Getting Married Next Year? Here’s What You Can’t Afford To Forget
Planning a wedding is tremendously exciting, but also involves tons of details. To pull off your dream wedding, there are key things you can’t afford to overlook or leave until the last minute. Being strategic and thorough in your prep ensures you can fully enjoy your big day. Here are some of the most critical bases to cover.
Secure Your Venue, Caterer And Rentals Early
Popular venues and vendors book out well in advance, sometimes a year or more. It’s not as crazy as it was back during the pandemic, but finding the perfect venue and vendors is a highly competitive exercise! Prioritise touring potential ceremony and reception sites as soon as you get engaged. Have a shortlist of your top choices and be ready to put down a deposit and sign contracts. The same goes for reserving your caterer, rental company, photographer, and any other must-have pros. Don’t assume you can get your dream team if you wait too long. Take care of the essentials quickly for peace of mind.
Set Your Guest List Number And Stick To It
It’s easy for guest lists to spiral out of control. Decide on a realistic number you can comfortably host based on your budget and venue size. Then stand firm on not expanding too far beyond it. Don’t let family pressure convince you to invite dozens of extras. Remember that each head costs money. Keep plus ones and co-workers to a minimum if you must trim down. Be strategic to contain costs and chaos.
Don’t Suffer In Silence If You’re Worried About Your Skin
If you have skin concerns you want to be treated before your big day, like acne, wrinkles, pigmentation, or baggy eyes, make cosmetic dermatology consultations happen early. Popular clinics book up fast. Don’t downplay or ignore skin issues that bother you, and hope they’ll magically clear up. Make time for treatments like microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, injectables and the like over the next year. It’s also important to remember that there are treatments available for conditions like acne and eczema. You can even use an online pharmacy if you don’t want to talk to a pharmacist in person. The Independent Pharmacy is a regulated online pharmacy with excellent reviews. You can order your medication online, and they also offer expert advice and consultations.
Design Your Vision For Decor And Aesthetic
You probably have an idea of your ideal wedding style and look. Develop this vision fully with your partner: classic and elegant, rustic chic, modern minimalist, romantic and airy, sophisticated glam, boho luxe – the options are endless. Collect inspiration from magazines, Pinterest, and Instagram. Pick your colour scheme and floral designs. Curate your table-scapes. Share your aesthetic goals with vendors to bring your whimsical garden party or elegant hotel ballroom to life.
Schedule Fittings For Your Attire Way In Advance
Whether you’re wearing a traditional wedding gown or a sleek jumpsuit, schedule fittings as soon as you have an approximate wedding date. Dresses require alterations and can take eight months to come in. Order bridesmaid and groomsmen attire at least six months out. Don’t forget suits and tuxes for the fathers of the bride and groom. Accessories like shoes and veils also need time. Handle clothing details proactively.
Book Accommodations For Out Of Town Guests
Once your guest list is set, research hotel room blocks nearby to reserve for visitors travelling to your wedding location. This ensures they have lodging sorted. Visit the hotels in person to check out the rooms and amenities. Negotiate the best-discounted group rate. A lot of people are still worried about money at the moment, so it’s definitely worth booking early. Release any un-booked rooms one month before the wedding. Providing lodging information upfront is a major convenience for your guests. It’s one less thing for them to hassle with.
Start Premarital Counselling Or Financial Discussions
If you plan to undergo premarital counselling through a religious officiant, psychologist, or counsellor, make appointments early. This gives plenty of time to address any issues before the big day. Or if you’ll be merging finances, talk details like combining accounts, budgeting, debts, assets, credit scores, financial goals, spending habits and more. Get aligned to launch your marriage on steady ground.
Book Your Honeymoon Flights, Hotels And Activities
Having an amazing honeymoon planned and on the calendar gives you something wonderful to look forward to as the wedding nears. And flights tend to be cheaper when booked well in advance. Do your research and determine your ideal honeymoon destination and style – a relaxing beach vacation, adventurous trip exploring new sites, foodie getaway in a foreign city, or romantic retreat in a secluded cabin. Then lock in the specifics.
Hire Your Wedding Planner Or Coordinator
Even if you’re on a budget, a day-of coordinator is invaluable to handle any emergencies and keep things running smoothly as you get ready and celebrate. If affordable, hire a planner to assist even earlier with design, rentals, and vendor management. Interview potential coordinators or planners to find one whose experience and personality mesh well with your needs. Bring them aboard early so they can help you avoid critical mistakes and optimise each vendor contract.
Book Transportation For The Big Day
Research options for getting you, your partner, the wedding party and potentially guests to the ceremony and reception locations. Consider limos, party buses, vans, or other vehicles suitable for the number of travellers. Get quotes from various transportation companies and reserve at least six months before the date. Inspect the vehicles in person before signing contracts. Confirm timelines and logistics with the drivers as the wedding draws nearer. Remember that public transport strikes can happen very quickly. Keep checking in the build-up to the big day and provide guests with options.
Purchase Wedding Insurance Just In Case
Wedding insurance provides peace of mind if a vendor unexpectedly closes before your big day, or you have to postpone due to unforeseen events like severe weather. For a relatively small fee, you can safeguard your investment. Most policies allow you to insure elements like deposits, attire, gifts, photos, transportation, rings, and liability coverage for injuries at the event. Review policy details closely and purchase a plan at least one month before the wedding.
Prioritise Your Health And Wellbeing
Amidst the stress and demands of wedding planning, don’t neglect sleep, exercise, nutrition, mental health, and self-care. The happier and healthier you are, the more you can enjoy the journey. Carve out time for calming and energising activities like massages, yoga classes, nature walks and relaxing with loved ones. Hydrate, eat nutrient-dense meals, take supplements, and get adequate rest. Don’t jeopardise your wellness.
Create Your Emergency Kit For The Big Day
Pull together a box or tote bag filled with essentials like pain relievers, bandages, bobby pins, mints, stain remover wipes, sewing kit, safety pins, extra hosiery, dominoes, double-sided tape, and other handy items. Having these backups on hand provides relief if bridesmaid dresses get stained right before walking down the aisle, groomsmen realise they forgot ties, or blisters emerge from dancing in heels. Be prepared for anything! The key is tackling big to-dos for your wedding first, then steadily crossing smaller tasks off your list in the months leading up to your ceremony. With thoughtful organisation and preparation, you can ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch! Don’t leave critical items until the last second.
