The Wedding Count down Begins..... By Kate Gibbard
N
ational Marriage Week runs from the 7th-14th of February, so to get in the spirit of things we thought we’d give our wedding couples a helping hand with planning that all important day. Whether you’ve recently got engaged or have been engaged for some time, organising your wedding can be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do. If your wedding is next year, now is the time to get those creative juices fl owing – and with some organisation and inspiration, you can make sure it’s as stress free as possible. And let’s face it – who needs an excuse to have some fun?
Agree a budget - and st ick t o it! Discussing and setting a budget should be your fi rst priority. You need to talk about what you want to spend and what you can realistically aff ord. Be honest and discuss any concerns you might have – remember, you both need to be happy with your decisions!
Do you have any ideas already? If you don’t, it’s time to start brainstorming! Are there any friends’ weddings coming up soon? They’re always good for ideas. Buy a wedding magazine and start tearing out ideas that grab you. Perhaps there is a local wedding show to go to? You’ll fi nd lots of ideas online – and there are some brilliant websites packed with inspirational ideas, latest bargains and forums to discuss ideas. Sometimes a good starting point is to think about what you both don’t want. Remember to ask friends and family – they might have some ideas you’ve not thought of. BUT, remember, this is your day as a couple, so don’t get bullied into taking on other people’s ideas!
You might fi nd it’s easier to decide your budget by breaking the day into ‘key’ sections: wedding attire, venue (ceremony and reception), catering, fl owers, rings, photographer, entertainment, stationery, transport and honeymoon. If family have off ered to help you with costs, have that conversation now – it’s better for everyone to be in the picture, and then you know how much you need to save. Once you know how much you can allocate to each part of the day, you can start to research your options. The trick is to stick to your budget – believe me, it’s far too easy to get carried away with all the options available.
Get researching
You’ve got plenty of time, so don’t panic. Starting your wedding planning early means you have the luxury of being able to look at all your options – and then again if needs be!
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