This article follows on from New Year, New Wedding Plan!
Well you have set the date and budget; chosen the venue, thought about the guest list and agreed your priorities! You are now in a position to think about the personal details of your wedding day, think about the wedding party and look for the main wedding suppliers.
This is a very important part of the wedding planning process. You need to be sure you choose the right suppliers and people to help to provide you with exactly what you need to make your wedding day vision become a reality. Split this up into bite sized chunks and keep it simple, so let’s look at: -
• Which suppliers do I need?
• Who should I book first?
• What to think about when choosing them?
• How to find them and making a short-list?
• Managing Suppliers.
• Putting Your Stamp on your Day.
• Choosing the Wedding Party.
Let’s start with a List of the Main Suppliers you may need:
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Florist
• Entertainment
• Cake Maker
• Hairdresser/makeup artist
• Caterer
• Transport
• Stationer
• Bridal shop/Dress/Attire
Who should I book first?
We recommend that you set your priorities and decide on what you and fiancé really want on your wedding day. For instance this may include the Photographer, Entertainment, Caterer and the Dress. Looking for these suppliers first will mean that you have fulfilled your priorities. It will also stop you from being overwhelmed with a huge list and not knowing where to start.
We recommend that you book a photographer early; they tend to get booked sometimes a year in advance. Florists also get very busy as well as popular entertainers.
Choosing your dress should be done as early as possible, if you have time, at least six months prior to the wedding day. This will allow for delivery and fittings. The style will determine your flower choices and probably your décor and wedding theme.
Where Do I find Suppliers?
You can find suppliers through word of mouth, local wedding fairs, bridal magazines, venue recommendation lists, blogs, twitter and online wedding directories, and of course sites like this one!
Take your time and don’t rush, do your research then short list to two or three. Seeing too many is confusing and very time consuming. Ensure you meet the supplier in person. Don’t rely on their website as the only guide. Ask to see testimonials or speak to past clients. Before signing any contracts make sure you know exactly what is on offer, and you understand their terms and conditions.
Managing Your Suppliers:
Set up a spreadsheet which lists all suppliers. Check when they need deposits and balances paid. This will ensure you don’t miss payments and keep track of your outstanding balances.
Make a list of their details, phone numbers, websites, and their contact names. Then if you need to change anything or query something you have the information at hand.
Putting Your Stamp on your Day:
Your wedding planning is in full swing but there are a few more very important details to consider. How do you put your own stamp on your wedding day so that it truly reflects you as a couple?
A good place is to think about the two of you, your hobbies, interests, even when and where you met can inspire you. You can bet you will come up with a list over a bottle of wine and some well-earned time with each other.
Do you love travelling? Are the places you visited important to you? Maybe you can use those for your table names and perhaps give guests luggage labels as favours or as place names. Once you start to think of what you two are really about the ideas will soon evolve.
Involve your friends and family, if your bridesmaid is a fantastic cake maker or incredibly arty maybe they can help make your stationery or a fabulous cake. Once you have your personal details in mind you can then think about the little ways to use them throughout the day. This site is great for inspiration browse and enjoy.
“It’s not about spending lots of money on things such as favours or expensive items you don’t need. It’s about really showing the world why you and your fiancé want to spend your lives together”
The Wedding Party- Bridesmaids, Ushers, Best Man:
At this point we should talk about your wedding party. Who you ask to help you with the wedding makes a big difference to the way you feel at the end of your planning journey, so choose carefully. You don’t want to be completely tired and stressed out on your wedding day.
Choose people who will keep you calm and are supportive; it also helps if they are good at organising. Involving your best friends and family is really special and makes your wedding that much more personal. Everyone you care about can feel part of your day.
Please remember, wedding planning can be very stressful, ask for help if you need it. Look at employing a wedding planner, they can be an extra pair of hands to free you up so you can concentrate on the things you like doing. Happy planning and don’t forget to stick to the rules!
The Rules!
• Remember stick to your priorities and budget.
• Keep things simple.
• Break planning into bite-sized chunks.
• Surround yourself with supportive people.
Have a brilliant wedding day!!
Huge thanks again to Julie from The Wedding Genie for this really helpful article. Julie is a fabulous source of information for all things wedding, and her own website and blog are highly recommended whether you’re looking for advice about planning a wedding, or more information on wedding planning services.
For more great wedding advice, please read Julie’s wedding planning blog, subscribe to her newsletter or follow her on Twitter!
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