10 First Steps in Planning Your Wedding

Are you getting married next summer? 

Congratulations, that’s wonderful news!

While it may seem like ages away yet, time will quickly fly past, and planning a wedding is no easy task.

For our first blog, and to help all you brides-to-be, we’ve put together a list of 10 things you should do (or may already have sorted – well done you!) to ensure you can stay stress-free and have the wedding of your dreams:

     

      1.    Start a wedding folder or book

Leafing through bridal, lifestyle, fashion and food magazines, you’ll get tonnes of inspiration for your big day, so cutting out what you like and keeping all your ideas and research in one place will make it easier when it comes to making decisions.

      

      2.    Research local suppliers

Photographers, cake makers, florists, bands and caterers can get booked up well in advance, so start researching them now and store information and contact details for them in your wedding folder.

      

      3.    Work out your budget

Decide how much you want, or have, to spend on your wedding, factoring in you and your partner’s savings and contributions from any family members.

     
4.    Choose your wedding party

As soon as you get engaged, your closest friends will start wondering if they’ll be asked, so make your choices and ask them sooner rather than later.

     
5.    Start working on your guest list

Set up a spreadsheet or database you can use throughout the process, to record contact info, RSVPs, gifts and other relevant details. Remember, it may be brutal, but if you’re working with a small budget, the best way to keep costs low is to keep numbers down.

     
6.    Reserve your date and venues

Decide whether you want your wedding all in one place, or in        
separate venues and make sure you visit them to check you’re happy with the space, style etc. Don’t forget to factor in
travelling time between venues if you’re having the ceremony and reception in different places.

     
7.    Hire a planner, if you wish

Wedding planners can really help ease the pressure in planning
a wedding, and will have great relationships with – and insights on – local suppliers. Most wedding venues usually have a dedicated team who can also help plan most aspects of your big day in terms of catering, decoration and entertainment.

     
8.    Book your officiant

If you’re holding your ceremony anywhere other than in a church or registry office, make sure you book your officiant in enough time to secure the date you want.

     
9.   Throw an engagement party

Now’s the time to formally announce your engagement, if you want to, and throw a party to celebrate. Bear in mind that your invitees should also be on your wedding guest list too though.

    
10.   Start thinking about a honeymoon

Again, sometimes it pays to start thinking and planning this well in advance, taking advantage of any special offers and considering any potential weather conditions that may arise at your dream destination e.g. Maldives in July = monsoon season!

There are loads of websites, blogs and guides that offer lots of useful tips and advice, often with downloadable planners and checklists! The best ones we’ve come across are these:

https://www.theknot.com/content/first-wedding-to-dos- a really good guide to what you need to do in the first few weeks after getting engaged.

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/13-step-planning-guide_574.htm - 13 simple steps to follow in planning your wedding.

http://onefabday.com/uk/wedding-checklist/ - very comprehensive, this checklist thinks of EVERYTHING – great for those who love making lists and covering every detail!

http://www.realsimple.com/weddings/weddings-planning/wedding-planning-checklist - breaks everything down into simple, manageable steps and timescales.

At the end of the day, planning your wedding should be a lovely and memorable experience, so remember to enjoy it and have fun.

Good luck!