Important things to remember when planning your wedding

There’s no doubt about it – planning a wedding is a big job. There’s a lot to do and a lot to remember, particularly as the big day gets ever closer. Quite often, it’s the little things that can catch you out when you least expect it. So, to help you plan like a professional and enjoy every aspect of wedding planning, here’s our guide to the important little things to remember.

Setting The Date

The first thing you should consider once you’ve found a wedding venue you love is whether you’d like a spring, summer, autumn or winter wedding.

Once you know your wedding season, it’s important to eliminate any dates that don’t work for you and your family. You’ll then be left with opportunities to work with various dates and understand the difference in prices depending on days of the week and months of the year.

There are lots of opportunities to save money by booking out of peak season or having a week day wedding. April to September is considered peak season for most venues, making the cost more expensive than off-peak from October to March. However, these dates can still be just as romantic and special, filled with candlelight, atmospheric photo opportunities and even wonderful weather

Budgeting

Setting a budget is one of the most important wedding planning tasks and will not only let you understand where your money is going to be spent, but it will also help you both determine where your priorities lie early in the planning process.

Start a spreadsheet so you can keep track of your finances and don’t forget about the little costs when you work out your budget. Elements such as postage, gifts for the wedding party and dress alterations can all add up so try and make sure you include everything in your figures.

Don’t forget to include yourself in the guest numbers! Far too often, couples forget to include themselves so make sure to put yourself at the top of the list!

Always remember to check quotes and contracts from suppliers and ask questions if something isn’t clear.

Wedding Insurance

Organise your wedding insurance before you book your first supplier. It’s important to have this in place to protect you right through until after your wedding day. Find out more about why you need wedding insurance here.

Suppliers

Create a wedding day schedule that includes all of your suppliers. At Upwaltham Barns your wedding coordinator will help you do this. We will reach out to you for all of your supplier contact details so that we can liaise with them directly if necessary. 
 
If you’re thinking of preserving your wedding bouquet, arrange this well before your day so that it can be sent away as soon as possible once your wedding is over. 
 
Arrange for your wedding suppliers to be fed on the day of the wedding. Photographers, videographers and suppliers who are with you all day will really appreciate this. 

Plan B

It’s wise to have a plan B in case the weather is not on your side.

Any plans for outdoor gatherings should be followed by plans for what happens in case of bad weather. Make sure any outdoor catering can be brought inside if necessary and make sure you’re happy with the spaces available to you and how they’ll look.

A plan B will help make the build up to your wedding day less stressful.
 
 

Getting the Right Photographs

Your wedding photos are the most important take-aways from your wedding day, as well as your memories, of course. Make sure your wedding pictures are perfect and include all the photographs you had hoped for by compiling a must-have list with your wedding photographer.

Tip – keep a spare wedding invitation to one side so that your photographer can capture it as a flatlay on the morning of your wedding.

Last minute essentials

Pack an emergency kit containing hair pins, a sewing kit, snacks, plasters, tissues and anything else you think you may need to have to hand in an emergency. You can keep this in Jasmine Cottage throughout your day just in case.

Create a wedding morning playlist. Every wedding morning needs its own soundtrack so choose some music that will create excitement and set the tone for the rest of the day.

Designate someone to be your go-to person on the day. You shouldn’t be answering the phone, answering questions or dealing with anything that crops up on the day itself. Give someone your phone and let them look after everything for you.

On the day

Leave more time in your wedding day schedule for each element than you think you’ll need. You don’t want to feel rushed so give yourself time to relax and enjoy each part of the day.

Grooms, nominate someone to pin your buttonhole onto your lapel and make sure they have a practice before the day.

Aim to be ready 30 minutes before the ceremony so you can have your registrars interview in Jasmine Cottage wearing your dress before walking across to the East Barn for the ceremony.

Once it’s all over

Arrange for your wedding dress to be cleaned and don’t forget to store it somewhere where it can hang freely without creasing. 
 
Ask someone to come to Upwaltham Barns the next morning to help you load any personal items into cars. 
 
Share your highlights with us on social media or over email so we can see how brilliant your wedding day was and remember you both for years to come. 

For more wedding planning tips, take a look at these ideas to help you save money on your special day and don’t miss these top wedding planning tips from real brides.