Planning a wedding can be stressful, but we’re on hand to help you enjoy the experience too. Whether you’re planning a long engagement or you’re tying the knot soon after the proposal, trying to make sure that everything is organised for when you need it to be isn’t easy. In this blog we’re providing you with the ultimate wedding checklist.
Hiring a wedding planner
First things first, it’s a good idea to decide on timeframes for when you want certain aspects to be sorted. For example, you definitely don’t want to leave organising your venue until the last minute. If you’re hiring a wedding planner to help you along the way, Creative Venue Stylists can offer you as little or as much support as you need when planning your wedding day. Highly skilled members in the wedding planning industry will have their own wedding planners list to refer to so that nothing will be missed out on your special day.
We won’t lie to you, there is a lot to think about, even if you’re planning a small wedding. Our wedding planners in the North West work hard to ensure that each couple is happy and knowledgeable at each stage of the wedding planning process. If you’d like to limit the inevitable stresses leading up to your wedding day, we know we can help. We have wide knowledge in the industry and work closely with some of the best suppliers in the country to provide unforgettable wedding days. Check out our simple guide to wedding planning.
The Ultimate Wedding Checklist
Often people have different ideas of things you need for a wedding and the truth is that it completely depends on the style of wedding that you’re after. Our wedding planners around Lancashire can provide you with a fully bespoke wedding, just as you’d expect.
1. Plan your budget
This is such an important aspect that will need to be referred back to at many points of your wedding planning journey. Every couple’s wedding budget will be different and as we mentioned before, depends on the type of wedding you’re after. If you’re wanting to be savvy with your spending, you’ll have to work out which aspects of your day are most important and which you may be willing to sacrifice.
2. Visit venue options
When searching for the perfect wedding venue, you need to make sure that it meets your wants and needs as a couple. If you’ve got ideas for venue decor, a colour scheme and other important details, make sure that the venue fits in with those ideas. Another extremely important factor to consider regarding your wedding venue is the number of guests you are allowed during the day.
Will you choose to have your ceremony and your reception in the same venue or is this not possible? Either way, make sure you visit the venues with lots of questions so that you know what to expect and can easily make comparisons across venue options. Before choosing a venue, make sure it meets your expectations and allows you to have the wedding day that you want. When you’re sure, you should book the date early so that you can continue with the next steps of your wedding planning.
Another important factor to consider when it comes to choosing a venue is the food. Is the food included in the price or is there something available as an add on? Or maybe you want to hire an external caterer to sort your food, just make sure that your plans work with the venue you select.
3. The guest list
This may sound like an easy task but it’s often a hard one for many couples. Once you’re aware of how many people your venue will allow, you’ll need to get started on the guest list. The average wedding has around 100 guests, but it really does depend on how many guests your venue allows. Once you’ve whittled down your guest list, it’s time to send out your save the dates to ensure people are free. You may also want to let your bridesmaids and ushers know their roles during the day. You’ll also need to work out a table plan, although this can be created nearer the time.
4. Get some wedding inspo!
It’s very on trend at the moment to create a wedding mood board, why not give it a go? If you’re planning a long engagement then you’ve got loads of time to keep looking for inspiration for your special day. Think colour schemes, dresses, suits, cakes, venue decoration and any added extras you’d like such as a prosecco van or doughnut wall.
5. Photos and entertainment
Every wedding needs a photographer, you don’t want to be relying on friends and family to capture your special day on their phones. Instead of relying on online portfolios, it’s also a good idea to try and meet with your photographer (or have a video call) before booking to ensure that you get on with them. You may also want to organise some entertainment for your guests, this could be a DJ or even something very impressive like a magician! It’s totally up to you and what your budget allows.
6. Say yes to the dress…and the suit!
No pressure, you don’t need to say yes straight away and you may have to visit multiple dress shops to find the perfect dress. You’ll have a good idea of the style of dress you’re after so you can pick out the most fitting options. It’s a good idea to bring a couple of friends and some family members along to help you decide. After you’ve found the perfect dress, it may be wise to keep checking the fit of it leading up to your wedding day so that it can be altered if necessary.
You’ll also need to sort out wedding suits, suits for the usher and something for the bridesmaids. It’s a great idea to bring them along so that they can ensure they will be comfortable in the chosen outfit on the day. It may be a good idea to create a separate bridal checklist so you can ensure you’ve included everything such as shoes, jewellery, bags and any beauty treatments you’ve got planned.
7. Cake and flowers!
What an exciting aspect of your wedding planning and one where the mood board will definitely come in handy. Be sure to check out the flowers that are in season during the date of your wedding as these colours and styles will often complement your wedding date. When it comes to your cake, there’s plenty of options, you could go for a cupcake tower or even a small cake with a plain design.
8. Transport
Booking the transport to your ceremony and reception is important, you need a reputable company that you can trust to be on time. Whether you’re after something fancy or just a mode of transport, it needs sorting as you don’t want to end up stuck anywhere on your special day.
9. Rings and vows
No list of wedding preparations would be complete without mentioning the rings. A wedding ring is a symbol of your marriage and something you will see every day, so you need to make sure they are right for both of you. You can speak to an expert who can advise you on various styles to compliment your engagement ring. Your vows are an important declaration and will need to be well thought out.
10. Invitations and favours!
Wedding invitations will give your guests an idea of what to expect on your wedding day. It’s important to send these out with enough time before the wedding so that guests can make any necessary arrangements for work and travel. Your wedding favours are also important and should be as personal as possible. It’s totally up to you what you organise for favours and also what your wedding budget allows.
11. Hair and makeup
You’ll want to look your best during the day therefore you should have a trial of both hair and makeup before selecting someone for the job. Once you’re happy with the look, you will need to book the artist and hairdresser for a reasonable time on the morning of your wedding. They will be able to advise you on this.
If you’d like any support planning your wedding day, feel free to contact us. Our wedding planning experts in Lancashire can provide you with extensive wedding to do lists and even plan the whole day for you. Happy planning!
