Wedding planning need not be an insurmountable task , full of stressful moments and endless task lists. If you have now joined the ‘I’m getting married ‘ club, congratulations! I’ve put together 10 very useful tips to help you get started with planning your wedding, practical steps you can take e to ensure a smooth planning journey

1. TAKE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR ENGAGEMENT

It’s easy to rush into making ALL the plans but I highly recommend taking a pause to call your friends and family, share the good news as many times as you wish and just truly enjoy the moment and well wishes.

2. Discuss your priorities and ‘must haves’.

This is really important before you commit any time or resources to planning. As couple, have a conversation about what kind of wedding you want to have, you might be surprised that each of you has certain things that are deal breakers that require a compromise to be met. It’s in these conversations that you get a picture of the kind of experience the wedding will be.

3. GET INSPIRED!

Once you have an idea of the kind of wedding you want to have, take some time to really get inspired. Now is the time to immerse yourself in wedding world! Dive into wedding blogs and directories , start a Pinterest mood board to help you catalogue the things you like. This will also be very useful for your wedding planner , stylist and florist for example, later down the line when you are explaining your vision.

4. MONEY TALKS 

Set a budget. I cannot stress this enough. Be clear form the beginning how much you have available to spend on the wedding including family contributions. Create a simple spreadsheet or tracker that will help you stay on top of spending throughout the planning process. Your budget should reflect your priorities. If food, drink and entertainment are paramount, your budget should reflect this. Always have a contingency built in for unexpected costs and last minute changes.

5. GET ORGANISED AND GET HELP

If the thought of planning a small birthday party makes you nervous, I highly recommend seeking out a few family members and friends who you know are reliable to help you with your wedding planning. If you have the budget to do so, consider working with a wedding planner.

6. RESEARCH INSURANCE

If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we must plan for the unexpected. I highly recommend, actually insist on you finding a wedding insurer that can give you peace of mind in the event of any mishaps or issues on the day or leading up to it.

7. START WITH THE BIG STUFF

when you’ve done the above and are ready to start committing to your wedding plan, start with the big stuff, the high ticket purchases. In this case, your wedding venue or location. It is often the biggest cost , closely followed by food and beverage. The venue also sets the tone for your celebration so do spend time researching and evaluating a space that will be ideal for the style of wedding you want to have.

8. ENJOY THE PLANNING

Wedding planning should not be a stressful slog you have to get through to have a wonderful day. Enjoy key moments such as the food tastings, bridal appointments, choosing your décor. Invite friends and family you know who will make the experience of each of these moments even better – you are well within your rights to not invite that aunty who always has something (negative ) to say. You want positive vibes only during this time.

9. BE MINDFUL OF  YOUR WELLBEING

Now is not the time to try some crazy fad diet or embark on a ‘shredding for the wedding’ regime. I recommend allocating specific time or a day of the week to your wedding planning so it doesn’t take over the rest of your lives and remains something you look forward to doing as a couple. With everything else that is happening in the world around us, be particularly mindful of not allowing the run up to your wedding become a stressor.

10.BE PRESENT AND ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Once you finally get to the big day, it is amazing how quickly time passes. Often my couples remark on how swift the day goes after the ceremony. I always encourage them to be wholly present in each part of the day, having help ensures you’re not worrying about the detail when you should be enjoying your big day with loved ones. I also advise to schedule time for just the two of you during the day so you can both take a step back and take it all in.