should be about excitement and anticipation—not the costs. Here are cheap rehearsal dinner ideas from Zola.
Find even more wedding ideas, inspo, tips, and tricks
We’ve got wedding planning advice on everything from save the dates to wedding cakes.