Sometimes, one of the most stressful parts of planning a wedding is dealing with bridal parties, family, and guests.

Countless couples have chosen to plan their wedding their way and simply invite their guests to a surprise affair!

This way, nobody has the chance to cause you any stress, the surprise is fun, and all you need to focus on is celebrating and being in the moment.

So, how should you plan a surprise wedding?

These tips will help:

• Truly think about whether it’s right for you. Be sure that you and your partner are really prepared to forgo things like a bridal shower, choosing a bridal party, and getting some help during the planning process before you decide that a surprise wedding is right for you. 
• Decide who to hire. The reality is that, you’re going to need some help to pull the event together, so now is the time to start your search for a wedding planner. If you’re choosing to get married at a traditional venue, you can also enlist the help of the staff there – find out what your venue is willing to do.
• Find an excuse for an invite. Next, you need to think of ways to bring everyone together in a way that isn’t too obvious. This could be a birthday, engagement, or another important milestone. And most importantly, make sure that the reason for your invite matches the occasion – you can’t expect people to show up in cocktail attire for a quiet backyard lunch. 
• Decide on the moment of surprise. Once your guests have all arrived, how will you reveal the big news? Ideally, you all want them to be seated in some way. Cocktail tables or long informal dinner tables can work really well. This way, you can stand in front of everyone and say your vows. 
• Let your photographer in on the secret. You’re definitely still going to need a photographer for your big day, but don’t forget to let them in on your secret. Your photographer will need an idea of your timeline too so that they know what to expect and can be there for the big reveal. 
• Do it your way. While you will still need to take care of all the usuals such as hair and makeup, your outfits, catering, and entertainment, don’t forget to still put your own personal spin on things. This isn’t just any celebration – it’s your wedding! You’re still allowed to get excited about all the smaller details.

With these tips in mind, you can easily plan a surprise wedding you will love and remember for the rest of your life – as will your guests!