Getting Married? Here’s your step-by-step guide

Getting married in a virtual world can be a very exciting and special time for both you and your partner. It can also be very stressful and frustrating especially if you’re planning it for the very first time. But fear not, I have created a to-do list; a step-by-step guide to help you and your partner plan and execute your big day. Follow this guide and you will find that planning your wedding will be easier than you ever thought it could be.

Step 1: Get your wedding party in sync & set a date!

Make a decision on who will be your Maid (or Man) of Honor. Make sure your parents are on board with the wedding and if you do not have parents, possibly find a mother figure and/or father figure to play their roles. You also need to choose your flower girl/ring bearer; if you don’t know any children who can participate, ask around or approach a wedding planner. I know it isn’t traditional, but they specialize in “making it work” and will surely find you fillers for your big day. Once you have chosen those who will be in the ceremony, hold a meeting with all and together, decide when is a good time for everybody to be online for a few hours at the same time, for both the wedding rehearsal and the actual wedding.

Step 2: Choose your colors!

Choosing your wedding colors can be one of the hardest decisions during your wedding planning, or it can be very simple. Be mindful of your friends/family; choose colors that they haven’t used before and make sure your partner agrees with them and move forward. If you’re using unique colors that is not common in shop, then I suggest you hire a quality furniture creator to make everything custom; most developers have packages or bundle discounts.

Step 3: Hire a Pastor or Kohen.

If you’re having a Christian or Jewish wedding, I highly suggest you hire your Priest ahead of time so nobody snatches them up. If you’re having trouble finding one, try searching words like church, wedding, pastor, or priest under chatrooms. If you stumble across a church, check the room owner; he/she is most likely to be the Pastor. Contact them to find out whether they conduct ceremonies, and if so, get their prices. Also, be sure to check their availability for both the rehearsal and the wedding day. Take these factors into consideration and make your decision, by yourself or with your partner.

Step 4: Arrange a photographer or Recorder (Optional).

If you want to create a wedding scrapbook, or you just want to have professional photographs or a video of your special day, hire a photographer! Alternatively, you can someone in your family who is good at taking pictures. It’s one less thing to worry about; all you would have to do is make your scrapbook and share them after your big day. Try reaching out to magazines and snag their photos or make a pulse or Instagram post.

Step 5: Choose your Wedding Attire!

Now for the exciting part! Take advantage of the Shop Together feature which allows you and your partner to match perfectly. If you’re looking for a very specific gown, you can get it custom made; both ooMamaSitaoo and Justionia are amazing at making gowns. While you’re searching for your perfect gown or tuxedo, keep an eye on the wedding party’s attire. I would recommend to allow the Maid of Honor to choose her own dress of your chosen color, while you choose the dresses for the other ladies after speaking with them and considering their suggestions. Allow them enough time to purchase the dress and accessories, and if they don’t have the financial ability to do so, set aside some credits to assist them. Men, take the same steps with the dominate side of the party. Ensure this is done weeks prior to the ceremony so confusion and stress is avoided on the big day.

Step 6: Get your invitations out.

There are alternative ways to create your invitations. You can design a simple image invitation, a wix, or even a smilebox so you can add background music to the invitation, with additional photos. Ensure you leave your contact details, the date and time of the ceremony, RSVP information and whether or not your guest can bring a plus one. It is very important these invitations are sent out a few weeks prior to the ceremony - not too early that they forget, and not too late that they are unable to reschedule around it.

Step 7: Set up your venue and music.

By now, you and your partner should have an idea of how you want your wedding to be. If not, make sure you discuss together and mutually agree to some ideas. Choose a room and matching furnishings; if you’re waiting on customs, start setting up the pulpit, the stage for your entertainer (if any) and anything else required. Standing and sitting nodes are also very important. Ensure they are all in the correct places, and only load the nodes that will be used. Any additional and unnecessary items will only cause lag.

To set the mood on your big day, you will need music! Select a heartfelt song for when the bride walks down the aisle, and another for you and your partner to dance to at the reception. Add those to a playlist with at least 20 others songs, or hire a DJ. You may also want to consider hiring an IMVU “celebrity” which is beginning to trend. If so, Instagram is where they all are! If you are booking in entertainment, I highly recommend this is done as early as possible to ensure their availability for rehearsal and ceremony.

Step 8: The wedding rehearsal.

All your guests should be aware of the rehearsal date. Not everybody will be able to attend, but fear not, it is not the end of the world. Continue with the rehearsal with those who attend and write up your clear and concise instructions for those absent, so they are ready for the big day. If any of your guests have trouble loading, ask all fellow guests in the room to lower their KBs. Alternatively, create a Join.me session, and share the link among them.

Step 9: Update your wish list.

Most guests will start sending you wedding gifts from the day before, so I would suggest you update it with items you would like as a wedding gift, i.e. lingerie, furniture, cars.

Step 10: Enjoy your big day!

All your careful planning, hard work and dedication will pay off on this day! In celebration, grab a glass of wine, relax and enjoy your wedding with all those who have made it special for you! After all, you’re marrying the love of your virtual life. Don’t let anything bring you down on this day!