Cornwall Wedding Planner - Wedding planning, 10 top tips on how to get started.

How to start your wedding planning for your Cornwall wedding. 

Your wedding will likely be the biggest party you’ll ever throw—and figuring out how to plan one can feel pretty daunting at first. Whether you have over a year or just a few months, focus on one task at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. If you find wedding planning checklists a bit overwhelming, here are 10 top tips on the basic steps you’ll need to ensure your wedding planning is a success. 

1. Set a Budget

When it comes to figuring out how to plan a wedding—you’ll need to decide how much you can or want to spend on your wedding. It might not be the most fun part of the process, but it’s a task that really needs to be completed first. So sit down with your parents or other potential contributors to come up with a total budget, and then divide it up by vendor or service accordingly.

2. Get Inspired

One of the most fun parts of planning a wedding step by step is gathering inspiration. Think about how you want your wedding to look and feel. Are you going for a super-classic and formal vibe? Or perhaps an event that’s more relaxed and rustic? The choice is yours, but it’s a good idea to start perusing Pinterest, Instagram, and wedding websites to start considering colour schemes, décor ideas.

3. Start Your Guest List and Pick Your Wedding Party

While you don’t have to have a final guest list until a bit later, when thinking about how to plan a wedding, coming up with an estimated guest count early on is really important. There’s a big difference between a 50-person wedding and a 200-person wedding, particularly when it comes to your venue options. 

4. Set The Date!

You won’t officially “set a date” until you book your venue. But, I recommend choosing a few potential wedding dates before you start looking at venues. First, think about the season in which you’d like to get married—and if a Saturday night wedding is a must (convenient, but potentially more expensive and competitive) or if you’re open to a wedding on a different (perhaps less in-demand) day. Then, take a look at the calendar, taking into account work schedules, holidays, family conflicts, etc., and narrow things down to a few choice dates. Having some potential wedding dates in mind will be very helpful during the venue selection process.

5. Choose a Venue

Now that you have a budget, an estimated guest count, and a few potential wedding dates in mind, you have all the information you need to book a wedding venue.

6. Book Suppliers

The average couple hires 13 vendors to help create their dream wedding day. That may seem like a lot, but it’s important to hire the right people to ensure that your big day runs smoothly. If you are not using a wedding planner then read online reviews to help choose the best of the best.

7. Finalize Guest List

If you haven’t already, it’s time to create your final wedding guest list. Remember that if your parents are contributing financially to your big day, they may want a say in who’s invited. Be sure to keep your venue’s capacity in mind as well, and don’t invite more people than space can handle. Even though you’ll likely receive regrets from some guests, you don’t want to risk it.

8. Purchase Attire

Give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect outfits for your wedding day. Particularly when it comes to wedding dresses, it can take months from the time you purchase your attire until it’s properly tailored and ready to go, so don’t wait until the last minute.

 9. Send Invitations

Wedding invitations are usually sent six to eight months before the big day—and the RSVP deadline is typically about two or three weeks from this date. Sending your invites on time is one of the most essential steps to planning a wedding. Many couples want to send them way in advance which is absolutely fine but just remember that guests may not be in a position to commit to a date that early.

 10. The legal bits!

If you’re thinking about the wedding planning, remember one of the most important tasks—getting a marriage license so that you and your partner can actually get legally married! There are many ways you can get married now so take some time to research the best option for you. Make sure that you get your marriage license at the right time—in advance if there’s a waiting period.

Yay!

The big day is finally here! You, your partner, your families, and your vendors have worked hard to follow all the steps to planning a wedding—so enjoy every minute! I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and it has helped! If you feel you need a little more guidance then take a look at my blog about how a wedding planner can really help. https://www.carolinegriffiths.co.uk/blog/the-truth-about-wedding-planners-and-how-they-can-help