You're Getting married.. now what do you do?
OK, so you're getting married, congratulations. Now what? Well you've got some organising to do, but don't worry, it's not as difficult as you think - just get organised. Here's a rough guide to what you need to do and how long before the big day you need to start organising it:
Twelve Months To Go
Pick a Date
The best venues will be booked up at least a year in advance so it’s never too early to make a booking. Generally, Saturday and Sunday dates will be the most popular so book straight away if you want one of these days.
Midweek dates will be less popular and, hence, less notice is needed, but the sooner you book – the greater your choice of venues will be. Choosing the Wedding Venue
Decide upon the Type of Wedding You Want
A Civil Ceremony, a Church Wedding or, maybe, you fancy getting married abroad?
Set your Budget
Once you have decided upon the type and style of wedding you can start to make a list of items together with an estimated cost of each. Consider taking out wedding insurance, things can go wrong so prepare for the unexpected. Download a Wedding Budget Planner here. Wedding Insurance - Is it Worth It? - How to Save Money on Your Wedding - Negotiation Tips to help you cut your Wedding Budget
Choose your Attendants, Best Man and Bridesmaids
Your choice of attendee will make all the difference to the success of the big day, so bear this in mind when making your choice. You need people who are organised and reliable, not just people who look good. Make sure everyone knows their responsibilities to ensure that the wedding day runs according to plan. Wedding Day Roles
Choose a Photographer
The best people tend to be booked well in advance so don’t hang around! Picking the right person is critical and you should try to get a personal recommendation if you can. Choosing a Wedding Photographer
The British Institute of Professional Photography has 3,500 members. You can search their database for a qualified photographer in your area. The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers also has a list of members for each part of the country.
Choose Musicians/DJ for the Reception
Ask for details of events they have worked previously and ask for testimonials. There are a few booking agents that cater for weddings - this can usually prove to be the safest route, as they will have a list of tried and tested people on their books.
Book Wedding Cars
Look for a company that has been established for a while. Make sure that you see the car you are paying for - not just a picture - and remember that the colour should co-ordinate with your flowers, bridesmaids' dresses, etc.
Confirm your booking nearer the day - if the car has changed, arrange another inspection. It's not uncommon for cars to be substituted due to double bookings at the last minute.
Nine Months To Go
Find a Dress
Book appointments with at least 2 bridal shops and try as many styles and cuts as you can. Don’t rule out the high street names, there is exceptional value to be found with the big names right now so at least have a look. If you fancy a designer wedding dress, there are great savings to be made by buying from the US. Marks & Spencer Bridal and Occasion Wear - Buying Your Wedding Dress from the USA?
Book the Florist
Flowers are an important part of the day - they define the colour scheme and theme of your wedding.
Find out in advance which flowers will be in season and enlist the help of a good local florist – the event manager at your venue will probably be able to recommend one.
As well as decorative flowers for the venue/church, think about your bouquet, the bridesmaid's posies, any headdresses, corsages and buttonholes.
Wedding Flowers - Matching the Seasons - Wedding Flowers - Colours
Order Stationery
Have a good look around and get samples to take home. If you fancy something a bit special, there are a few designers specialising in hand made and custom wedding stationery which are well worth checking out, but remember to allow more time.
Joe Austerfield from Marsden Austerfield Design says: ''Handmade stationery is, as it sounds, all individually handmade. It isn't possible to reproduce each design at speed - like printed stationery. It is, therefore, advisable to book your chosen stationery designer as soon as possible, usually a year or 10 months before the wedding to guarantee they will have the time needed to complete your order for your wedding day.'' Wedding Invitations
Choose your Wedding Rings
Look on the internet first to get an idea of what you want before you traipse up and down the high street.
Book the Men's Formal Wear Hire
During the summer months most suppliers are very busy and will be fully booked for certain weeks.
Greg Genders from Formally Yours says: “It is not uncommon for the men’s formal wear to be booked a year in advance. As most reputable suppliers will always reach a point at which they are fully booked, it pays to book early to avoid the disappointment and stress of missing out.” Buying Wedding Ties
Order the Cake
The cake has always been the focus of any wedding and the number of designs available can be overwhelming. Try to find a supplier specialising in wedding cakes, rather than a general confectioner, and visit their premises to see the various styles available and get the benefit of their advice.
Slattery’s a specialist Patisserie and Chocolatier, based in Manchester, say: “We require 6-8 weeks notice for making your own bespoke Wedding Cake”.
Other suppliers may need a lot longer, particularly during the Summer months. Choosing Your Wedding Cake - Customised Wedding Cake Toppers
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Choose the Caterer
The catering may well be handled by your venue although you may want to use an outside caterer, in which case you need to book well in advance. Do your homework and ask for testimonials.
Your Guest List
The tradition is to send out invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, but you should start making up your list about now. It might be a good idea to let people know the date as soon as possible so they don’t book holidays or anything and then when you send out your formal invitations at a later date you can be sure they already have the date pencilled in. Wedding Invitations
Ceremony Details
Arrange a meeting with minister/registrar to discuss ceremony details. Think about how you want things to run on the day. Think about your vows, the timings and how the venue will look. It's not too early to think about the finer details.
Arrange a Gift List
Have a look at a few services and try to find one that all your guests will be able to use. Retailers such as John Lewis and Debenhams allow you to set up your gift list so people can use the internet, order by phone or visit their local store.
