Completely overwhelmed!!!

I know exactly how you feel. I remember when I got engaged and I had to literally plan everything in a week or else I was going to pull out!!! I also booked the venue early so well done on that!! The next thing you gotta do is book the photographer. The really good ones get booked up quick

As for all the idea's etc, you'll be overwhelmed all the way through. I'm quite a "I know what I want" kinda person and I seem to always find something bigger and better as I go along. I seem to chop and change. I made the mistake of getting everything really early and then when it came down the line and things had settled and I had a clearer idea of what I wanted, I had wasted time and money on things that weren't going to work for me.

My advise..... Start a "mood board" or put together a scrap book of all the things you like. Colours, fabrics, textures, etc.. all make it easier when it comes to putting the final thing together.

Hope it all works out

Take it one step at a time! just book the most important things first (like venue, tog, florist, dj, your dress) and then start to do the small things. once the big things are sorted you might get a better idea of what you want to do with the smaller things.

i haven't even looked at things like favours tbh and i'm getting married *this* summer.

oh and caaaaaalm your jets. you have aaaaaaaaaaaaaaages to worry stress think about all these things!

when and where are you getting married?

Congratulations to you! And also Hello!!! ?

It is overwhelming and the only little bit of advice i have is a Wedding Planner book - i find mind rather helpful & wedding insurance, just in case!

Where are you getting married? x

Thanks for the advice on the photographer, will start looking around now.

I've started a folder with ideas from magazines etc in so hopefully that'll be helpful!!I can see how that would happen with choosing things early and changing your mind.....i'll definitely keep that in mind

I will definitely start writing things down in my planner book i got free with a magazine!!

I'm getting married on 17th July 2010 at the Powermills Hotel which is in Battle, East sussex. So pleased we found it, it's gorgous!!

That's so exciting!!! Good luck with everything. And have fun putting it all together!

I went to a friends wedding reception there and it was beautiful!!! Lovely surroundings and that!

Lucky you!!! x

Oh good, that's so nice to hear!! I'm glad you enjoyed it there, hope they had a good day.

You'll be fine, Autumn Rose. In fact after you get over the initial shock and awe - you'll probably find that you get wedding burn out and get bored with the whole thing.

Then you'll get a second wind, and throw yourself into it again!

Welcome by the way!

Ali x

I agee with Ali. At the start I felt the same and honestly thought I'd burst with any more information or excitement to deal with but then it got boring for about a year and I didn't do much wedding planning at all. Now I'm only 15 weeks away and I'm back into it.

You will soon get your own ideas of what you like and don't like so searching websites for more ideas will wear off.

Lx

Thanks guys, i'm really enjoying this site already. So many tips and ideas, plus i think it'll be great to have somewhere to talk weddings when my friends have had enough!! And also to rant about future parents in law i expect, already causing issues!!!

Think i am going to book a photographer soon and then ease off for a while. ?

Hi ya

Welcome to hitched! You'll find it super addictive.

Two things have been sorted now, the date and the venue which is great. The next thing is to work out a budget as accurately as you can. You'll find lots of online planners that you can use including one on hitched. Basically, work out how much you have to spend and then budget for each area accordingly, cutting back on some things if you're struggling.

The next thing is decide on your theme. One good way to decide this is to look at the colours of your reception room. Although looking at your gorgeous venue's website, either room will lend itself to most colours, although the Pavilion has a green carpet, so if you are using this room, just consider what would clash. If you're using the Orangery, then maybe work with the orangey coloured drapes above the tops of the windows and the wicker chairs? Decide on the style of wedding so if you wanted a country look or a modern feel. Maybe choose something that means a lot to both of you whether it's music or travel or wine and then use this to help decide on your stationery, favours, cake etc.

Absolutely put together mood boards. For now, just collect pictures and images but after you've got a good collection, it really helps to put the images next to each other to see if they work. Plus you can also take the mood board (doesn't have to be any bigger than A3) to suppliers so that you can show them straight away the style and look you are trying to achieve.

Also, the other hitchers are right in saying start looking into Photographers. Once you've decided how much you are able to spend on your photography, start contacting those who's work you like the look of. Always see if they will reduce their price or will include a few more photographs. My moto as a planner is 'if you don't ask, you don't get!'.

After that start thinking about the entertainment you would like as this is another area that gets booked up quickly.

Once you've decided on your theme,everything else you will find will fall into place.

enjoy your planning.

Ruth

x

Wow thanks for the advice Ruth!! Glad you think the venues gorgeous too, taking my mum there for lunch tomorrow and paying the deposit. So excited!!

We are having the meal in Orangery and the evening in the Pavillion, i think i want dusky pink but we'll see how that fits in.

In the process of organising budget, which is where stress with future parent in laws has come from!!! Lots of that ahead i suspect!!!

Yes its very exciting!!!! ?

I went a bit mental when I got engaged and bought stuff I really did not need just because I saw them and wanted to start buying stuff (I have about 3 packs of electric blue feathers (that were going in my bouquet) crystals on sticks (don' even ask what I was going to do with them, I had a 'plan' at some stage) and 7 metres of fusia pink fabric??? see what I mean-nuts!

But take your time, pick your photographer carefully-meet them (and the videographer if you are having one) you want to be comftable with them as they will be close to you all day ours is fab a guy called Steve Hart in Maidenhead near where we live, he showed us his work round his house and we felt really relaxed round him.

Make sure you read all the small print, I know it sounds boring but while everything is all fluffy and nice you can forget to do this so may not relise exactly what you are paying for, when balances are due...who will expect to be fed a main meal out of your suppliers ect ect, you must have a buisness head on as well as a ? one!

Enjoy it, don't get stressed and make sure its what YOU both want, many family members get caught up in the excitment and can try and take over without relizing, don't people please-sometimes you will have to compromise but have it how you want it as its your day. ?

Hey AR - welcome to hitched... We got engaged in February last year and are getting married on 18th July this year so about the same amount of planning time to you!

I have to say I've loved it so far - its so much more fun than I thought it would be. I agree with what others have said - book the big things first if you can we did photograper, video, and band straight after booking the venue and setting the date.

I've been really lucky in that I have chosen things and not changed my mind and the more I do the easier it has been for me to decide on other things. I found it all started to fall into place after I chose my dress tbh.

Unlike others, and what everyone tells you, I haven't found there was loads to do then a lull; we have tried to do one thing at a time and have something to think about all the time. For example we decided we needed to book the photographer early so researched and booked her, then moved on to the video (which was a recommendation from the photographer so very easy!), then on to music etc. It seems that one thing can easily lead into the next with recommendations and it does seem to get easier the more you do.

HTH - remember there is always someone on here able to help when you do get stuck. Good luck with everything.

You've got ages.....just try and spend time getting your ideas together, as you'll probably change your mind a few times before you need to start booking. That way, you won't pay out on anything and realise its not going to fit with everything!!

I'd say booking photographer, venue and anything else thats major for you as soon as you can, and leave the small details like colours / themes until you've fully decided and had a look around.

This place is great to see what other people are doing and get ideas from, so contribute and post ideas and we'll give a (sometimes very) honest opinion!!! x