January and February is wedding planning season. Many venues curate their annual pricing list at the start of the year, and offer discounts on venue bookings. Weddings are a big undertaking, and depending on your guest list, can be the largest event you will ever plan in your life. There are quite a few aspects couples should think about before beginning their wedding planning process. The following steps are typically taken 18 months to 2 years before a wedding.
So once you’ve said “YES” and want to get started with ‘getting hitched’, here’s the first six steps you should take to be well on the way to your dream wedding.
Research some venues
There are many venues across the UK which specialise in weddings. There are also many hotels, restaurants and castles that are available for hire for special events such as weddings. Venues will vary greatly in price, but these set up will usually
Pretty much any venue or private premises can be used for a wedding with prior permission. Think to a special moment together as a couple, or a place you grew up as children. Whether it’s a religious wedding or a secular wedding, or a civil ceremony – the locations of the vows and signing of the contract should also be considered when research a venue.
Consider accessibility and the needs of your wedding guests. Is a destination wedding too far for special guests to travel? Would the venue be suitable for the time of year you hope to get married? Are the amenities at the property suitable.
Also think about the activities or entertainment you want to feature at your wedding. Is the venue large enough to accommodate this, and will the venue owner or manager allow it. For activities such as fireworks or live music, you may need to consult the property owner.
Review your budgets
Weddings can quickly go over budget. It’s important to manage your money in order to include everything you want from your wedding and have the perfect day. Couples will need have an honest and open conversation about finances and how much they are each willing to bring to the table.
Have realistic expectations – the more you save on your wedding the better the honeymoon. Often the more affordable the venue, the more flexibility there is for decorations and entertainment. Package deals and discount offers can go a long way to securing the perfect event.
If any family members are wanting to contribute to the wedding, it’s important they are involved at every stage of the buying process. Sit down with them and discuss budgets.
Keep close track of your payments an deposits, in a spreadsheet or with receipts. This will help you stay within budget and also understand the overall value of your wedding. For insurance purposes and incase of cancellations, keep your payments documented will be key.
Forming budgets is also a fantastic time to understand pricings. Most marriages are first time marriages, and therefore young couples can get quite a shock when researching prices. Think about the different aspects of your dream wedding and include them in your budget.
Speak to a wedding organiser
Wedding organisers, also known as wedding planners, will help couples get the most out of their money. They understand the necessary timings of bookings, the best third-party service to utilise, and what things should cost, ensuring you don’t get ripped off.
Access an experienced wedding organiser by going to a wedding fair, or a venue open day. Don’t be scared to make introductions and ask questions.
A wedding organiser could be a professional, or perhaps a Maid-of-Honour who has experience planning weddings. Many venue bookings will allocate a dedicated wedding organiser who understands the limitations of the space and the best local caterers.
If you have a particularly busy work week, wedding organisers are especially recommended, saving you both a lot of stress closer to the wedding date. If you are undecided on plans, wedding organisers can help inspire you and ask those valuable questions you wouldn’t have thought to ask.
One big mistake (such as not booking transport or a photographer cancelling) could ruin everything you’ve planned and paid for. A wedding organiser will assist, all the way from initial plans to the final big day.
Decide on your guest list
The size of the guests list generally determines the overall price of the wedding. Many venues and caterers charge per head, and therefore a small guestlist can produce significant savings.
Who comes could well dictate the theme and entertainment required. Large weddings may require performers or games available in order to keep everyone entertained and to not have people feel left out. The size of the guestlist can also affect the itinerary on the big day, and how much time you, as a married couple, will need to dedicate to greeting the guests.
Try to reduce you guestlist down to a size you are comfortable entertaining. Typical rule is: If you see them in the supermarket and would duck to avoid them, probably best not to invite them to the full ceremony. Most guests are there for the evening entertainment anyway.
Set a Date
Once you’ve decided on a venue, as well as your theme and entertainment, it time to set a date. Summer and spring months can be more expensive than autumn and winter. Weekends are also at a premium. Set a date that works best for you and your relationship timeline.
Consider the limitations of your guests. Setting the event date in line with school holidays and bank holidays may be required for certain job roles. Also for any guests travelling internationally – discuss with them their options well ahead of time.
Wedding Insurance
As soon as you put down your first deposit, which is presumably the venue date, you will require insurance. At Insure Our Event we offer Wedding Cancellation Insurance which is able to cover the cost of the deposit should an unexpected circumstance mean the wedding cannot go ahead. Postponements and cancellations are common occurrences, therefore insurance is essential to financially support couples.
Alongside cancellation insurance, public liability for weddings is essential. This will cover slips trips and falls at the event, as well as third party damages. Public liability insurance will cover the legal fees and compensation.
If you plan to have fireworks at your wedding, it is essential you purchase additional firework insurance. This includes a firework risk assessment which will be necessary in the event of a claim.
Weddings can often include activities which require additional insurance and liability cover. Performers and entertainers will all need their own insurance, which event organisers will need to be on top of. If someone chokes on some food or react from food allergies, the catering company should have adequate insurance in place, which will need to be checked.
Insurance is an essential component when planning a wedding and cannot be forgotten about. You venue operator should ask for proof of public liability in order for the event to go ahead.
The best place to purchase Wedding Insurance is from Insure Our Event. Insure Our Event provide a free quote form which produces an suggested cover limits and price instantly. Insure Our Event specialise in tailored insurance policies which are unique to your wedding. No unnecessary covers which you won’t need, only the minimum limits for the best price.
Check out our quote form today to see how much your wedding insurance should cost. Policies start from just £25.
