SIMPLIFIED PLANNING

Simplified Planning with ATLANTIC VOWS

You are engaged, congratulations! Now where to begin with the wedding planning? Firstly, it is really important to enjoy this time and embrace the joy and excitement of being engaged. Make sure to celebrate this special time before jumping straight into planning. That said, here are some of my top tips to simplify your planning and start your wedding preparations.o u

COMMUNICATE

Your wedding day is about you and your partner celebrating your love in the way that you both want. To begin your planning process make some time to sit and talk to your partner about some of these important topics:

• Would you prefer a big or a small wedding? (perhaps draft a rough guest list as a guide). • Will you have a destination wedding or keep things local? • When would you like to get married, what year or what season? • Would you like a church wedding or a personalised / secular ceremony? • What are your priorities for your big day? E.g. venue, music, ceremony? • I advise couples to write down three words that they would like to describe their wedding day and use these words as tools in making decisions throughout the planning process.

NAIL DOWN THE BUDGET

There is no point rushing into planning or going to view venues until you have a good idea of your wedding expectations and of course your budget. It’s important to discuss how many guests you will have and therefore how you will fund the wedding; will you set up direct debits, saving accounts or do you have family that will contribute if you need to borrow? Review your incomings and outgoings and look to see if there are any unnecessary spending habits that you can rejuggle and put towards the big day. It’s really beneficial for couples to know what they can afford before going forward. Once you have these questions answered you are ready for the next big tick on the wedding preparations - “The Venue”.

CREATE A WEDDING EMAIL

To keep all your wedding quotes, information and RSVP’s in one place, I always advise couples to set up a wedding email address from the start (gmail is a straight forward option). Having one email account that you can both check and utilise is an easy way to keep on top of all things wedding related!

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Your venue will likely be one of the biggest expenditures on your budget so you want to make sure that you make the correct decision. Do your homework, talk to other couples, research reviews and then reach out to your top venues to ask for available dates, a brochure with pricing and their terms and conditions. Once you gather all this information then it will be time for you both to discuss and arrange tours of your favourite locations.

ACT FAST

Once you have your venue and date locked in, you can go full steam ahead! I always advise couples to book key suppliers as quickly as possible, such as your photographer, videographer, entertainment, celebrant and any other suppliers that are important to you. They often book up well in advance so securing your important suppliers early is a key factor for a smooth planning process.

CHOOSE YOUR CREW!

Your Bridal Party are there to support you, listen to you, be by your side in the lead up to your wedding day and more importantly are there on the day to take charge, co ordinate and keep you both organised and calm. Whether you want 1 or 10 in your “I Do Crew”, choose wisely so that you are surrounded by positivity, helping hands and fun on the day!

KEEP A SECRET

Make sure to keep some surprises for your guests and don’t reveal all your plans. Everyone will have an opinion or idea but just remember it’s your day and you should do it your way!

PRIORITISE & SIMPLIFY

Break down your tasks and make a list of three top things you want to achieve in the lead up to the day every month. Create a basic excel or word document “to do list” that you can add to or tick off as you go along to track progress and keep stress at bay. Wedding planning can get overwhelming and stressful so if you find yourself getting caught up in it all, take a step back and remind yourself what is important and what your day is all about – marrying the love of your life!