Planning a wedding is exciting but often involves a certain amount of stress; you can reduce the strain by making sure you organise as much as you can in advance. Keep reading for a guide to what you should arrange and when to ensure you’re ready for the big day.
Straight after the engagement… Is a good time to work out a couple of elements, such as your budget and an estimated number of guests. Even if you’re planning a long engagement, having the discussion about how much you want to spend on the event will help you figure out an average amount to save each month. Meanwhile, estimating the number of guests you’ll invite will make picking out a venue easier later on, as some locations will be able to hold several hundred people, while others may only be equipped for around 100.
A year in advance… Start looking at venues and choose your date. The two elements work in tandem; you’ll need to find out if the venue you’ve chosen will be able to host your wedding on the date of your choice, and you should also be able to find out whether caterers will be on site that day. It can be worth checking to see that the date you choose doesn’t clash with any major festivals or local events that could contribute to increased traffic levels or fully-booked hotels on the date, as this could affect how smoothly your wedding plans pan out. Think about the sort of wedding you want – indoors, outdoor, themed – and take a look at the venues that will cater for your choice atCountry House Wedding Venues.
Nine months in advance… This is the time to start thinking about the professional services you’ll need to hire for your special day, such as photographers or DJs. Up to a year before the wedding is scheduled to take place is the best time to contact photographers and videographers to capture the day on film, while DJs or bands you plan to hire for the reception will also need to be booked in advance. Nine months before the wedding is also a good time to begin your search for the perfect dress; you’ll need to do some research into the styles you like best and organise fittings in a variety of stores before you select your favourite. The dress you choose might also need altering, so allow extra time for this.
Six months in advance… Now is the time to arrange who will perform your wedding ceremony. A priest, vicar, registrar or other licensed person can perform the ceremony, but they must be certified as being able to do so. Six months before the wedding is also the time to book a rehearsal at your chosen venue, contact caterers, florists and cake makers and send out save the date notes for the guests you are planning to invite. If you haven’t done it already, order your bridesmaids dresses around this point, and get in touch with hair stylists and makeup artists to book them for the wedding day.
Four months in advance… Send out your invitations now, as this should give guests enough time to book the day off work or arrange childcare for youngsters. You should also set the menu around this time, making sure you’ve performed a taste test. The men in the wedding party should arrange rental of tuxedos, or start making orders if they’ll be buying their outfits for the big day, and you could also start planning your honeymoon around this time.
Three months in advance… Have printed materials made at this point, such as place cards, menus and programmes, and schedule a dress fitting to see how well your chosen gown fits. Obtain your marriage licence and start stocking up on details like wedding favours, table ceterpieces and other decor for the venue. Three months in advance is also a good time to purchase the wedding rings, and you’ll probably have some in mind already.
A month in advance… Make plans for personal grooming at this point, such as having your eyebrows waxed or arranging a facial to ensure your skin is bright and you feel relaxed in the run-up to the big day. Check up with vendors that everything is running smoothly. A couple of weeks before the wedding is the best time to have hair coloured and cut.
The week of the wedding… Everything should be in hand by this point, so spend some time pampering yourself with a manicure or a massage, and pack your bags ready for your honeymoon. Wear your wedding shoes around the house so they don’t pinch during the ceremony and get the venue ready with the decorations you’ve ordered. All that should be left is to enjoy the big day!