Number one: make sure you have pens, plenty of paper, and a diary at hand. You are going to need them over the coming months.Once you have decided between you what sort of a wedding you actually want, you need to work out how much is available to pay for it. If your family are contributing financially, then they will want to have a lot of input into what happens on the day.
It may not be worth it for you to accept family help if all you want for yourselves is a quiet, simple wedding. The family's influence is likely to lead to something more elaborate.
Once you know how much you have to spend, based on your families' contributions and your own, you need to think about all the items listed below and decide which you want to have and which you can do without, and make an estimate of cost. You should have a rough idea of numbers of guests. You will then be able to work out how much you have spare to spend on the venue, which is the first and biggest item you have to commit to.
The other things you will need to decide on and budget for if you want them are:
You will probably want to research a few likely venues. You may be able to hold the wedding and the reception in the same place if you want a civil ceremony rather than a religious one.
When fixing on a venue, bear in mind that the more you spend on the day itself the less you will have for the honeymoon, and setting up home after the wedding. If you are thinking of travelling abroad for the wedding, consider the effect on your guests. Is it fair to them to ask them to pay an air-fare to attend? If there are significant numbers of close friends and relatives who will not be able to afford that, and you are determined to have an exotic location, then maybe think about holding the ceremony with just the two of you and witnesses, and have the reception later on, back at home.
You will probably want 6 months to sort everything else out, so don't book the venue and the officiant for a date sooner than that unless you are very confident that you don't need the time.
With the place and the date decided, you need to agree on the guest list, the maid of honour, the best man, and bridesmaids if you are having them. You will also need to decide whether you will be employing a wedding planner or maybe enlisting the help of a family member to be the main co-ordinator on the day. Unless it is to be a very simple affair you will need somebody reliable to look to for help on all the decisions and the organising that needs to be done, particularly on the day itself, when you will not want unnecessary stress.
Sit down with whoever you have chosen for the job, make a time-table, and note key dates in your diary. You are now well on your way to a well-planned wedding. Don't forget to register a gift list with one or more stores!
It may not be worth it for you to accept family help if all you want for yourselves is a quiet, simple wedding. The family's influence is likely to lead to something more elaborate.
Once you know how much you have to spend, based on your families' contributions and your own, you need to think about all the items listed below and decide which you want to have and which you can do without, and make an estimate of cost. You should have a rough idea of numbers of guests. You will then be able to work out how much you have spare to spend on the venue, which is the first and biggest item you have to commit to.
The other things you will need to decide on and budget for if you want them are:
- Invitations
- Favours
- Catering, food and drink, cake
- Dress and shoes for the principals and the bridesmaids
- Photographer
- Accommodation for guests coming from out of town
- Hairdresser
- Flowers
- Transport on the day
- Rings
You will probably want to research a few likely venues. You may be able to hold the wedding and the reception in the same place if you want a civil ceremony rather than a religious one.
When fixing on a venue, bear in mind that the more you spend on the day itself the less you will have for the honeymoon, and setting up home after the wedding. If you are thinking of travelling abroad for the wedding, consider the effect on your guests. Is it fair to them to ask them to pay an air-fare to attend? If there are significant numbers of close friends and relatives who will not be able to afford that, and you are determined to have an exotic location, then maybe think about holding the ceremony with just the two of you and witnesses, and have the reception later on, back at home.
You will probably want 6 months to sort everything else out, so don't book the venue and the officiant for a date sooner than that unless you are very confident that you don't need the time.
With the place and the date decided, you need to agree on the guest list, the maid of honour, the best man, and bridesmaids if you are having them. You will also need to decide whether you will be employing a wedding planner or maybe enlisting the help of a family member to be the main co-ordinator on the day. Unless it is to be a very simple affair you will need somebody reliable to look to for help on all the decisions and the organising that needs to be done, particularly on the day itself, when you will not want unnecessary stress.
Sit down with whoever you have chosen for the job, make a time-table, and note key dates in your diary. You are now well on your way to a well-planned wedding. Don't forget to register a gift list with one or more stores!
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