Planning a Wedding 1 Year Ahead
Planning 1 Year
Ahead
Planning a wedding can be an
overwhelming process with so much to organize and oversee.
The average time for planning between the engagement and the
wedding is 12-18 months. It is highly advisable to plan and
book well in advance.
Know Your
Wedding Budget
The expenses for a wedding
can grow to be astronomical, so it is important to set a
budget based on how much you can afford. This will indicate
what type of wedding can be afforded and the planning can
then begin. It is vital to talk about the type of ceremony
wanted by the groom as well as the bride, and list the
expenses for your wedding so the budget can be allocated
accordingly. Be prepared to compromise, like inviting fewer
guests for a more classy ceremony so you do not end up in
substantial debt.
Leave a portion of the budget unspent to cover any
unforeseen expenses. It is advisable to open a separate bank
account for the wedding, so any contributions can be input
and all expenses can be paid out of this account.
If family members are willing to contribute, it is important
to communicate clearly about how much they are willing to
provide. Do not make unrealistic demands on how much you
want from people. Remember it takes good communication and a
level of tact when dealing with money. There are a number of
budgeting and planning software available which may
facilitate planning the wedding.
Set The
Wedding Date
Begin by setting the date for
the wedding so time off from work can be booked well in
advance.
Have a plan of all the events such as pre-wedding dinners,
the honeymoon, stag/hen parties etc.
The availability and costs of the date need to be
considered. You may wish to set a provisional date to ensure
certain guests can attend. Birthdays, holidays and family
events may coincide with provisional dates and prevent key
people from attending.
Booking a wedding at certain
times of the year has premium costs for services such as
photographers, venue hire and transportation. If booking
during these premium months of April to May, December be
aware of availability issues and book well in advance.
Saturdays are the most prevalent day to book a wedding and
therefore the most expensive, followed by Fridays and
Sundays. Booking a wedding at the weekend is convenient for
guests, but at a higher cost.
Booking during the slower months can help to keep costs down
and make it easier to find good services as there is higher
competition for your business. Costs can be cut further by
having a buffet and buying alcohol separately.
Create the
Wedding Guest List
The guest list is influenced
by the location, dates, budget and family members. By this
point the type of the wedding celebration should be decided
upon so the size of the guest list is known. There may be a
cap of no more than 100 guests.
When writing the guest list be sure to again communicate
with both sides of the family, as one side may want to
invite more guests than the other. There may be clashes
concerning financial contributions and the guest list. One
party may feel they want to invite more family as they are
contributing more towards the wedding. The wishes of both
families need to be valued.
‘Save the Date’ cards are an
option that has increased in popularity in recent years.
These are little cards which are typically sent out about a
year before the wedding so guests can mark the date in their
dairies.
‘Set the Date’ cards work particularly well if invites are
going to be sent out to people living abroad so they can
plan and book flights and accommodation in advance.
Search for a
Venue
Once the guest list has been
decided upon the search for the reception venue can begin.
The right venue can make the reception a memorable event for
all the right reasons, so start searching for the venue well
in advance so the perfect one can be found.
Be sure that the venue can accommodate the number of guests
you wish to invite, with enough seating space and large
enough dance area. Some guests may require disabled
facilities, so be sure these are available. Car parking
space is also an issue which needs to be taken in to
consideration.
When looking at wedding
venues ask about any rules or regulations which need to be
adhered to such as noise levels and closing times. Some
venues have their own suppliers and may not be happy with
other companies.
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