49 PLANNING SOS Top tips for organising your big day MEET STEFFI FROM HEDINGHAM CASTLE When do I search for my venue? After fixing your budget and deciding on guest numbers and date, choosing your venue is one of the first items to tackle on your ‘To Do’ list as so many other elements rely on it, including booking the majority of your suppliers (photographer, caterer, entertainment etc.) as well as creating your invites and booking the registrar. So, whether you’re planning your wedding in six months or two years, get your venue booked as a priority to give plenty of time for everything else. What questions should I be asking my venue before booking? You’ll have many questions to ask all the venues you view but it can be easy to forget them once you’re there and distracted by looking round. Go armed with a notebook and prepared questions to stay on track. There are crucial questions you’ll need to know before you even book a viewing with a venue, to ascertain whether it’s a viable option for you, such as minimum and maximum guest numbers, is the venue exclusive hire (will you be the only couple getting married there on the day) and is there onsite accommodation. Once you’re there, you can ask more in-depth questions such as is the catering in-house or can you choose your own, is there outside ceremony space, is there flexibility with the décor and what’s the parking provision for guests. At Hedingham Castle, we provide couples with a pack of essential information including all of this as well as recommended suppliers and a pricing guide. Do remember... Pinterest is an invaluable tool when you’re choosing your décor, as it allows you to find out what inspires you, even if you don’t initially know yourself what that might be. From there, you can choose your colour scheme, dress style, entertainment inspiration and much more, and it can really help you hone in on what you want for your big day. Consider your timings for the day. You want plenty of time in the morning to get ready in leisure, no one wants to be rushing about and getting stressed on their wedding day. We say that 3pm is a perfect ceremony time as it allows a lovely flow into a 3.30-4pm drinks reception, which usually lasts one to two hours, leading nicely into an early evening wedding breakfast and the festivities ahead. Weddings can be long days for guests especially if you have young or elderly guests so is something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of an early ceremony. Top Tip Get yourself organised from the start; it will make the planning process so much more enjoyable and help minimise stress as much as possible. Whichever tools work best for you - a lovely notebook or wedding planner if you’re a pen and paper person, or an online To Do list such as Trello which you can share with your partner and key members of your wedding party can be very useful. Find which suits your planning style and it won’t be a chore. Here at An Essex Wedding, we understand how overwhelming organising your nuptials can be. To lighten the load, we’ve spoken to our local industry experts to offer their tips and advice! SOS Planning Visit: www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk/weddings www.broadhousemedia.co.uk www.i-photography.co.uk
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