Just booked venue (eek) now a couple of questions on the starting points...

I would send out Save the Dates a year before, especially as I assume that that weekend will be Bank Holiday/Half Term.

You can get them from Vistaprint, or some of the stationers on here. A lot of people design their own. If you have a google, there's loads of ideas (tea towels, luggage tags, etc).

As for next things, I would look at photographers (togs), cars, bands (if you want one) as these are things that get booked up early.

I think about a year in advance for STD is the 'norm' although we sent ours out even earlier.

Vistaprint - is quite a cheap option for save the dates lots of different options from business card style, mugs, fridge magnets, cards, postcards.

The next big thing i would look into would be Photographers (if you are having one) as they can get booked up quite early.

Congratulations on booking the venue! Feels amazing to have a date doesn't it? ?

Save the date's can be sent out any time really! You could always send out a preliminary 'Save The Date' email or something, just to put the date into people's heads! I would agree that about a year before is probably good as if they are sent too early, people may lose them or forget!

I made my own STD'd by finding images in my colour scheme on Google and using them as a basic design.

A friend of mine ordered business cards from Vistaprint and used them as STD's and they worked out so cheap. It's such a good idea! If you sign up to their newsletter they will constantly send you emails (literally 1 a day!) but they will send links to get business cards for free. I got 500 business cards (actually for my business, not as STD's) and all i paid was about £5 postage!

I would also agree with the others, book your photographer as they will definitely get booked up, especially if they are good! Also book your DJ as I found that they got booked up quite early, and you do need to spend a lot of time getting quotes as they really do vary massively.

If there is anything special you really want, such as a certain band etc I'd book that just to be on the safe side, so you know you've got them. Most people only need a small deposit so it won't break the bank just yet.

Lastly, ENJOY! Planning your wedding is so much fun and although I so can't wait to get married, I am really going to miss this!

Happy wedding planning ?

Think about all those suppliers who are sole workers (cars, photographers, DJ's Bands etc) as they can only do 1 wedding per day and so will get booked up so its worth looking at those first. - Although it is 2014 I would expect the majority of people booking suppliers start to mid 2013 and if anyone says "you must book NOW!" then walk away as you can always return later after having a think about it, this is usually a hard sell tactic or they are desparate. at the end of the day there is always an alternative if someone is booked, look at photographers for instance there are millions of us.

Then think about what takes time - Your dress may take months to arrive in to shop then months to do alterations so its worth looking at that early.

Then you move on to companies who can deal with more than 1 wedding per day - Cake companies, florists, decoration companies, suits, as these can be done closer to the time.

Always look at atleast 3 of each supplier before making your decision as this way you will be 100% sure on your choice at the end.

You're almost my date twin! We've booked 23rd May 2014!

We'll be sending out STDs about a year before because of the bank holiday. My future MIL also made a point about it being the first weekend of half term, so she has already booked the day off (with it being a Friday and she works in a school) almost 2 years in advance! But people may make holiday plans so I guess the earlier you warn people, the better.

I will probably be ordering them from Vistaprint - I like the idea of sending out magnets and they're quite cheap.

Next on our to do list is: photographer (have already contacted, awaiting quotes) and DJ (same as photographer) as the ones we want are pretty popular. Once these are done, I'll probably take a break from planning until beginning of next year (if I can stay away that long)!

Massive congratulations!

I think the first thing to remember is that you have plenty of time to get plenty of research done and choose the suppliers that you want. I would ask any friends who have got married about any suppliers they could recommend or the other way of any to stay away from

Photographers etc do book up early but there is so much choice out there so don't rush into anything you are not sure of because they might tell you they book up early!

Most importantly have lots of fun and enjoy it

I would slightly disagree on the cake thing- many companies(unless much larger) won't take on more than one wedding a weekend and are already taking bookings for 2014 so it is definitely worth having a think about that now.

I think anything that can be booked in advance is worth getting on top of asap, especially as you're having a may wedding. A lot of places won't require a huge deposit to secure them

Huge congratulations!!

Loads of great advice on here already and I have heard great things about Vistaprint. Might try them myself one day!!