What do I need to think about when planning a wedding?
On one of the nicest days of your life, you don’t want anything to go wrong, which is why you should pay much attention to planning your wedding. If needed, you can hire a wedding planner or master of ceremonies to assist you. And if you want to do it yourself, you need to take into account many things.
Choose a date far in the future
Maybe you want to get married as soon as possible, but it’s smarter to plan the day well ahead of time. For example, check when the intended event space in London or wedding venues in north London can be booked.
A date with a story is of course nicer than just picking one out of a hat. If you think about it, that’s a lot of dates. For example, the day you met, but also the day of your first date, first vacation, etc., you can take as a wedding date.
Also take into account when your most important family and friends can be there. Involve them with the planning if need ne.
Also check to make sure your wedding doesn’t take place during a big event in the area or on a holiday. Many couples often opt for a wedding when there’s better weather.
Golden rule for planning: choose a date eight to twelve months in advance.
A beautiful and feasible location
There are lots of special wedding locations, from estates to zoos and from museums to steamships.
Discuss together where you want to get married. As well, you could also combine locations. For example, simple party venues where most guests come, and then later in the evening a special dinner in a more intimate setting.
Moreover, it’s not a good idea for you to only look at the outside of the location. Besides looking nice, it also needs to:
- Be easily accessible for your guests.
- Offer good catering possibilities.
- Have options for overnight stays in the area.
It cannot hurt to spot several locations before you finally make your choice.
The right mix of family and friends
Maybe you know the big weddings in Hollywood films or from ambitious colleagues, but that doesn’t mean you also need to do the same. Discuss with each other the maximum amount of people you want to invite and see if this fits into your budget.
You can also first draw up a separate guest list with people who want to have, then combine them.
An elegant solution for guests you cannot ignore, but don’t want to have at the entire wedding is to divide the day into a reception and an evening part.
Better a bit thrifty than way over budget
Already mentioned in passing, the budget. Costs can add up quickly, and with a big bill, you won’t enjoy the honeymoon as much as you could. By carefully planning the wedding, you can avoid this situation.
Together with the master of ceremonies or wedding planner if need be, draw up a clear budget in which you describe per programme part what the exact costs are. A bit of shopping around can’t hurt either, as bakers and caterers differ greatly from one another.
If you’re not the best at making budgets or don’t feel like asking for professional help, then ask a family member or friend who is good with numbers to have a look at the budget and pick out any mistakes or irregularities.
An important rule when making the budget, always set aside 10% of the budget for unexpected expenses.