It might feel like you have all the time in the world, but the early stages of wedding planning are absolutely crucial. This is when you lay a strong foundation, making key decisions such as setting the budget, choosing a venue and securing your major vendors. And if you’ve set your heart on a particular date or location, now is the time to lock them in.
Insure your engagement ring
Before you start planning the big day itself, it’s important to make sure that your engagement ring is taken care of – after all, the last thing you want is for your ring to get lost, stolen or damaged in all the excitement. You may be able to add it to your home contents insurance; if not, there are specialist jewellery insurance companies that will be able to provide cover.
Set your budget and guest list
Setting your budget is one of the first, and most crucial, steps – many of your wedding planning decisions will flow from this. There is no “right” budget for your wedding; the amount you spend depends on each individual couple. However, as a general rule, couples typically spend around 50% of their budget on the venue, ceremony and catering.
It’s also important to start thinking about your guest list as early as possible. Again, this will influence many of your later decisions. For example, if you decide on a smaller, more intimate wedding, you might be able to spend more per guest on the catering.
9-12 months before the wedding
With just under a year to go, now’s the time to firm up your key decisions. At this stage in the wedding timeline, your vision for the big day should be starting to take shape.
Choose a colour palette and design concept
What will your wedding look like? Your colour palette and overarching design concept will inform many of your later decisions, influencing everything from your flowers to the invitations. So think about your overall theme – romantic, say, or retro. Then set your colour palette: pick one or two key colours and then another one or two secondary colours. These could be inspired by your honeymoon destination, the place where you met, or even simply the time of year. Wherever you find your inspiration, the colours you choose will help to pull everything together on the day.
Start wedding dress shopping
When to start looking for your wedding dress? We recommend allowing 8 to 10 months before the wedding. You might have to try on a number of different styles to find the one, and then you’ll need time for all the fittings and alterations. Bring inspiration photos to your bridal appointments, as well as a picture of your “something old” if you have one, to help you narrow down your selection.
9-12 months before the wedding
With just under a year to go, now’s the time to firm up your key decisions. At this stage in the wedding timeline, your vision for the big day should be starting to take shape.
Choose a colour palette and design concept
What will your wedding look like? Your colour palette and overarching design concept will inform many of your later decisions, influencing everything from your flowers to the invitations. So think about your overall theme – romantic, say, or retro. Then set your colour palette: pick one or two key colours and then another one or two secondary colours. These could be inspired by your honeymoon destination, the place where you met, or even simply the time of year. Wherever you find your inspiration, the colours you choose will help to pull everything together on the day.
Start wedding dress shopping
When to start looking for your wedding dress? We recommend allowing 8 to 10 months before the wedding. You might have to try on a number of different styles to find the one, and then you’ll need time for all the fittings and alterations. Bring inspiration photos to your bridal appointments, as well as a picture of your “something old” if you have one, to help you narrow down your selection.
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12-18 months before the wedding
It might feel like you have all the time in the world, but the early stages of wedding planning are absolutely crucial. This is when you lay a strong foundation, making key decisions such as setting the budget, choosing a venue and securing your major vendors. And if you’ve set your heart on a particular date or location, now is the time to lock them in.
Insure your engagement ring
Before you start planning the big day itself, it’s important to make sure that your engagement ring is taken care of – after all, the last thing you want is for your ring to get lost, stolen or damaged in all the excitement. You may be able to add it to your home contents insurance; if not, there are specialist jewellery insurance companies that will be able to provide cover.
Set your budget and guest list
Setting your budget is one of the first, and most crucial, steps – many of your wedding planning decisions will flow from this. There is no “right” budget for your wedding; the amount you spend depends on each individual couple. However, as a general rule, couples typically spend around 50% of their budget on the venue, ceremony and catering.
It’s also important to start thinking about your guest list as early as possible. Again, this will influence many of your later decisions. For example, if you decide on a smaller, more intimate wedding, you might be able to spend more per guest on the catering.
9-12 months before the wedding
With just under a year to go, now’s the time to firm up your key decisions. At this stage in the wedding timeline, your vision for the big day should be starting to take shape.
Choose a colour palette and design concept
What will your wedding look like? Your colour palette and overarching design concept will inform many of your later decisions, influencing everything from your flowers to the invitations. So think about your overall theme – romantic, say, or retro. Then set your colour palette: pick one or two key colours and then another one or two secondary colours. These could be inspired by your honeymoon destination, the place where you met, or even simply the time of year. Wherever you find your inspiration, the colours you choose will help to pull everything together on the day.
Start wedding dress shopping
When to start looking for your wedding dress? We recommend allowing 8 to 10 months before the wedding. You might have to try on a number of different styles to find the one, and then you’ll need time for all the fittings and alterations. Bring inspiration photos to your bridal appointments, as well as a picture of your “something old” if you have one, to help you narrow down your selection.
9-12 months before the wedding
With just under a year to go, now’s the time to firm up your key decisions. At this stage in the wedding timeline, your vision for the big day should be starting to take shape.
Choose a colour palette and design concept
What will your wedding look like? Your colour palette and overarching design concept will inform many of your later decisions, influencing everything from your flowers to the invitations. So think about your overall theme – romantic, say, or retro. Then set your colour palette: pick one or two key colours and then another one or two secondary colours. These could be inspired by your honeymoon destination, the place where you met, or even simply the time of year. Wherever you find your inspiration, the colours you choose will help to pull everything together on the day.
Start wedding dress shopping
When to start looking for your wedding dress? We recommend allowing 8 to 10 months before the wedding. You might have to try on a number of different styles to find the one, and then you’ll need time for all the fittings and alterations. Bring inspiration photos to your bridal appointments, as well as a picture of your “something old” if you have one, to help you narrow down your selection.