Christmas and New Year are both popular times for couples to get engaged (congrats if that is you!), so here’s a few tips to help you get rolling on your planning process!
1. Collect Inspiration
With the numerous amounts of wedding options and themes available these days, it really helps to start writing down or taking photos of your favourite wedding ideas as you come across them. These could include; dress styles, colour palettes, centrepiece concepts, floral designs, etc. You may be tempted to skip this step and jump right into planning (I know… it is very tempting!), however further down the track when you start booking vendors and making decisions, it’s helpful to have all your thoughts and ideas in one place. Photos can also be very useful to show your vendors to help them help you to achieve your vision!
2. Work Out Your Budget
Once you and your partner have had a bit of time to get used to being an engaged couple, the next step is to have a sit down with your favourite meal and work on a rough budget together. This could include any money you already have saved up, the amount you’ll be able to save up between now and your wedding date, and any contributions your family may be willing to gift (both in time and money). Although it may seem like a daunting task, once you’ve got a basic idea of how much you have to spend, you can start working with some Canterbury’s amazing vendors to create your dream day, whatever that may look like.
3. Think About Your Bridal Party
One of my favourite things about weddings is the people, and the bridal parties are no exception. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are people you choose to stand by your side as you give your promises to your soon-to-be husband or wife, and they are there to support and help you through your journey. If you haven’t already thought about who you might choose to be on your bridal party, now would be a good time to start. Not only will this help you feel supported in the stresses of wedding planning, but good friends and family will also help create it into an enjoyable experience.
4. Start to Brainstorm Your Guest List
Some people may love this part of wedding planning, and some people may hate it. However, it has to be done. Starting to write out a rough guest list early is a good way to take some stress off you as you get closer to your wedding. It’s a good idea to begin your list with those must-have people at your wedding, and go on from there until you reach a limit either with your budget, or venue limitations.
5. Scout Out Your Venue and Photographer
Out of all the wedding vendors you may choose to be part of your day, wedding venues and photographers tend to book out the longest in advance, and if you have a specific one you love in mind, it’s better to get in early than later. There’s nothing worse than finding out your date and others close by aren’t available. There are so many wonderful and experienced wedding venues and photographers in Canterbury that you can work with, so don’t be afraid to send them an email and see what they can help you with!
6. Go On a Date!
Although you may be surprised that this is my last tip, I believe it is one of the most important things to do. Planning your wedding is likely to get stressful at times, and it’s easy to forget why you’re doing it in the first place. To remind yourself of what truly matters to you, I suggest you and your partner take a night out and do something that you both love – something that reminds you of your years together and the beautiful future you have ahead of you.
One small piece of final advice: don’t forget that in the end, your wedding day is ultimately about you and your partner beginning a new chapter of your story together, while including all the people and things you love.