Getting married? Before you get to choosing the color of the table napkins, here’s a basic guide to the different levels of formality you can choose from when planning your wedding.

Learn how to figure out how grand (or casual) the big (or small) event on the happy day will be.

Ultra-formal Wedding

The Ultra-formal Wedding decks out the ceremony in flowers and bows. Almost always held in a church, this wedding includes a whopping six to 12 bridal attendants and just as many groomsmen. Each detail is supervised by proficient florists and decorators and the gargantuan dinner reception is prepared by expert chefs. The bridesmaids’ dresses are long, the bride’s is longer, and the men might even wear opera hats.

Formal Weddings

One step down brings us the Formal Wedding. Such ceremonies are usually held in a church, but a home, garden, ballroom or private club can also prove to be the right location. You’ll find just as many bridesmaids and groomsmen surrounding the happy couple at this wedding, but the formality of dress has fallen down a notch, but is still fabulous.

Semi-formal Wedding

No need to book the church for a Semi-formal Wedding. Your home, your garden, a hotel or a club will do just fine. You can cut back on the wedding party (unless you’re filling up the garden), decorations and number of guests, if you’d like, making the planning process a wee bit easier. The ceremony can be followed by a small reception, often organized by the bride’s mother and her relatives.

Informal or Casual Wedding

Just like Fridays, weddings can go casual, too. These daytime ceremonies welcome just one maid of honor and the best man up front, and decorations are optional and minimal. Guests are whittled down to relatives and close friends and the event is usually held just about anywhere you’d like, although beach and outdoor weddings are popular, budget-friendly options for casual weddings. The reception afterward is also up to the couple, but if the wedding is held at home, a small gathering is usually expected to follow the ceremony.