Your Wedding Planning Essentials

Planning your wedding is an extremely exciting time in your life – if that’s why you’re reading this right now – congratulations! When it comes to planning yourself the perfect wedding, there’s so much to think about and the possibilities are truly endless – so much so that, sometimes, it can all get a tad overwhelming.

*Collaborative post.

Although planning a wedding is a magical time of your life, it can be pretty stressful too – trust me, I know! Having recently got married after planning my big day for two years (and working around lots of government lockdowns), I’ve learnt a few tips and tricks along the way that made everything that little bit easier. 

One of the things I did that helped immensely when it came to planning my wedding was to sort out all the ‘essentials’ first. That way, no matter what happened, I knew that the basics were covered and I was DEFINITELY having a wedding! After I had the essentials, I knew I could start planning other things, such as ordering balloon arches or hiring a dance floor.

I thought I’d share my 4 essential planning areas with you in the hopes that another bride-to-be like me will take comfort in knowing that, although it all seems overwhelming, there are things that you can do to take some of the pressure off.

Think about your wedding rings.

Your wedding ring is the only part of your wedding that you’re going to take with you everywhere you go. Your wedding ring will be a part of you for the rest of your life, so it’s important that you put thought into the shape and style of the wedding ring you want to wear. Your partner will have put a lot of time and energy into looking at engagement rings, so you’re going to want to find a wedding band that compliments their choice. 

Ensure that you do your research before committing to a wedding band; it needs to sit well with your engagement ring and be set in a style that you’ll love and cherish forever. Often jewelers have beautiful collections, such as this collection of moissanite rings, that feature rings of various shapes and styles. 

You can find beautiful wedding rings online, as well as in-store. Online jewelers such as Jeulia sell beautiful wedding bands for both men and women. They also provide other jewelry that brides may wish to wear on their big day, such as necklaces and bracelets.

Draft out your guest list.

You’re bound to have a huge list of people that you want to be a part of your big day. My advice would be to start big and work your way down the list, removing anyone you’re unsure about. Write a list of all the people you have considered inviting and think about whether or not you’re inviting them because you want them there, or because you feel you have to invite them in order to keep the peace. 

There are lots of reasons that brides-to-be invite people to their wedding day, despite not actually wanting them there, so be sure to really think about your big day and the people you really want there. Your wedding day is all about you and your partner, and as such, you should only invite the people around you that you love and cherish. 

You’ll need to have a good idea about the number of guests you’re going to be inviting before you start to think about booking a venue, so be sure to spend time with your partner and make sure you’re happy with your guest list before moving on.

Find a venue you love.

Finding the perfect venue was the moment that made everything feel ‘real’ for me. This was one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning for me, but it was also one of the most stressful. When it comes to booking a venue for your wedding, there are lots of aspects you need to consider before committing.

Firstly, always remember your budget and your guest list when considering booking your wedding venue. The size of the venue you’ll need to book will depend on the number of guests that you’re going to have in attendance. When searching for a venue, make sure to ask about what packages they can offer you, for example:

• Can they accommodate your wedding party for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast/reception?
• Are they able to provide wedding decorations that fit the theme you’ve decided upon?
• Do they have rooms for guests to stay in – will you get a discount for using them? 
• Will they provide catering for your wedding party or do you need to provide food and drink?

There are lots of aspects to consider before booking your venue, however, once you’ve booked it, you’ll know that you are, no matter what, officially getting married!

Try different styles of dress on.

The last ‘essential’ I sorted out was, of course, the wedding dress! I had the venue, I knew my guest list, and I had found the wedding band of my dreams – now it was time to find the perfect wedding dress. Once I’d found the dress, everything else fell into place. I had peace of mind knowing that I had all the wedding essentials covered and that everything else that came with wedding planning was more about the aesthetics than the actual wedding itself. 

My final piece of advice for sorting out your wedding planning essentials is to try on dresses in person, and always try on some styles that you wouldn’t originally see yourself wearing. We all have that image of the ‘perfect wedding dress’ in our heads, but there were so many styles of dress that I absolutely adored, even though I didn’t think I would. It’s helpful to take someone with you when trying on wedding dresses so they can give you advice and share their honest opinions about the dresses you’re interested in.