Planning A Wedding: The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and mindset, it can be a fun and exciting process. There is no right way to plan a wedding, as your special day should be as unique as your relationship. However, there are some key steps that can help you get started, such as creating a to-do list, setting a budget, and choosing a wedding date. This guide will provide you with easy-to-follow tips and actionable steps to plan your dream wedding, so let's get started!

To-do list

Planning a wedding can be daunting, but there are plenty of resources to help you get started. Here is a to-do list to help you plan your big day:

• Work out your budget and establish your top priorities.
• Create a wedding vision.
• Decide on a wedding date.
• Create a guest list.
• Hire vendors.
• Create a wedding website.
• Start shopping for wedding attire.
• Plan auxiliary events, such as the rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch.
• Choose your wedding ensemble, focusing on fit and function.
• Hire a wedding planner to help with tasks, decor, venue selection, music, and dress ideas.
• Create a folder or binder to house all your wedding-related documents, from contracts to ideas and questions.

Wedding vision

There's no "right" way to plan your wedding, but there are some steps you can take to get started. One of the first things you can do is to define your wedding vision. This is the overarching look and feel for your wedding day, encompassing the mood, style, colours, and setting that reflect both of your personalities and tell your unique love story. It's a showcase to your nearest and dearest that represents you as a couple.

Your wedding vision will guide all your planning decisions, from the venue and attire to the smallest details like napkin rings. It will set the tone, style, and vibe, ensuring that all elements come together harmoniously to make a memorable and meaningful celebration of love.

To clarify the visual and aesthetic pieces of your vision, you can create a wedding vision board (also known as a mood board, dream board, or inspiration board). This is a visual representation of your wedding goals and aspirations.

For example, if you're going for a classic, elegant, and swanky vibe, you might choose a venue that leans into a retro 60s theme, with a black, white, and gold colour scheme, and music from classic romance movies. Or, if you're envisioning a celestial winter's night, you might focus on whimsical, ethereal, and inclusive vibes, with a colour scheme of white florals and palm greenery.

Defining your wedding vision early will pave the way for a more organised and less stressful planning experience. Once you have this solid foundation in place, you can follow a detailed wedding planning checklist, complete with a timeline and to-do list to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Budget

When it comes to drinks and alcohol, there are a few ways to cut costs. If your celebration is at a venue where they control the bar, ask to close the bar an hour early to limit your spending. You could also offer tea and coffee instead of alcohol for the last hour of the reception. Another option is to only serve beer and wine, rather than having a full bar. Skip the pricey champagne and opt for more affordable drinks.

You can also save money by doing your research and choosing items that can be resold, reused, or repurposed after the wedding. This includes decor, accents, shoes, and accessories. Certain types of flowers are also less expensive than others, but that doesn't mean they aren't beautiful. Filler flowers like baby's breath and greenery can create a gorgeous effect for less.

If you're looking for affordable wedding favours, choose edible ones. They are usually cheaper than other options and are less likely to end up sitting in a drawer. Personalisation is a great way to make your wedding unique, but it can be expensive. Instead of monogram floor lighting or cocktail napkins, use stickers or labels that you can DIY yourself.

Finally, consider DIYing your wedding invitations. Paper is inexpensive, and you can easily print your own invitations at home or use an affordable online printer. If you're ordering from a stationery company, choose flat or digital printing, which is much cheaper than letterpress or thermography.

Guest list

Planning a guest list for a wedding can be a stressful process. Here are some tips to make it smooth and drama-free:

• Before you start, talk to your partner about how many guests your wedding budget will allow you to invite. The more guests you invite, the more money you'll spend.
• If you haven't picked your wedding ceremony and reception venues yet, draft a rough guest list first. This will help you narrow down the options so that you're only looking at spaces that can accommodate your party size. However, it's also fine to book your dream venue first, and then work your guest-list size around the venue's capacity.
• When making your list, take into account not only your and your partner's favourite people, but also guests your families might wish to have there.
• Organise your guest list in a spreadsheet, adding columns for tracking guests' formal names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and so on. This could also include a list of who has food allergies.
• Guests can be listed individually, but it's recommended to group them by party (e.g. Mr. & Mrs. John Smith) so that you can easily count the total number of guests as well as the number of invitations.

Wedding date

There's no "right" way to plan a wedding, but there are some key steps to follow to ensure your special day is as unique as your relationship.

The first step to planning a wedding is to choose a date. This will be influenced by a number of factors, including the availability of your chosen venue and vendors, as well as the time of year you prefer. Consider whether you want a summer or winter wedding, and whether there are any significant dates you want to avoid, such as public holidays or religious festivals.

Once you have a rough idea of the season you prefer, start researching venues and vendors to see when they are available. This will help you narrow down a specific date. Keep in mind that popular venues and vendors may be booked up a year or more in advance, so it's important to start planning early.

If you have your heart set on a particular venue or vendor, you may need to be flexible with your date. Alternatively, if you have a specific date in mind, be prepared to shop around for venues and vendors that are available on that day.

When choosing a date, it's also important to consider the logistics of your wedding. For example, if you're planning an outdoor wedding, you'll want to choose a date with pleasant weather. Or, if you're planning a destination wedding, you'll need to consider travel times and costs for your guests.

Finally, don't forget to give your guests enough notice. Send out save-the-date cards or invitations at least six months in advance so that your guests can plan their schedules accordingly.

Frequently asked questions