Planning....what should I be doing and in what order?

Hi, you sound on track to me, Maybe next start looking at Photographers as they can get booked up.

Oh and the most important thing........... your dress ? x

Personally I would get on and book the registrar pronto! You can get the details off the local councils website where your venue is based.

There is not much point discussing timings with your venue if the registrar is not available on your preferred time/date. (That said I know some registrars do not take booking more then a year in advance so may not be an issue)

The venue first then major suppliers like DJ / Band , Photographer etc.

The smaller stuff you have a bit more time with as they can often cater for multiple events on the same day.

Thanks everyone. Yes I will ring the registrar tomorrow I think to see if we can book them now and what times they can do. I have also been looking at photographers but the one I really like is over our budget unfortunately, so trying to find someone else with a similar style that is more in line with what I can afford.

Is it too early to send out save the dates? Rather than tell people the date I was going to send these out but I'm not sure if I'm a bit ahead of myself!!!

Second whats been said already, get the legal bit sorted, photographers get booked up early too, and start having a think about dresses and maybe start trying some on when its a year to go (you might find the one first time but just in case it takes you a few trips).

Standard timescale for save the dates is about a year before so yes thats something else you could start thinking about as it may take a while to make/order so you could send them out to coincide with your year to go date perhaps.

But all in all it sounds like you've got your head screwed on about it!

If you are considering Save The Dates then you can get these organised as soon as the date is fully confirmed. These can go out over 12 months in advance.

Other than that, start enjoying the planning. Photographer, videographer, cakes, florist etc. Start at the big things and work your way down to the smaller details.

Nat

Hello lovely Lady

Yeap registrar would be the first thing and then other suppliers that have a main role in your day.

Don't stress, you know where I am to de-stress or if you want any advice xxx

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You've got a good amount of time to really work on the design elements which will make your wedding specially unique. I agree with the other comments; sort out the legalities and book your registrar, but after that point I would suggest you start moodboarding the themes/colours/asthetic you love and would like to incorporate into your wedding. Sites like Pinterest can be very good to help you do this. Do lots of research. Go to trade shows, follow forums, magazines, etc. Maybe meet with a wedding co-ordinator to help organise your thoughts. Don't forget to consider your transport, stationery, cake, entertainment, photo/videographer, etc. Also, this is a fabulous time to begin a health/beauty regime. The lifestyle you follow now will for better or for worse catch-up with you on your wedding day. Make adjustments now to make it that much easier as the date approaches. Also try to remember that these months of planning are all part of the magic. The wedding day is just that - one very special day; but if you can find joy in the crazy, chaotic world of planning, you will enjoy your day even more. Try to enjoy every minute. =) Good luck.

Lots of good planning ideas on here!

Id be booking a photographer very soon, to make sure you get the photographs you want. Is there anything you can do within your budget to get the photographer you love?

You have plenty of time for dress shopping but you might want to think about starting in the next couple of months.

Its a bit early for save the dates unless there is a particular reason they need to be done soon, ie guests travelling, midweek wedding ect

I agree with what evreyone else has said, you need to get onto the Registrar, I was shocked at how booked up they get, when you have a 100% confirmed date, you can then send out your save the date cards (I didn't bother and just told everyone the date). The next port of call should be your photographer, It's common that they get booked up around a year in advance and a friend of mine has already booked hers last year for 2014! I bought my dress 12 months before I am due to get married, it was the second shop I had been to and the fourth dress that I tried on but I knew it was 'the dress'. I wasn't planning on getting it so soon but wanted to start looking early in case I struggled finding something I liked. I was lucky enough to find the bridesmaides dresses in the same shop so I killed two birds with one stone so to speak. I booked my flowers in December also. I have 8 months to go and have everything except mens/boys suits (which are to be sorted next month), OH wedding ring, presents for BM's etc and favour box fillings. I am uber organised but really don't want to be stressing in the last few weeks before my big day.

P.s Have you bought / thought about wedding insurance? Once my venue and registrar had been booked I bought cover from John Lewis, think it was something like £69 for £20,000 worth of cover in case suppliers go bump or anything bad was to happen.

Enjoy your organising :-) A tip I was given by my florist was to keep a scrap book with ideas from magazines, the internet etc with pictures of anything that I liked the look of, I put in flowers, bridesmaides dresses, shoes, jewellery etc xx

Hello,

Your sound very organised so don't worry!! I have just got engaged and started looking for venues - finding it very daunting at the moment!!! We're hoping to get married Spring 2014 so I guess venue would be first....right?

Thanks everyone, this is great advice and really helps. I have contacted the local council to enquire re the registrar, so will await their reply. I am also in the processing of finding our photographer ?

I started a Pinterest board a few months ago and have been adding ideas and inspiration as I see things. I have quite a few different ideas for my dress so just need to try some on and see what suits me. I am holding off doing this for the time being though as I am in the process of losing weight, so want to make sure I chose something to suit my new shape. So I'm planning on starting dress shopping in the early spring, which will still give me about 10 months. I planning to get one 'off the peg' so think this should be ok.

Thanks for reminding me re wedding insurance....need to get this sorted too.

I am into organisation and do like to plan in advance. My OH is the exact opposite and seems to think that we've found a venue so now we can relax! LOL.

Who was your ideal photographer that was over budget? If you show us the style you were looking for, I (or other togs) might be able to name you some people in the same style. I spend a lot of time looking at wedding photography so maybe I could throw a few websites your way! One thing I'd say also is that I don't think you'd be able to book the tog until you had a set date, so as everyone said, venue and date first!

Well you've done the important things first, so well done!!

I would now start the hunt for photographer, entertainment and anyone else there's only one of... i.e a person you need there on the day, rather than a product. Invites, cakes, chair covers, favours etc can wait a little while.

good luck!

James x