Pro wedding planning tips
The path to a perfect wedding is not always paved with gold, so here are some savvy ways to smooth the build-up to your big day…
1. BUDGETING…
Get a rough idea of costs by asking for estimates, but remember an estimate is not a quote. An estimate is influenced by season, availability and numbers involved. Always get a written quote clearly showing whether VAT is included, when deposits are needed and the company’s cancellation policy.
2. BOOKING A GREAT VENUE…
Don’t be panicked into booking a venue that doesn’t feel 100% right just because you’re worried you won’t find anything else. Nothing about your day should be a compromise, let alone the location. If you have to visit 15 places, visit 15 places – only one needs to be perfect.
3. TIMINGS…
If you’re planning an early ceremony, consider the impact on the day. If guests need to travel for a 1pm ceremony, they’ll be up early, getting ready, then making their way, so eating food around lunchtime often gets bypassed. We usually suggest a later start, but if you want to stick to earlier you’ll need more substantial canapés with the welcome drinks. Naturally, this has cost implications.
An early start also impacts on evening guests – think about what time you want the evening party to start and work backwards. A 1pm ceremony would see guests arriving around 6pm; a 2.30pm start pushes it back to 7.30pm. Emma Deeley, owner at The Tythe Barn, Oxfordshire
4. CHILLING OUT…
‘Don’t get stressed about all the details. The only people who know exactly what was supposed to happen – and when – is you. If a flower is out of place, or the speeches are slightly running late: a) no one minds and b) no one else will notice.’ Laura & Sam, married at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire
5. DATES…
Try to avoid a wedding date that clashes with a major sporting event. Who wants to celebrate their big day with guests glued to their phones watching The Ashes, the Six Nations or the Ryder Cup?