If you’ve recently become engaged, then you might be looking forward to the next chapter of your life with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. A good wedding is something that takes considerable planning; if you’re to remain in control of the process, and avoid the stress that might come along with it, it’s a good idea to get yourself organised as soon as possible.
Let’s take a look at what the first six months of planning might look like.
Announcing Your News and Setting the Vision
You might have speculated about what you’d like the wedding to look like before the proposal actually arrived. Or, you might be starting from an entirely blank slate. Having made the announcement to your friends and family, you’ll want to start talking about your vision.
Think about the themes you’d like to explore, and the colour palettes you want to employ. It might be that you find common ground straight away. Or, it might be that compromises are necessary. If you’re short of inspiration, then you might look to the engagement rings you’ve chosen, which might convey symbolism that can be reflected in the wedding itself.
The Practicalities: Budget and Guest List
The more people you invite to your wedding, the more you’ll end up spending. Think first about how much money you have available, and then draw up two guest lists. The first can include the people who definitely have to be invited, like close friends and family. The second can include the people whom you’d ideally like to come. Once you have your lists, you can think about how much you’d like to spend per person, and how far the money will take you. Then you can condense them down into your final guest list.
This information will allow you to make the big decisions, like your choice of catering and venue, early on. That way, you won’t have uncertainty floating over your head for months on end.
Securing Your Dream Venue and Date
What does a good wedding venue look like? Often, you’ll have key criteria to think about. If you’re religious, then you might seek a religious venue. On the other hand, your personal preferences might lead you to find a building that you find inspiring.
The sooner you decide, the better your chances of booking the venue on your preferred date. Remember that you can often save money by arranging a wedding outside of peak season, which is summer. You might also arrange the ceremony on a weekday – but be aware that this might limit the number of people who can attend.
Building Your Core Team of Suppliers
Having booked a venue, you’ll need to think about the professionals who will actually make your wedding a reality. These include photographers, caterers, chauffeurs, bands, and entertainers. You might also hire a wedding planner to take care of everything on your behalf. If you go down this route, make sure that you vet your hire extensively, and make sure that you’re on the same page when it comes to style and vision. The decision you make here could have a big impact on your wedding as a whole!
