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where to start when planning your wedding
One of you has asked, the other has answered and now you're getting married! Firstly, huge congratulations to you both, I hope you're able to find some time to revel in your newly-engaged status and celebrate all that is unique and wonderful about your partnership. You might be raring to go with your wedding planning and need to some help focusing on which elements to take on first, or maybe the idea of planning is feeling a little overwhelming and you're not sure where to start.
If you've not planned a big old event before (and even if you have!) then that's completely understandable - there are lots of emotions attached to your wedding day and I know you want to get it right. So the first thing to remember (and to keep with you as you plan) is what is right for the two of you. You'll read lots of articles, or be given well-meaning advice about what you should have at your wedding or when you should be doing certain tasks, but it's important to filter out the noise and focus on what's authentic for you and best tells your story. So let's dig into where to start with your wedding planning, from laying good foundations to some practical steps for the first big items on your to do list.
Your wedding values
Before you start writing a to do list or time planner for your wedding, it can be really helpful to take a pause and think about what's really important when it comes to your wedding day. Keeping the top values for your wedding at the core of your planning will help you feel less overwhelmed and avoid that feeling of FOMO (fear-of-missing-out) when you start looking at all the lovely inspiration there is out there. Set aside some time when its just the two of you, and discuss things like what's important for your marriage, why you are having a wedding day, what you've enjoyed about other weddings you've attended and how you want to feel on the day. The Good Foundations box includes some wedding value conversation cards, so don't forget to subscribe if you need a helping hand!
A task shared...
Have a think about each of your strengths so you can split tasks up accordingly. Maybe one of you is really good at making first approaches and seeing the big picture, while the other loves to be creative and look at the detail. You can now match the various items on your to do list with your strengths and divide the tasks between you for maximum efficiency and enjoyment! Also consider which tasks you can give to friends and family or where you might call in the pros. E.g. if you have knowledge or time to learn a new skill, then you might like to DIY, but if you're looking for that magic touch that professional wedding supplierscan give through their years of experience, then call in the pros.
Set your budget
Use your wedding values to make a list of what's really important for your day. There will be the necessities - like venue, catering, ceremony - which need to go in, but there will be a lot of other elements that you can split into love-to-haves or nice-to-haves. Remember, just because it's on a wedding checklist online or you've seen it at other weddings, doesn't mean it has to go in your budget if it doesn't resonate with you. Next, think about what you'd like to spend and can afford overall, and whether anyone else will be contributing. Then think about how many guests you'd like to invite as this will have an impact on your per head costs like food, drink and on-the-day stationery. Now for the fun part! Go out and do some research. Look at suppliers you love, gather recommendations and start to get an idea of the costs of different elements that feel like you. Plug them into a spreadsheet or jot them down in your planner. Finally, have a look at the overall picture - are there any areas that are high on your love-to-haves that need more budget allocated to them? And don't forget to add-in a contingency for those unpredictable costs.
Choose your venue
Choosing your venue is one of the first places to start your wedding planning once you've set-up good foundations, as lots of other elements will flow from here. When first researching venues, think about what time of year you'd like to get married so you can check availability, but also to make sure the space will work for the month you'd like to get married - like having indoor options if you're planning a winter wedding. Also consider location, the type of ceremony you'd like to have (if you're having a registrar, then you'll need a licenced venue but for celebrant-led ceremonies you can get married anywhere!) and the number of guests you would like to invite.
Once you've done your initial lookabout, book in some viewings or go to some open days to get a feel for different places. Think about how you might use different parts of the venue for your day, the catering and drinks options, whether they have guest accommodation and how long you will have the space for before/after your wedding day.
Check your timelines
Once you have your wedding venue, you can plot back from here and set-out your timelines. It's always good to set these yourself rather than using something you see online. This is because your timelines will need to fit the deadlines set by your chosen suppliers, but also because it's important to take into account the time you're both able to dedicate to your wedding planning - you don't want to set unrealistic deadlines and end-up feeling overwhelmed. Ask suppliers when they need key decisions made and final numbers, and then build in a time buffer, as sometimes there will be delays outside of your control. And don't forget to check back on those wedding values. If it doesn't fit-in, either take a task out, or add it to the nice-to-haves so you can come back to it if/when you have time.
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The Wedding Planner in a Box is a monthly treat of helpful goodies and digital guides to help you plan your wedding with flair and personality!
