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Choose your next move
Six decisions do most of the work. Start with the one in front of you.
Popular guides
The articles couples use most, picked by us.
Planning
Just Got Engaged? What to Do First
May 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Planning
What to Book First for a Wedding
May 18, 2026 · 5 min read
Timelines
12-Month Wedding Planning Timeline
Jun 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Vendors
Questions to Ask Every Wedding Vendor
Jul 7, 2026 · 5 min read
Budget
What to Cut From Your Wedding Budget First
Jul 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Venues
Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue Before Booking
Jun 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Vendors
Wedding Vendor Red Flags Before You Sign
Jul 7, 2026 · 5 min read
Guests
How to Build a Wedding Guest List
Jul 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Starting in Chicago
Bejoined plans city by city, and Chicago is first because it is home: real costs, real venues, and vendor questions we can check ourselves. More cities join as we grow, on the same playbook.
$54,000
Average Chicago wedding
$17,550
Average Chicago venue
$82
Catering per guest, before bar
Figures from our Chicago cost guide below, 2026 data.
BudgetChicago
How Much Does a Wedding Cost in Chicago?
May 25, 2026 · 6 min read
VenuesChicago
How to Choose a Wedding Venue in Chicago
Jul 7, 2026 · 5 min read
Want your city next? The newsletter hears it first.
Skyline photo: Cameron Casey, via Pexels.
Joined By
The people who make Chicago weddings work, on the record. Three formats, no paid placements, every arrangement disclosed.
First feature: August
Ask the Vendor
One pro, straight answers. What things cost, when to book, and what couples miss, in the vendor's own words with their name on it.
Coming soon
The Visit
One place, in person. We show up, get pricing in writing, and report what a listing will not tell you.
Later this year
The Panel
Many pros, one question set. Five to eight Chicago vendors answer the same questions, side by side.
The first feature lands in August. Newsletter readers see it first.
The Wedding Planning Starter Kit
Eleven printable pages that get you moving in one sitting. Free when you join the newsletter.
- What to do first
- Vendor booking order
- Budget categories
- Venue questions
- Vendor questions
- 12-month planning checkpoints
- Chicago planning notes
- What to skip for now
Latest articles
Honeymoon
When to Book Your Honeymoon, and What It Really Costs
Jul 24, 2026 · 7 min read
The two booking clocks (trip vs flights), passport lead times, the cost categories that make up the total, and what moves each one up or down.
Traditions
How to Blend Two Wedding Traditions Without Losing Either
Jul 22, 2026 · 7 min read
A decision process for couples from two cultures or faiths: ceremony formats, officiants, venues, food, attire, language, and keeping both families on board.
Parties
Which Pre-Wedding Events Do You Actually Need?
Jul 17, 2026 · 6 min read
Engagement party, shower, bachelor and bachelorette, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, brunch: what each is for, and a keep, combine, or skip call for each.
Beauty
When to Book Wedding Hair and Makeup, and What to Ask First
Jul 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Booking windows, trial timing (the sources disagree, here is the math), day-of schedules, minimums, travel fees, and the questions to ask before you sign.