Cupid’s arrow has struck. You have found your perfect partner and have pledged your love to each other for life.
Now it’s time to plan your wedding.
A wedding is one of life’s most important events and a joyous celebration of love - but it is not without its stresses and strains. There are so many elements to consider from choosing the bride and groom’s outfits to selecting the wedding venue. How do you plan a wedding? Here are ten top tips to ensure your wedding is a day to remember for all the right reasons.
Set your budget
It’s all too easy to get carried away by all the beautiful dresses, suits, flowers, venues, menus and the like. But while you want to have a wonderful day, you don’t want to be paying for it for the next ten years. It’s important to work out how much you can save before the big day and what you can afford to pay. Make a list of everything you will need from dresses to flowers and add up the costs. It’s important to be honest and realistic from the outset or you will regret it later when costs get out of hand.
Choose your priorities
Whether it is the live band or elaborate table decorations, everyone has their priorities of what matters most in making their wedding day special. Draw up a list of your and your partner’s priorities so you can see clearly what matters most. Then if some harsh decisions have to be made on what you can afford, you can see where compromises can be made.
Select your style
Weddings are big business and there are hundreds of magazines and websites offering endless ideas on every aspect of a wedding. Try not to get overwhelmed by this bombardment of ideas. It’s great to gain inspiration from the experts but use their guidance carefully to find your own preferred style which can run through each element of your wedding day.
Find your venue
Choosing your venue is one of the most important decisions you will make when creating your wedding. It is advisable to visit a few to find out how each compares and make sure you visit the venue at the time of year you plan to get married so you can get an idea of how it will look on the day. Check its capacity, what dates are available, whether there is on-site accommodation for guests and that there are no hidden costs. St Osyth Priory offers the perfect setting with its historic buildings and magnificent landscape and has the versatility to ensure you can create your unique wedding.
Pick your date
Work out what date you would like to be married but be prepared to be flexible. Remember to check ahead to avoid clashes – especially if your partner is an avid sports fan. It’s great to have an idea of when you want to get married and it might be one which has a special significance. But you must be prepared to compromise if you want to secure your preferred venue.
Draw up your guest list
Always a minefield but drawing up your guest list is an essential part of wedding planning. Start with the key people you know you want to share your special day and then build out from there. Having chosen your venue, you will know how many you can invite and you can start to create your list. It won’t be easy and you are bound to want more people than you can accommodate so have a reserve list too in case some people can’t come. Then send out ‘Save the Date’ invitations before the official invitations are sent nearer the time.
Choose your suppliers
You have found your venue, worked out your budget, drawn up your guest list…now it is time to sort out the details. A wedding requires a lot of organisation and you will need to find all sorts of specialist suppliers from a photographer to a florist, a jeweller to a band (and everything in between). Crucially, you don’t want to be let down so a recommendation from a friend will be a good place to start. Then speak to them and see if they are the right fit for you. They must have evidence of their work, be reliable and trustworthy – you don’t want or need the stress of being let down.
Pick your wedding attire
Finding your perfect dress or suit is a time-consuming process but a vital one. Images of the happy couple will be in frames for years to come and you will want to feel both comfortable and special throughout the day. Make sure you leave time not only to find your outfit but also for alterations to be made. Once the dress and suit have been bought or hired, then you can look for complementary outfits for bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Make a wedding website
A top tip is to create a private website so you can bring together all the information for your wedding day. This will also allow your guests to get all the information they need from the date to the venue and from there they can find accommodation and make travel arrangements. A private website can also be a great place to set up a wedding list for people wanting to give presents. And if anything changes, information can be shared easily and quickly.
Choose presents for your key people
Planning a wedding is a team effort. Over the months, families and friends will have been stalwarts in helping to bring all the elements of the wedding together as well as providing advice and emotional support. It’s wonderful to thank these people for their help so think of a gift which they can cherish and which will be a lasting reminder of the important role they played.
Remember to enjoy it
While a wedding day takes a lot of work, it is important to enjoy it. Your wedding day will be one of the most special days of your life.
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