With the rise of online dating, long-distance relationships have become more popular too. According to one study, nearly two-thirds of same-sex couples meet online. Many couples make the decision for one or both of them to move so that they can live together but when they do this can vary. Some might do it after a few months and some after a couple of years.
Some couples might even get engaged before they’ve lived together on a permanent basis. This can be a common choice for couples living in different countries who might not be able to live together until after marriage. But this means that they have the challenge of planning a wedding while living in different locations. It can be tricky, but it is possible to organize a wedding while living separately.
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Wedding Ceremony or Wedding Party?
The first thing you should think about is whether you want to have a big wedding or if you’re happy to simply have a quick ceremony. Of course, you don’t have to choose between one or the other, necessarily. You could have the ceremony and get married on one day, then think about planning a big party later. This can be a good idea if you want to sort out all of the legal stuff first and get a chance to settle into your new home together. Then, when you feel a bit more settled and are able to plan together, you can start thinking about having a delayed reception to celebrate.
Arrange Legal Requirements
Taking care of all of the legal stuff is arguably the most important part of planning for your wedding. It’s even more important if you live in different countries and have different citizenships. You may have to look into getting a fiancé visa for one of you so that you can both be in the same country for the wedding. You’ll also need to consider whether you have to sort out any visa issues after you’re married. Plus, you have to consider all of the usual legal stuff that goes with getting married, such as applying for a marriage license.
Meet in Person as Much as Possible
You might not be able to meet too often, but you can hopefully still meet at some point before you get married. If you can arrange for one of you to visit the other or to meet each other halfway between your homes, you can use the time together to plan your wedding. It can be easier to plan when you’re both physically together rather than trying to do it when you’re in contact via various communication methods. It will mean you can really plan together and get on the same page.
Get Help
It’s tough for a couple to plan a wedding on their own in any circumstances, and even trickier if you’re in a long-distance relationship. Getting help for your wedding planning can make it easier and you’ll find that your friends and family will often be willing to help. If you’ve put your wedding party together, you can delegate tasks to your best man/woman/person or your maid/man/person of honor. Of course, you can’t foist all of the work onto someone else, but you can get help.
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Keep Track of Your Planning
Trying to plan a big event when you’re not in the same place can be tough but you can make it easier by keeping track of your planning. If you can both access the same things, it makes it easier to see your progress, ideas, and anything else. Try keeping everything in a Google Drive folder or a similar cloud storage solution. You can both access all of your material, make notes, and communicate with each other about what you’re planning. For example, you can create a spreadsheet with all of the things you need to do that you can both edit.
Try to Be Flexible
Flexibility is key when you’re planning a wedding for a long-distance relationship. It’s not always easy to plan everything exactly how you want it, and you might need to be more relaxed about dates or other aspects of your planning. What’s most important is that you’re able to get married and start your life together. If it means you might have to delay your honeymoon or even your wedding reception, or you have to compromise on your wedding venue, it’s better than not getting married at all.
Long-distance relationships are hard, but they’re worth it if you can be together in the end. It will take some good coordination to plan your wedding, but it’s good practice for your marriage.
