PLANNING SOS 47 Local experts from a variety of specialisms share their words of wisdom to get your wedding planning started on the right foot AT A TIME One step https://andrewbillingtonphotography.com Location, location, location MEGAN ELLIOTT, OAK TREE OF PEOVER www.oaktreeofpeover.co.uk | @theoaktreeofpeover We’re engaged! Now what? There are a few key things you might want to think about to get started on the journey to marriage. The first step is to discuss the kind of wedding you both want. Do you imagine a big celebration, a small intimate gathering, a destination wedding, or something non-traditional? Make sure your visions align before planning further. Next, you’ll need to set a budget. The budget is one of the most important conversations you’ll need to have. Consider how much you want to spend and where the money will come from. Talk to any family members who may want to contribute. Draft a guest list to get a rough idea of how many people you’d like to invite, as this will influence many of your other decisions, including venue size, budget, and even the overall style of your wedding. Picking a wedding date is important. It can be specific or just a general timeframe, like next summer for example. Flexibility can make booking a venue easier but having an idea of when you want to get married helps to move the planning forward. Start looking at venues early because they tend to book up fast. Consider whether you want a traditional venue, an outdoor location, or something unique that reflects your personalities. Every couple’s journey is different, so take your time and do what feels right for you both. There are no strict timelines or rules—just enjoy the process and create the celebration that best reflects your love story. Do we need wedding insurance? It might not be the first thing you think of when planning your wedding, but it can offer immense peace of mind and protect you against the unexpected. Weddings are a whirlwind of coordination between vendors, venues, and guests. While we all hope everything will go according to plan, reality can sometimes throw us a curveball. Wedding insurance provides a safety net for those “what-if” situations that could derail your special day. In the grand scheme of wedding costs, insurance is a relatively small price to pay for the invaluable peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered. With so much to plan, protect yourself and your once-ina-lifetime day with wedding insurance so that you can truly focus on what matters most: celebrating the beginning of your beautiful journey together. What’s your top planning tip? Book all of your suppliers as early as possible. This is one of the most important strategies in wedding planning to ensure you get the best fit for your special day. By securing vendors well in advance, you give yourself more choices, can lock in pricing before it rises, and alleviate the stress of last-minute decisions. Remember, quality suppliers are often booked a year or more ahead, so start as soon as you can and prioritise those services that mean the most to you for a perfect wedding day.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=