Your Ultimate Wedding Checklist
As a Gloucestershire wedding photographer, I've witnessed the planning of more weddings than I can count! Today, I'm putting all my experience down on paper into this wedding checklist for advice you can turn to every step of the way.
Celebrate – you’re engaged!
You're only going to get this time once, so flaunt your ring and make the most of every opportunity to call each other fiance. Being engaged is an amazing feeling and one you should make the most of.
Set a budget
And so the reality of wedding planning sets in. Before you take any further steps on this wedding checklist, sit down and crunch the numbers. How much do you want to spend on your wedding and how much do you have available? If family may lend a hand, now is the time to ask.
Book your venue
Whether it's an elegant marquee wedding venue, or a charming Cotswolds country house, choose the venue to suit the style and atmosphere you want to create on your big day.
Remember that when you book your wedding venue, you also need to book your registrar if it's not a religious ceremony. They need to be available at the same time to get on with the very important business of marrying the two of you!
Find your perfect Gloucestershire wedding photographer
Your wedding will most likely be the biggest and most expensive party you ever throw. It only makes sense then, that you want to make sure it's remembered. Choosing your Cotswolds, Worcestershire or Gloucestershire wedding photographer will be one of the most crucial decisions you make.
Invest in the best Gloucestershire wedding photographer you can afford and find the style to suit you, whether that's documentary, fine art or formal - or a combination of all three!
Choose your dream team
Bridesmaids, bridesmen, best men and best women. These are your closest friends, your voices of reason and your pillars of calm as you dive deeper into this wedding checklist.
Ask people you trust to be honest and who have the time available that you want them to commit, however much or little that may be. A happy bridal party makes for a happy couple, both before and on the big day.
Find 'the one'
With most wedding dresses being made to order, it's best to start your search early. The rule of thumb is to allow at least six months for your dress to be made ahead of your wedding day.
Get Pinning
The world of weddings is an enormous one! You'll find lots of beautiful wedding inspiration right here on my blog and gallery pages. Filling up a Pinterest board with styling ideas is a brilliant idea too.
Why not create a board specifically for wedding photos you like? Share them with your Gloucestershire wedding photographer to create a wishlist of shots for on the big day.
Get to grips with your guest list
Finding the balance between your venue's minimum and maximum capacity and your ever-expanding friends and family can be a tricky one. Start early to take the stress off and when it comes to tricky decisions like plus ones, apply one policy across the board.
Get thinking about flowers
Even the least green-fingered brides become floral fanatics in the lead-up to their Cotswolds wedding. Start your research on Pinterest, Instagram and in glossy wedding magazines.
But when you've got a hundred different ideas, my top secret is to think about what's in season. This will enable you to use British-grown blooms and, because they're not imported, they could even cost less! It's no secret that I adore flowers so if you'd like some advice on sourcing florists, let me know, I've been lucky enough to work with some incredible ones
Craft your wedding cake
This will be one of the most fun steps of this wedding checklist. Choosing your wedding cake will involve a moreish tasting consultation with your cake designer as you pick out flavours together. It will also involve working out what design you'd like, whether that's semi-naked or a fondant show-stopper.
Chase up RSVPs
As the big day draws closer, it's time to chase up any outstanding RSVPs. Ensure your wedding coordinator has the details of all your suppliers. They can make sure preparations run smoothly on your wedding morning while you pop open the fizz!
Enjoy an early night
Butterflies, excitement and a bridal suite full of giggling bridesmaids aren't always the most conducive to sleep, but try your best to get to bed early the night before your wedding.
Your beauty team will be knocking on the door before you know it to get preparations underway. Relax, rest up and enjoy your big day!
I'd love to play a part in making your wedding the best day ever - find out more about my wedding photography.
