PLANNING
THE VENUE SAYS IT ALL The backbone of any wedding , choosing the location and venue is one of the first decisions made by a couple when planning their important day .
Research is key , as is giving yourself lots of time to visit plenty of venues before making your final decision . Once you have selected your venue , the bigger picture of your wedding will be easier to envision . The upcoming event will feel more ‘ real ’ and become easier to plan , while also giving you a precise timeline to plan around .
IT ’ S ALL IN THE PLAN Once you have a clear vision and know the desired ‘ style ’ of your wedding , it ’ s time to start creating a more structured plan . Apps such as WeddingHappy , AllSeated and Trello are all great virtual planners that can easily be shared with other people . If you prefer to stay traditional , buy a special wedding planning book .
When planning , as well as absorbing your visual mood boards and wish lists , a good exercise is closing your eyes and taking yourself through the day as you imagine it from start to finish . What can you see ? From flowers and decorations , to music and food , select key elements and remember - prioritise your desires . Once you have listed these , create achievable deadlines and targets for getting things booked and delivered .
SELECTING SPLENDID SUPPLIERS One of the most difficult parts of wedding preparation is selecting your suppliers . We suggest breaking down the day into these main categories : the way you look , the way the venue looks , the food and drink , logistics , photography and entertainment and added extras . From here you can list the suppliers you would like to involve to ensure these categories are exactly as you desire .
Recommendations from couples that are already married is a great way of whittling down your options , as is searching for local suppliers on
Instagram , from which you will get a good visual idea of what they can achieve . Local wedding fairs are also a wonderful way of getting a real taste of who ’ s out there , as well as coming face-to-face with the brains behind the business and chatting through exactly what they can do for you before making any final decisions .
Remember to always read contracts before signing and be certain you understand everything involved before laying down a deposit .
A HELPING HAND Using a wedding planner and embracing their knowledge and expertise can save you lots of time as well as costly mistakes further down the line . If your budget doesn ’ t stretch to a wedding planner , asking for help from friends and family is a great way of getting them involved and making the event even more memorable . Most people are more than happy to lend a helping hand - always consider people ’ s own personal strengths and enjoyment when assigning any tasks . Are they a creative person that loves to get crafty , or are they a taskmaster who loves to organise and check off lists ?
WELL REHEARSED A pre-wedding rehearsal will help put your mind at ease before the big day and allow your close wedding party to understand the order of the day ’ s events beforehand . It will also uncover any possible glitches and allow for important amendments to be made . You may have opted to use a traditional toastmaster on the day of your wedding to announce things such as the speeches and when to move to different rooms , of which a rehearsal is very important .
Rehearsals also allow you to create a specific timeline of the day ’ s events that will go on behind the scene , which include finalising and scheduling times with suppliers and coordinating this with the venue and any planners .
26 | AKENTISHCEREMONY . COM | WINTER 2022