What to Think About When Planning a Wedding

1. Set a budget – and stick to it
We suggest that the first thing you do is sit down with your partner and have an honest and open discussion about your finances. How much can you both afford? Will anyone else be contributing? How much will you be able to save over the coming months? Once you have a number, then you can move on to the more fun parts of wedding planning!

2. Set the date!
Because “When is it?” is sure to be one of the first questions you’ll be asked once you announce your engagement! Your timing may be influenced by the seasons, planned holidays, work or other commitments, venue availability etc. At the early stages it’s a good idea to have a “window” in mind which will give you some flexibility.

3. Choose and book suppliers
Now is the time to start contacting venues, florists, photographers, car hire, officiants, hair and makeup artists, caterers, stationery printers, etc. There are peak times of the year for weddings so if you already have a preferred supplier in mind then the earlier you can secure their services the better. Make a list and contact them as soon as you can.

4. Choose your wedding party
You may instantly know who your bridesmaids, ushers, best man, flower girls and page boys will be, or you might need a little bit of time to think about it. If so then don’t feel rushed into your decision. Think carefully about who the best people will be to support you and your partner on the day and in the run up to it.

5. Choose a theme
Many couples like their wedding day to follow a style, colour scheme or theme (e.g. vintage, festival, classic, etc) so if you’re stuck for ideas, take a look through social media sites such as Pinterest, or specialist wedding inspiration websites such as hitched.co.uk. Once you’ve picked a theme then the choice of suppliers becomes much easier.

6. Pick the wedding dress, groom’s outfit and bridesmaids dresses
Choosing the wedding dress will be one of the most exciting and emotional parts of your wedding planning! Designer wedding gowns can take months to make, so give yourself plenty of time. Once you have chosen your wedding dress, you can think about bridesmaid dresses and grooms wear that will suit the style of the day.

7. Plan the guest list & create a table plan
Lots of things will influence the size of your guest list, such as the venue location and capacity, and your budget. There will no doubt be key people that you want to be there, but take your time deciding who else to invite to the day versus the evening. It can make a bit difference to your numbers and how the whole wedding is accommodated.

8. Start putting together a gift list
This may be a traditional department store registry, and online gift list, a honeymoon fund, or a charity donation, and although you may feel awkward about telling guests what to gift you it actually makes the whole process a lot easier and stress-free.

9. Plan your honeymoon
If this is part of your original budget then you have the perfect excuse to start booking your dream holiday! These days there is no reason why you need to leave on your honeymoon straight after your wedding, so you could wait a little while before jetting away, or you could have a short break (a “minimoon”) then plan a longer trip later in the year.

10. Plan the Stag & Hen Nights
Lots of couples defer to their bridesmaids and best man to get these organised, or they like to plan these themselves. If all you need to do is turn up then make sure you know if there’s anything you need to prepare, pack or pay for. You also want to ensure that the timings suit both you and your partner.