Getting to plan your wedding is one of the most exciting things that you will get to do in your life and the first big milestone in your married life. Many couples find the process of planning their wedding stressful and challenging although it doesn’t need to be this way. With some forward planning you can ensure that you have everything covered and you plan the perfect wedding.
There is a lot to think about when planning a wedding and for most people they don’t know where to start, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The main thing is to plan in advance to help you stay organised and ensure that you have everything covered.
Create a timeline and spreadsheet
In order to remain organised throughout the planning process it’s a good idea to create a spreadsheet and timeline. If you plan early then you will ensure that you keep calm and nothing important is left out. The most important thing to think about and remember is to be organised and plan early for your wedding day, this will ensure that nothing is left to the last minute and will help you to keep calm throughout the planning process. The reason you will need to plan in advance is because most wedding venues and suppliers get booked up early, sometimes a year or so in advance so it’s a good idea to get these things booked as soon as you are engaged so that you can organise your date and have something to work towards. Once your venue has been booked and you have a date organised you can start to think about the other aspects of your day.
Confirm your wedding venue early
One of the most exciting things that you and your partner will get to decide at the start of your planning process is where you want to get married and there are so many options out there for you to choose from. If you already have a dream venue in mind then this part will be easier. If you are really unsure of the venue then you could think about if you want a modern or traditional wedding. Some venues are more catered towards a modern wedding that allows you to have more flexibility with your day, whereas others are more traditional which some couples prefer too. This might be a good starting point when researching your venue.
It’s a good idea to search online for venues and also consider different locations too. Depending on your budget you may want to look at a variety of dates as some venues offer a discount for choosing a midweek date.
When you are thinking about your venue you will need to think about how many guests you want to invite as this will impact on the size of venue that you choose. If you want to have a small and intimate wedding then you could look at cosy, exclusive use venues, or even outside spaces in bigger venues. Alternatively if you have a large budget then you could consider a grand venue or perhaps even a castle! There are plenty of these in the UK for you to get married in.
The time of the year you decide to get married will also impact the venue that you choose. A summer wedding is always more popular as you have more choice and also everyone loves the sunshine!!’
Book your suppliers early
It’s not only venues that get booked up years in advance but also wedding suppliers. If you have your heart set on a particular photographer or musician for your special day then you may need to contact them around the same time you contact your venue to make sure that they have availability.
A fun way to explore suppliers for your wedding is to attend as many wedding fairs as you can. This is a fun way to not only explore a new venue, but also to see what local suppliers they recommend. Once you have found some that you like make sure you chat to them at the fairs, take their details and look at their reviews on their websites or social media. This will give you an idea as to how they deal with their customers so you know that they will be the best fit for your day.