Congratulations on your engagement!
What an exciting time! I know when I got engaged it was the best news ever and I just wanted to begin wedding planning. But the real question is...what to do next? I know that when I got engaged, I had so many thoughts running through my head and I was getting all excited but did not have a clue where to start. I kept thinking am I to soon to start planning? Should I wait? The choice is yours!
However, here are my top tips for starting your wedding planning!
Number One - Buy a Wedding Planner
When myself and Tom announced our engagement we were very fortunate to receive a few gifts from family and friends.
One of my dear friends bought me a wedding planner where I could write down all my plans and my to do lists. So straight away I was able to begin with my plans.
I find that Wedding Planners help you to remember all the things that perhaps you wouldn't usually think about. A lot of up to date Wedding Planners will give you lots of ideas and will encourage you to be organised. My advice would be to actually buy 2 planners. I find that all planners are different and all offer different qualities. I find that if I run out of pages in one planner then I have a spare so all of my notes are in one of two places. One of my planners has a to do list which keeps me busy and makes sure I don't forget anything. The other planner has a pocket to keep all receipts from deposits from things like the venue or church, which believe me you definatley want to keep them!
I also think that Wedding Planners are cute ways of keeping records and documents. Many things are done online nowadays and I think this is an old fashioned way of being organised. Having a Wedding Planner also makes it a keep sake to look back on one day. It will be almost a scrapbook, full of ideas and thoughts. I love looking back on memories and think this is the perfect way to spend an afternoon reminiscing on your wedding in the future. Magazine clippings also make your Wedding Planner colourful and more interesting. If you see something you like in a magazine then rip it out and save it! It's a great way to remember what things may look like, or give you ideas of things that you like. I am a very visual person so if I see things I like then I save them so I can not forget what they look like.
Number Two - Set a date
I think this a very important time for you and your partner to communicate and decide a date together. You can consider your finances, future plans or how soon you would like or not like to be. Some weddings get planned over many years whereas some get planned in a matter of weeks. It all depends on the individuals and their plans for the future. Some people go on their age and what time of their life is best for them. Some people consider what time of year all the guests can be there, for example, if family members live in other countries. Wedding's cost a lot of money and I think it's vital to consider realistically if you can afford it. I know when deciding on a date for me and Tom, it was a matter of organizing it around other weddings. There are a lot of weddings happening in our family and friendship groups meaning we did not want to take the shine off anyone else big day, but still make it soon enough so that we had something to plan for.
Consider what time of month in the year you would like. Summer Weddings are extremely popular which therefore mean that venue's and suppliers add extra costs. It might be worth thinking about what the weather may be like in certain months and how cold or hot you will be in your dresses and suits. I know for a fact I would not like to be a sweaty bride so we have chosen a time of year where it is fresh, might rain but will hopefully will be sunny and not to warm.
Another factor to consider is what day of the week to have it on. Common days for Weddings are Fridays and Saturdays. Usually as nearer the weekend, people will Monday to Friday jobs can make it. This of course makes these days more expensive as they are more wanted. A good day of the week would be a Bank Holiday Monday in my opinion. This means that most guests are more likely to make your wedding. However this can also mean that your local area may be very busy and delays are more likely to happen. Weekday weddings are usually more affordable if you are on a tight budget.
At this stage you need to decide on a church wedding or civil ceremony. Take your time and decide what is best for you. Once you have decided on this, you then need to make sure the date will match your venue so the day can go ahead smoothly.
Number Three - Set a budget
One of the most important factors is most definatley setting a budget! You and your partner really need to consider how much you want to spend on your big day. Do you simple and sweet? or lavish and expensive? You want to plan a realistic budget which will not break the bank and still leave you living comfortably without worrying about money. It's a high priority to make sure once your budget is set that you do not go over it. Try your very hardest not to over spend. This can mess a lot of your plans up and leave you struggling. Wedding's can often make you feel like they have to be costly and have everything...but they don't. They can be as simple as you wish for them to be. It's hard to not get carried away in the wedding hype.Very kindly, usually family and friends will give donations or contributions to your wedding which will help you drastically. Just make sure that you do not rely or depend on people to give you money as that is not always the case.
Number Four - Create a Guest list
Creating the Guest list is one of the hardest things to do. It can make you feel under a lot of pressure. Do you want an intimate wedding? or a huge one? This may be the right time to talk to the family members of each side to make sure you have included everyone who is important to your life. Guest lists can often offend people if they are not invited but do not feel under pressure. It is your wedding and it is on your budget. More guests means more money needed. I think before making official numbers it may be best to consultant your parent's to make sure you have included vital people. My advice is do not invite those who are not important to you. Your allowing them to be a part of a free party and more importantly your big day. Another factor is to make sure your venue caters for your amount of guests. Some venues will only accept your wedding if you have a select amount of guests. If you are having a large wedding then make sure your venue is large enough to fit everyone in. It's the one day that families meet and come together...but not sitting on eachother's laps. Allow enough room for dancing and not invading people's personal space. On the other hand, if you are having a small wedding, make sure the venue is not to big so your wedding looks empty.
Number Five - Decide on a Venue
Using some of the ideas from above, it's now time to pick your venue. This can be enjoyable or stressful. My advice would be to have fun with it and try lots of open days or wedding fayres. It is nice to experience different venues and vibes. It helps you imagine the atmosphere of your wedding and you can imagine yourself there. This is usually a trip for you and your bridal party or parents. I think it is important that the Bride and Groom visit it together alone also so they can make sure it is 100% what you both want. Once you have had a good look around, narrow it down to your favourites. Visit them again and ask the venue lots of questions. Arranging an appointment with the venue will ensure that you are talking to someone with plenty of knowledge about the venue and can answer all of your questions. You can also get a feel for prices which is majorly important to ensure it fits within your budget. If you are on a budget then be sure to compare prices. Some venues also offer you the chance to get married there which can make the day cheaper for you if that is what you would like. Ask your friends for recommendations and think of previous weddings you have been to for ideas. The internet is the best place for searching your local area for venues so be sure to check there.
Once you have picked the wedding venue, it can then help you to think of a possible theme for your wedding. This is the point where you are best to scrapbook ideas and decide how you would like it. For example, if you want a country farm house for your wedding then you may want a very rustic theme. It's time to think about colours and if you want it to be simple or huge.
Number Six - The Wedding Party
This is the time for you and your partner to sit down and consider who you would like to be for your wedding party. You need to think of who you would like to be for your bridesmaids, maid of honor, best man, ushers and flower girls. These roles are usually give to your closest friends or family members. I chose my sister for the maid of honor role and my best friend to be my only bridesmaid. This makes it cost effective way and very personal for me. I couldn't think of any better people for the job. So think carefully and wisely when planning who you would like for them jobs. When I decided who I wanted, I made them cards asking if they would be my bridesmaid. This made it very personal and they now have keepsakes of that moment. I think it's important for the groom to think about who he would like for the best man. They usually make a speech and you want it to be someone who knows you both well and can manage a lot of responsibility.
When the wedding party have been planned and asked, they are then usually invited to all the preparations. The bridal party will often come when the bride tries dresses on and will help them make invites or save the dates. But be sure when all these exciting plans are happening that you include the mothers of the bride and grooms. It's important that they can experience this exciting time with you. Fathers of the bride and groom will enjoy being measured for their suits and planning stag do's with the male party.
Number Seven - Suppliers
With a little help from the wedding party, it is now time to look at local suppliers who can provide all that you need for your big day. Get on the internet and search ideas of things you like...candy carts, cakes, balloons, dj's and more. Search around and get prices to find out what you can fit within your budget. My advice would be to search for local companies. They are often sponsored by wedding venues making them slightly cheaper. Ask around for recommendations and opinions on companies. Attend lots of wedding fayres as they often showcase local companies and offer you discounts.
Number Eight - Dress Shopping
It is never to early to try on wedding dresses. This is most definatley the fun part for the ladies. It's important that you try lots of different styles on as often you choose something completely different to what you thought. Go to the shops with an open mind. Look online and in magazines for styles you like and work with them. Think about what will compliment your body shape and the areas that you would like to cover or show the most. Check out my blog in future for tips on finding the perfect dress. Be sure to take your bridal party with you so they can give you their honest opinions which will help you find the perfect dress. Do not just try on one dress. Look around and keep searching. I advice to not buy one online and go to a licensed dress shop. Also, make sure you pack plenty of tissues as this could be an emotional time.
I hope this guides you in the right direction and supports your wedding planning. They certainly do not have to happen in this order so feel free to mix it up to suit you a bit.
Jess
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