1. Talk to an imam early
Book your officiant two to three months out. Many masjids ask for premarital counseling first.
2. Get your marriage license
Apply with your city or county clerk well ahead of the date. Rules, waiting periods and how long the license is valid vary by place, so check the requirements where you live. Your officiant signs and returns it after the ceremony.
3. Plan the nikah
Agree on the mahr, choose your witnesses and ask your imam about the wali and any requirements of your school of thought. A nikah can be simple, at a masjid or at home.
4. Choose a venue that fits your values
Ask venues directly: can alcohol be excluded, can we bring an outside halal caterer, is there space to pray, and can we set up a segregated option if we want one?
5. Book halal catering
Ask caterers who certifies their meat and whether it’s hand-slaughtered. Get it in writing in your contract.
6. Walima
The walima is the wedding feast after the nikah. It can be the same day or later, large or small.