Book your venue, entertainment and caterers
Whether you're going full church wedding or not, try to book the venue as early as possible. Be careful with deposit payments and stumping up cash; check their refund policy and get this in writing before handing over your money. Once you have a confirmed date, get the entertainment confirmed - DJ's, band, performers. If they're good, they'll get booked up fast.
Some wedding venues have their own in-house caterers (making this part a lot easier), but there’s plenty of options online if you find yourself in a bind. Check that they can cater to allergy/dietary requests, scroll through their specialities and confirm whether they charge per person or in bulk. It may be more fun (and economical) to consider a buffet, while a set course menu adds an air of sophistication. Book the wedding car, photographer and videographer
Now it’s the fun part. Your wedding car is your chance to arrive in style, so feel no shame in dithering between a vintage Bentley or Cadillac Convertible. Note that you may need multiple cars if you plan on ferrying bridesmaids, groomsmen and family, both to the ceremony and reception. A good supplier will provide a driver and allow you to hire for the entire day, starting from as little as £200 per day (plus a £100 returnable deposit).
Note that booking the photographer is no small investment, as they’ll be documenting one of the most important days of your life. Do your homework and check out their portfolio, as a good wedding photographer will cost you anywhere north of £500+ for the day. Book the cake and flowers, buy the wedding rings
You and your bride-to-be will have (ideally) discussed all of this by this point, so get cracking placing orders and getting fitted. Remember to keep the rings in a safe place until the big day - they’re kind of important. Start planning your honeymoon
There’s a lot of pressure in planning a ‘dream’ honeymoon, but remember: this trip is to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t feel you need to book a five-star resort in the Maldives if that’s not your style or budget (you’ll have just planned a wedding, after all). More modern honeymoons have seen couples backpack in Asia, or roadtrip across America - turning traditional getaways into adventures. The only rule is to get the wheels turning in advance, so you can be whisked away once the wedding bells have settled. It’s a lot of work to do this while juggling other duties, so remember to breathe!
Warm-up your guests
By this point, it’s wise to ask people to "save the date" of your wedding well before posting invitations. As soon as you land on a date, let your nearest and dearest guests know - people tend to book holidays in advance, you see. Like with invitations, many couples send paper RSVPs in the post/in-person to add a personal touch.
