It all started with a 'Yes'! - Saving the date

Once you have agreed a budget, the all-important invitation list has been finalised and the date & time for your wedding day is confirmed, it’s time to communicate to everybody that needs to know!  If you want loved ones and friends to be able to share your special day then it’s crucial to send out a save the date.  I would advise you send these out as soon as the wedding venue has confirmed your preferred date.

Depending on the budget available to you, save the dates can be as inexpensive or as luxurious as you need them to be.  Some stay consistent with the wedding theme and colours, sticking with a traditional printed card, whereas others choose a much less formal route - a group text or social media event are now often used to highlight a date for the diary.  This may all sound a little unusual, but we live in an online age and it’s totally free!

So much thought has to be put into the early stages of wedding planning – the early days are often the foundation for a beautiful day- so key tasks like identifying a wedding photographer need to be completed and booked well in advance.  You would be amazed at the limited availability of many of the popular local wedding photographers!  They are often booked a year in advance, so if you have one in mind don’t hold back from making that important call to check availability and discuss your requirements.

Book well in advance

Advance bookings for wedding suppliers are not unusual, given that many couples need to build in a sensible amount of time for saving, 18 months to two years is about average, so keep this in mind as you start to make your calls. Create wishlists for each supplier type, so you always have options if availability is an issue for your first choice. I would recommend that you invest time in the initial research phase. Check out local online wedding directories, speak to friends and relatives and ask for recommendations.  Remember that you are looking for individuals that you feel you can trust to deliver your special day.  Aim to have all your suppliers contracted before you are six months away from your wedding, to avoid frantic last-minute mission impossible situations.

Keep records

Create a booking list, and as you book and confirm each of your suppliers add them to your budget planner, so you can easily keep track of important milestones, such as instalments and final payment dates.

This may be the first ever major event that you have planned for, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Research in advance of meeting your potential suppliers, check out articles and top tips from wedding professionals so that you can prepare properly.  Keep your planned questions to hand and make sure you ask them if there is anything further they would need from you, before they are in a position to provide you with a quote initially.  Then providing you are comfortable with the price, check what steps need to be undertaken to finalise the booking and most importantly, get a written confirmation.

Don’t forget the 3 Ps for Wedding Success:

Planning

Create your plan of what needs doing and by when.  There are lots of free online tools to assist you.

Preparation

Research each supplier category carefully so that you have a number of suppliers to select from and key questions to ask them.

Persistence

Keep looking for alternatives if you’re not comfortable that a supplier can deliver what you want. Set your priorities early about which elements are critical to you and don’t be put off by those who always want to provide the easiest solution rather than the solution you are really looking for.  There is a smorgasbord of talented, creative professionals to select from.

Thank you for reading my blog!  My name is Marcia Wilson and I am passionate about weddings.  My love affair for ‘the Big Day’ began as a child and led me to become my Mum’s right hand lady in planning for a huge range of weddings, spanning cultures and styles. I am delighted to join the regular columnists at the Advertiser and am looking forward to taking you on the wedding planning journey! My blog follows the planning path from saying, ‘Yes!’ to ‘I do!’.  Join me every month for fun, informative and helpful tips to help you realise your wedding dreams….

Marcia is the founder of Marry Mi, a new and exclusive wedding directory and web portal for Berkshire brides, connecting brides with local, independent suppliers.

Find out more about Marry Mi at www.marrymi.co.uk and follow us on Facebook and Twitter and join the conversation.