So you’re now engaged, let the celebrations commence! After the initial rush of oohs and ahhs over your gorgeous ring and the celebratory screams of ‘I’m getting married’! calm down, it’s now time to come down from cloud nine and start planning the biggest day of your lives! A whole wedding to plan…eekk! Fear not and read on. Here at MyOneWedding we’ve combined 10 top tips for you and you other half to consider when planning the big day.
1. THE BASICS
Sit down as a couple to decide what kind of wedding you want. How do you envisage your wedding day looking? You want to elope to Las Vegas or Gretna Green? Do you want a barn wedding? Grand stately Manor house? Or a traditional church wedding? Once you know what you both want, the budget you have and the idea you both want, the venue and theme will all come naturally to you.
2. BE CALM!
It’s completely normal and rational to have worries about your wedding day. Is it going to live up to all the hype? Stop stressing! It’s fine to not have every inch of your wedding planned out into every minute detail just yet. Will this the best day of your life? Will everyone enjoy themselves? What if it’s not as amazing as you plan? There’s so much pressure amongst friends, the media and keeping up with the Jones’ about a wedding being the ‘best day of your life’ and being told that your wedding was the best they’ve ever been to, when in reality, the day is about you and your partner declaring your love and commitment to each other. Everyone will be having so much fun at the wedding, they won’t be noticing the little things you’ve worried about months previously. So try to keep calm and break the wedding down into the most important factors, things that can wait, and things that you’ll do a long the way.
3. BUDGET
Make sure you both know financially how much the wedding is going to cost and that you’re both happy with the chosen amount, especially if you intend pay back loans or credit cards. If it’s going to effect you long term, please consider is it worth the amount of debt and monthly repayments you’ll be left paying for years on end and can you cut any unnecessary expenses? These days weddings can be done on a budget without looking cheap. There are many competitive deals to be had out there so its worth shopping around for the best bargain you can find. Take a look at our cheap alternative ways of finding unique wedding venues, which will help save the pennies.
4. BOOK A VENUE AND DECIDE ON GUEST LIST
Sounds simple right? Securing your venue is the most important part of the wedding planning. Getting the place you want, on the day you want it will not only take a massive weight off of your shoulders, it’s half of the job done. The guest list can cause problems and arguments with some families. Some parents or in laws will want you to invite people you don’t really know or relations so far removed you don’t even know them! Try to be accommodating and compromise when you can, if money allows. This will create harmony and peaceful vibes all round for the sake of a few extra people, however remember this is you and your other halves day, not theirs and if you want a private, intimate ceremony with just your nearest and dearest save the wider group of friends and in laws for a fantastic evening do!
5. SAVE THE DATE/ PREPARE INVITES & BOOK MUSIC
As soon as you can send out save the date cards to all your guests to allow as much time in advance for people to book time off of work, book hotels, plans routes etc. Once all your invites are sent out and you have RSVPS returned you can get a clearer indication of who is going to attend and numbers. Music is a massive part of the wedding, it creates a happy relaxed feel and euphoric atmosphere for you and your guests and get you in the mood to dance the night away! Shop around, read reviews, listen to sample mix tapes or go and watch the band live before booking. Many DJ’s now allow you to send it a list of your favourite songs or have online systems where guests can choose what songs they want to hear on the night, so that there’s a little something for everyone!
6. PHOTOGRAPHER/ VIDEOGRAPHER
This is one thing you cannot compromise on. Your big day is something you will want to look back on for years to come. You will need someone who is creative, knows how to take a good picture and something that screams class and quality! There are many talented photographers and videographers out there, but there are many rogue ones too, so again research businesses and photographers, read reviews and look through their portfolios before paying deposits. If it sounds too good to be true price wise, then we are certain it will be.
7. HEN DO
This comes down to personal choice. Some brides will just want something low key a drink out with pals or a meal for friends and family, while other brides to be will want a weekend away abroad in Marbs or somewhere that means taking a passport and champs at the airport! Some brides will want to plan this themselves, while others will hand the reins over to their maid of honour or bridesmaids, it’s completely up to you. Whatever you decide to do make sure you stay safe and have fun and don’t let spending get out of hand! Whilst its lovely to be able to jet off on a European break, some of your friends and family might not be able to be so loose on the purse strings, so take other people into consideration and try to do something that will cater to all your friends and family.
8. BRIDESMAID DRESSES/WEDDING DRESS, SHOES & ACCESSORIES
One of the most important parts of planning a wedding is the dresses! When choosing a dress shop around, many department stores and high street shops produce fabulous dresses a fraction of the price to some of the more expensive bridal boutiques. Go for something you will feel comfortable and confident in as you’re going to be in it all day. Try and focus on something that will flatter your shape and body size rather than squeezing into something because you need to fit into a certain size! Anything that is a bit loose can always be taken in by a seamstress. With your bridesmaids they are an important part of the day too, if you can try not to be too low budget with your bridesmaid dresses as the lack of quality will show on the day in the brides faces and in the pictures! Focus on what your bridesmaids like and dislike and their body shapes, you want them to feel fabulous on the day too. Have a fun day out all the girls where you can shop around and try on lots of different makes to see which style suits everyone best. They don’t all need to be wearing the same style, try and be as flexible as possible about this and be open to options. Avoid cheap dresses from China online as more often than not they won’t look like the pictures and you’ll only be very disappointed. If you are shopping online allow enough time so that if the dresses aren’t right or don’t fit you have plenty of time to send things back. Take a look at our incredible range of bridesmaid dresses…
9. HAIR/MAKE UP AND FLOWERS
Hair and make up is one of the most important things you need to consider about the day. Some women prefer doing their own make up, which is fine if that’s what you’re happy with. If you do decide to be made up it is absolutely imperative you have a trial make up day where you and your make up artist can decide which colours and shades suit you best and how to most effective bring out your natural beauty. If you can afford it getting your hair professional styled for you and your bridesmaids will make you all feel like a million dollars, as hairstylists can do fabulous do’s us mere mortals could only dream of and that will really notice in your photographs. If you decide to do your own hair along with your bridesmaids watch plenty of you tube videos and practice, practice, practice beforehand! Read our top tips for doing your own make up on the day.
Local florists can do spectacular arrangements so be confident in saying what you have in mind but be open to suggestions, remember they’re the experts! Get pinning and show the florist all of your ideas.
10. AFTER WEDDING BLUES
After your wedding day many people experience an initial low, especially once they are back from honeymoon, have opened the gifts and have to go back to work! The usual comings and goings of everyday normality can feel dull and boring compared to the roller coaster ride you’ve been on this last year. You spend so long planning and talking about this amazing day, you’ve been so exited about being a bride and bringing everyone you love all together to celebrate your happiness and now it’s all over, just like that!
Fear not! This is completely normal and natural so just go with it and allow yourself to feel these emotions. You’re bound to feel a bit deflated and blue that this amazing day has finally come around and now passed. But remember your wedding day was about declaring your love and commitment to another person. Now the real fun part begins, enjoying a lifetime of happiness and different experiences that you will share together in your now entwined lives. Marriage isn’t about the wedding day, it’s the marriage that comes with the months and years ahead and all the amazing things you will both achieve in your lives together.
