It’s no surprise that planning your big day can be a lot and knowing what to plan and when can be tricky when you haven’t done it before – especially if you don’t have a comprehensive list to go by. 

That’s why we’ve put together a go-to checklist for you and your partner with some of the most important things, for a stress-free and timely wedding planning process. 

Budget 

First things first, it’s time to determine your overall budget for both your wedding and honeymoon. This will help you figure out where you’re going to segment your money, which in turn will make the entire planning process so much easier. 

What are the most important things and what are your optional extras? Putting together a spreadsheet of funds is a great practice to keep you organised as you go along. 

There’s a lot to think about, perhaps more than you might think, and we’ve listed some of the biggest factors to consider and assign your budget to below… 

Venue 

When it comes to your venue, it’s important to book this as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.  

Make sure you view and narrow down a selection of places before you make your final decision, so you can make sure it’s what you really want in the flesh, whether you can justify splashing out on the location and whether it’s feasible for the number of guests and the ceremony you intend to have. 

Is your venue going to be for the main ceremony and evening reception, or do you need to book separate places? 

Guest Invites 

Now that your dream venue is in check, it’s time to send out the invites.  

Make sure to get quotes for both design and the printing of your invites from a selection of companies to work out the best options and pricing for you. 

We advise that this is one of the first steps to your planning process and that it’s done in plenty of time, so that all of your guests can make it and that the invites are printed and delivered in good time. 

Vendors  

Food and Drink

Food and drink are other big factors to think about in advance. Is there a food and drink package at your chosen venue, or do you need to arrange this separately? 

Determine whether you’d like a sit-down 3-course meal and bar as opposed to a free-for-all buffet as this will also help with your decision. 

Over the recent years, a lot of people have also started having sweet stands, arts and crafts and other little fun extras too, so consider whether this is something you want to include. 

At this point, knowing how many guests are set to attend can make all the difference as this will help you estimate how much you’ll need to pay and how many meals will need to be prepared on the day. 

Photographer/Videographer

Capture all the best moments from the big day with a photographer that can attend your wedding from start to finish. 

Explore your local options and help to support small, local businesses that also have the experience and expertise you’re looking for. 

The likelihood is, you’re going to want all of the photos sent to you after the day, so make sure to question this before securing your photographer, to ensure there are no extra/hidden costs. 

Now, if you’ve got a guest who is intending on filming the wedding day for you, you won’t need to worry about a videographer, but for a lot of people, having one helps, knowing that all of your guests can enjoy the day and that it’s all been recorded properly and not a moment is missed. 

Entertainment

There is a selection of options when it comes to entertainment, and this doesn’t necessarily involve music. We’ve listed some of them below… 

  • Live band 
  • DJ 
  • Adult and kid’s games 
  • Fireworks 

Toilet Facilities

Whilst this might not seem like the most luxurious part of planning your day, having toilet facilities on site is a definite must in making sure your guests are looked after and have the right wash and toilet facilities to hand. 

Determine an approximate number of guests that your wedding is catering for and we can recommend a toilet unit that best suits the needs of you and your guests. 

As all of your guests are most likely going to be dressed up, having a spacious toilet facility with mirrors and also ample room to change for children is something to definitely consider. 

To view our wedding toilet hire facilities with the option for on-site attendants to be available, click here for our luxury range or click here for our specialist event toilets. 

Wedding Dress 

We’re here to help you find your wedding dress of dreams! 

If you kind of know what you want already, that’s great, but if not, what a better reason to shop around. 

Make sure you try on a few until you find the right one and remember, it may need to be altered – we advise leaving the alterations until later on to make sure it’s the perfect fit on the day. 

Once you’ve picked, you can decide on shoes and accessories, and better yet, your bridesmaid dresses! 

Florist 

Booking your florist relatively early will also ensure you receive the bridal bouquet you’ve always dreamed of, especially if it’s being customised. 

You’ll also need to order bouquets for your bridesmaids, flower girl and buttonholes for the best man, ushers and page boy. 

Again, supporting a local business will provide you with a quality service and bouquets and also help small businesses near you. 

Wedding Cake 

Decide on the flavour, toppings, size and aesthetic of your cake to ensure you and your partner receive the dream wedding cake you’ve been fantasizing about. 

Research local bakers and cake makers in your area and ask for an ETA to ensure you receive your cake fresh; either the day before or on the morning of the wedding. 

Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and you’re bound to find this really useful for all aspects of your wedding planning.  

If you and your partner don’t know what you’d like, this means you can show your cake maker a photo of exactly what you want. 

Honeymoon 

The fun and romance certainly doesn’t stop once your wedding day has come to an end – there’s still the Honeymoon to look forward to! 

If you plan to go abroad, planning this really early on makes it more likely to get a cheaper and better deal but also helps to secure the exact dates you have in mind. 

The typical tradition has always stood that the groom plans a surprise honeymoon, but over the years this has very much changed. Having the majority of your trip planned before the 5-month mark until your wedding day is a good time frame to aim for. 

 

If you’re looking for more tips on planning your wedding day of dreams or would like advice on the best wedding toilet hire we have available, get in touch, here.