So, you've got yourself the man of your dreams, or at least something in close proximation to that, he's proposed to you and you're all set to get married and spend the rest of your days together. What could be more wonderful?! If you've set a date for next summer, here are five things to bear in mind to help with the planning process
Start Planning as Early as Possible
Really, the sooner you start planning for your wedding, the better. Weddings have a habit of throwing up all kinds of expenses that you never thought of. Therefore, in order to get through all of those before it's too late and to avoid scrambling around at last minute to sort dress alterations or table decorations, sit down and start planning your wedding once you've set a date, or even before that, when he or she has just proposed. Make a list of everything you need to do, everything you need to buy and you could even think about who you want to involve in helping you with the preparation of your big day.
Calculate Your Budget
Weddings have a habit of becoming incredibly expensive, incredibly quickly. That’s why it’s important to budget wisely from the start. Determine your budget, and then use that as the backbone for planning everything else. Don’t just make a budget and then go ‘what the hell’ and ignore it. Weddings are emotional events, but you need to keep a level head if you want to avoid getting into debt just before you start a fresh new life together.
Decide on the Location
Although you may be desperate to get out there and try on as many wedding dresses as you possibly can to find that one in a million that makes you look and feel like the bride you want to on your big day, it is more sensible to decide on and book the location before choosing the dress. Unless of course your dress is an heirloom that you've been given by your gran or mum. The location pretty much, in many situations, dictates really the kind of wedding dress you should opt for. For instance, if you're interested in having a destination wedding and are looking at some sun-drenched beach along the coast of the Maldives or in St Lucia, a wedding dress with a long train and veil is not going to be the most ideal. Conversely, if you're interested in the big and elaborate trappings of a church or community hall wedding in a formal setting, you're slimline, tight and sexy wedding dress may look a tad out of place. So, before you start falling for a wedding dress, decide on the location. Even if you don't have the location booked, but know where you want to have the wedding, that'll better enable you to pick a suitable dress that you love and your hubby will love too.
Be Prepared for theUps and Downs of Dress Shopping
Dress shopping might sound like a lot of fun, but it can actually take its toll on you. If you dont find what you're after right away, it's easy to worry that you never will. It probably wont be a case of walking into a store, finding the gown of your dreams and having that 'eureka' moment. It could be a lot of chopping and changing, being unsure between two options and being tempted to alter the budget you've set. If you're planning on getting a dress made for you, then you obviously need to allow time for the seamstress to make the dress and then there's the fittings and the alterations. All of that takes money, but also time. So, don't leave it to the last minute. Even if you are buying a wedding dress off the rack, you're still probably going to need it fitted properly and altered where appropriate.
Build the Guest List
It should be more common sense than it actually is, but it’s crucial that you sort out a rough estimate, at the very least, of the number of guests you want to actually attend your wedding. Obviously, you’re only really going to know a more precise number once you send out invites and save the dates, but there’s no point looking for a location and venue for the wedding, if you’re not sure how many people you want to be there. Sit down with your fiancé and make a list of all the people you want to attend the wedding. At this point, if you’re thinking of having a destination wedding, you need to think about how easily your guests will be able to attend. It may even be worth thinking about having a reception back home and just having the proper ceremony abroad for your nearest and dearest.
