There is a certain age group where it seems that the engagements and marriages roll in one after the other, and I'm seeing lots of people in my friend group experience that right now! With this in mind, I've had a lot of conversations about the overwhelming feeling that can come with planning a wedding. Below are my top points to get you started in organising a wedding you'll be excited to see unfold.
1. ALLOCATE A BUDGET BASED ON YOUR PRIORITIES
I'm starting bold with the money talk - it's easy to say how much you'd like to spend on a wedding, but putting you and your partner's thoughts formally on paper may change perspectives. I highly recommend making a 'must haves' and a 'don't care' list to start off your realistic budget... but expect it to change slightly. If family or friends are contributing to your special day, keep in mind the value of their contribution (and where they would like it to be spent) so you can allocate appropriately as well. Lastly, always leave an emergency fund for hidden extras that could pop up just before or after the wedding - it could be anything from last minute umbrellas to a top up on your bar tab.
2. CHOOSE A DATE AND/OR KEY VENDORS
This step will likely be the biggest hurdle to kick start your planning process, especially if you want to get married within a year as many vendors book 12-18 months out - and well, you can't organise much without a date! Start by securing a venue, photographer and celebrant at the same time to ensure mutual availability. Of course, you may have preference of season/date/day to get married so picking something that suits your needs while coordinating with your key vendors is a critical step. Peak dates in CQ run from April to October and are especially desirable with recent COVID postponements, so consider a weekday wedding if time is of the essence.
3. RESEARCH THE FINER DETAILS
Once you’ve chosen a date and locked in your key suppliers, get started on the details! Don't be afraid to shop around online and look for inspiration at expos (where there will often be specials and giveaways on offer to couples) to find the best possible options within your budget. Choose pieces and vendors that suit your priorities and taste perfectly first, then move down to the smaller details where you'd be willing to compromise if necessary. A wedding planner is worth their weight in gold if the nitty gritty aspects of wedding planning are leaving you feeling overwhelmed.
4. CHOOSE YOUR DIY BATTLES WISELY
Keep in mind that DIY does not always mean cheap! You may find that it ends up costing more money, time and frustration than a professional wedding vendor who works in their area of expertise daily. When you consider these additions ask yourself 'Do I have the time and resources to do this?', 'Can this be set up in advance or does it need to be done on the day?', 'Is the end product going to look how I desire?' and 'Will it actually save me money?'. A wedding planning friend of mine once said 'You can't polish a turd!' and this is so true of finding a great base for your styling so that little needs to be done to make it into your dream.
5. MAKE A CELEBRATION THAT'S UNIQUELY YOURS
Don't lose sight of the fact that a wedding is ultimately to celebrate you and your partner, so make it a day that represents the two of you (and not a complete recreation of your Pinterest board). Focus on the things that matter most to you both and feel free to break tradition if it feels right, there are no real 'rules' when it comes to weddings in this day and age. Your relationship, your personalities and the reflection of your unique styles are what will make your wedding day stand apart from every other! Happy planning. xx